The pharmaceutical industry has long been one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington.[1][2] It is currently spending more money influencing the US capital than ever before.[1] According to data from 1998–2005, pharmaceutical companies spent $900 million on lobbying, the most of any industry.[2] During the same period, they donated $89.9 million to federal candidates and political parties, with three times more going to Republicans than Democrats.[2][3] From January 2005 to June 2006, they spent approximately $182 million on federal lobbying.[2][3] In 2005, there were 1,274 registered lobbyists in the US.[2][3] Between 1999 and 2018, the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries combined spent $4.7 billion on lobbying, an average of $233 million per year.[2] These activities included lobbying for at least 1,600 legislative proposals between 1998–2004.[2][3]