QUICK HITS: Maria Cino’s Lobbying Work for Pfizer

BOTTOM LINE: Shortly after Pfizer and other drug companies struck a controversial $80 billion deal with the
Obama administration in June 2009 on ObamaCare, Cino went to work as the vice president of government
affairs for Pfizer, whose CEO, Jeffrey Kindler, was arguably the most vocal industry advocate of Obama’s
efforts. From July 2009 – June 2010, Cino was 1 of 7 Pfizer lobbyists who pressed legislators, federal agencies
and the Executive Office of the President on “health issues,” including the ObamaCare legislation that was
approved by the Democrat-controlled House and Senate and was subsequently signed into law by Obama.
During that time, Cino’s sole focus was on such “health issues.”
BACKGROUND ON PFIZER’S PUSH FOR OBAMACARE: Fortune 500 execs could stand up for a free
market that benefits consumers and shareholders, or hitch their cart to the new Democratic majority. Pfizer's
Mr. Kindler is a case study in the hitch-and-hope mentality—a CEO who became the motivating force behind
Big Pharma's $80 billion "deal" on reform, and industry support of ObamaCare. . . . The strategy: The industry
would pledge $80 billion to reform. In return it would get greater volume and a requirement that people buy
brand-name drugs. Democrats would also fight against drug reimportation and forgo price controls. No one
pushed harder than Mr. Kindler. The CEO made no fewer than five trips to the White House last year. He was
the man prodding Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America head Billy Tauzin every step. He
wrote an op-ed with the SEIU's Mr. Stern demanding reform. He pressed the industry's $150 million ad
campaign promoting ObamaCare, rolled out with liberal activist groups. (Kim Strassel, The Wall Street Journal, February 12, 2010)
TIMELINE OF CINO’S LOBBYING WORK FOR PFIZER:
o June 22, 2009: Media outlets report the drug industry, including Pfizer, struck an $80 billion deal with the Obama
administration to expedite the president’s push for a health care overhaul. (The Associated Press, June 22, 2009)
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o July 1 – Sept. 30, 2009: On Oct. 20, Pfizer filed its 3 Quarter (July 1 – Sept. 30) federal lobbying report, which
marked the first reference of Cino’s work for the company. On pg. 4, Cino is listed as 1 of 7 lobbyists who worked on
“health issues,” which included “health reform,” “health information technology,” “comparative effectiveness
research” and “veterans healthcare issues.” In an addendum on pg. 5, Pfizer disclosed that its “health issues” team,
which included Cino, lobbied on “health care reform proposals,” Obama’s stimulus plan and Democrat budget
resolutions, among other issues. Cino, who worked exclusively on health issues, and her colleagues lobbied the
House, the Senate, the Executive Office of the President, Health & Human Services and the Food & Drug
Administration. (Secretary of the U.S. Senate, Pfizer’s 3rd Quarter 2009 Lobbying Report, Filed October 20, 2009)
o Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, 2009: According to Pfizer’s 4th Quarter (Oct. 1 – Dec. 31) lobbying report, the “health issues” team,
which included Cino, continued to lobby the same offices and agencies on “health issues.” An addendum on pg. 5
disclosed that Cino’s team specifically lobbied on both the House- and Senate-approved health care overhaul
legislation – HR 3962 and HR 3590. (Secretary of the U.S. Senate, Pfizer’s 4th Quarter 2009 Lobbying Report, Filed January 25, 2010)
o Feb. 5, 2010: The New York Times reported Cino’s boss, CEO Kindler, backed the Senate-approved bill, HR 3590.
[Many drug companies] basically endorsed the Senate bill. Just last month … Pfizer's chief executive, Jeffrey B.
Kindler, told analysts that the Senate health care bill was ''largely consistent with the principles'' that were important
to his industry. (The New York Times, February 5, 2010)
o Jan. 1 – March 31, 2010: According to Pfizer’s 1st Quarter (Jan. 1 – March 31) lobbying report, the “health issues”
team, which included Cino, continued to lobby the same offices and agencies on “health issues.” An addendum on pg.
5 disclosed that Cino’s team specifically lobbied on both the House- and Senate-approved health care overhaul
legislation – HR 3962 and HR 3590. On March 23, Obama signed the health care overhaul into law. (Secretary of the U.S.
Senate, Pfizer’s 1st Quarter 2010 Lobbying Report, Filed April 20, 2010; CNN, March 23, 2010)

o Apr. 1 – June 30, 2010: According to Pfizer’s 2nd Quarter (Apr. 1 – June 30) lobbying report, the “health issues”
team, which included Cino, continued to lobby the same offices and agencies on “health issues.” An addendum on pg.
5 disclosed that Cino’s team specifically lobbied on both the House- and Senate-approved health care overhaul
legislation – HR 3962 and HR 3590. (Secretary of the U.S. Senate, Pfizer’s 2nd Quarter 2010 Lobbying Report, Filed July 20, 2010)

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o Apr. 23, 2010: Pfizer CEO Kindler defended the company’s support for ObamaCare: Pfizer Inc.'s chief defended the
drug maker's support of the recently enacted U.S. health-care overhaul legislation. . . . Kindler said "by and large,
although it's not perfect, the bill that emerged was reasonably consistent with the principles we advocated." Pfizer, as
the biggest member of industry trade group PhRMA, was a driving force behind the group's support of President
Barack Obama's health-overhaul plan, which aims to expand health-insurance coverage, improve insurance-industry
practices and control health-care costs. (TendersInfo News, April 23, 2010)
o July 1 – Sept. 30, 2010: According to Pfizer’s 3rd Quarter (July 1 – Sept. 30) lobbying report, the company moved
Cino from “health issues” to “tax” issues. (Secretary of the U.S. Senate, Pfizer’s 3rd Quarter 2010 Lobbying Report, Filed October 20, 2010)