Physicians and their associations shift money to Democrats

Insightful look at the politics of medicine from Patrick O'Connor at Politico:

Congressional Republicans are trying to mend an ailing relationship with their once-loyal allies in the medical community after opposing legislation to block an annual pay cut for doctors under Medicare.
In the House, Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri convened a private meeting last week with a handful of top lobbyists for the medical community to make amends after the contentious vote, according to people familiar with that session...

In the run-up to the 2006 midterm elections, doctors and the groups that represent them gave 62 percent of their combined $52.4 million war chest to Republicans, compared with 37 percent to Democrats, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. That breakdown mirrors previous cycles since Bush entered the White House.
But since 2006, doctors and related groups have given Democrats 53 percent of their combined $53 million in campaign contributions, according to the watchdog group.
The switch is even more stark for the AMA.
In the run-up to the 2006 election, the AMA’s political action committee gave Republicans 70 percent of its campaign cash, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. In 2004, the AMA’s PAC contributed 80 percent of its total donations to Republican lawmakers and candidates.
Since 2006, that PAC has directed 53 percent of its contributions to Democrats.

The complete commentary at:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/12124.html