Lawmakers complain about photos on drug company-funded mailer

ERICA WERNER
Associated Press

Thursday, November 3, 2005

WASHINGTON - A mailer targeting black California voters pictures a dozen prominent black lawmakers next to an endorsement of a prescription drug initiative on the Nov. 8 ballot that some of them strongly oppose.

Two of the lawmakers on Thursday denounced the Proposition 78 mailer, which was sent by a group funded by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, the powerful lobbying organization for the nation's drug companies.

"This is dirty politics at its worst," said Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, one of four Democratic House members from California pictured on the flier, which arrived in mail boxes this week. "This is serious business, and for someone to just downright attack my integrity in this process is offensive, and I'm not going to stand for it."

Lee and some other lawmakers pictured on the mailer actually support a rival prescription drug measure, Proposition 79, which is sponsored by labor and consumer groups. Proposition 79 would cover about 10 million uninsured residents, twice as many as Proposition 78 could. Proposition 78 is sponsored by the drug industry and would be voluntary for drug companies.

"I have endorsed 79, it's a matter of public record, and any representations to the contrary are simply false and very disturbing," said state Assemblyman Mark Ridley-Thomas, D-Los Angeles, who also is pictured on the mailer. "The pharmaceutical industry, specifically PhRMA, has taken this campaign to new heights in terms of political skulduggery."

A call to the pharmaceutical lobbying group at the organization's Washington headquarters was not immediately returned Thursday.

PhRMA's name appears nowhere on the four-page mailer, nor is there any statement that it was produced with drug industry money. Instead, the mailer calls itself "The Black Woman's Guide to California Politics" and says it was produced by Black Women's Political Guide & Information.

Records on file with the California Secretary of State describe Black Women's Political Guide & Information as a slate mailer organization that has received two $25,000 donations, both from a PhRMA campaign fund created to support Proposition 78 and oppose Proposition 79.

The mailer shows the lawmakers, who also include Proposition 78 opponent Rep. Diane Watson, D-Los Angeles, next to a message saying "Vote for Real Help - Yes on Proposition 78." The document does not say the lawmakers support the proposition.

A message in small type on the final page states: "Appearance in this mailer does not necessarily imply endorsement of others appearing in this mailer, nor does it imply endorsement of, or opposition to, any issues set forth in this mailer."

At least one lawmaker shown, Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, D-Compton, does support Proposition 78, according to a spokesman for the Proposition 79 campaign.

The contact number listed with the secretary of state for the Black Women's Political Guide & Information is to a Los Angeles campaign firm called Kaufman Downing LLP. A message left there was not immediately returned.

The mailer includes a signed message from former Assemblywoman Gwen Moore of Los Angeles. Moore did not immediately return a message left at her office.

A spokeswoman for the Proposition 78 campaign had no immediate comment.