Rep. Fox (R-Henhouse)

Rep. Jim Greenwood (R-PA), who holds a top committee position overseeing Medicare, the FDA and other agencies of interest to the pharmaceutical industry, yesterday announced he was retiring to become the top lobbyist for one of the most powerful pharmaceutical industry trade groups, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). In an “emotional” interview, Greenwood claimed the decision “is consistent with the high ethical standards that have characterized my 24-year career in elective office” and claimed the decision “is keeping with a commitment…to devote my life to public service.” Greenwood has been a staunch ally of the drug industry in Congress, pushing the Medicare bill that prohibits the federal government from negotiating lower drug prices while providing billions to the same companies he will be lobbying for. Since just 2000, the drug industry has showered Greenwood with more than $123,000 in campaign contributions, consistently ranking as one of his top contributors.