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One year ago, in the wake of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. suspended political contributions to four Indiana members of Congress who voted against certifying the Electoral College results.
“While we support candidates from both parties with a variety of political views, we expect any candidate we support to demonstrate respect for people and respect for our democratic process and institutions,” Lilly said in a written statement on Jan. 13.
But since then, the pharmaceutical giant has quietly resumed political contributions to 14 Republican lawmakers who voted against certifying the 2020 election results, according to a report issued Monday by watchdog group Accountable.US.
That includes three of the four Indiana members of Congress–Reps. Jackie Walorski, Jim Baird and Greg Pence–to whom Lilly had suspended contributions last year. The fourth, Rep. Jim Banks, did not receive subsequent contributions from Lilly, according to the report.
Lilly, one of Indiana’s largest and most powerful companies, did not say why it had reversed it stance.
“LillyPAC supports candidates across the political spectrum who understand the value of a vibrant pharmaceutical ecosystem to address unmet patient needs,” Lilly said Monday in an email to IBJ. “Contributions from LillyPAC will continue to be in line with Lilly’s purpose to make life better.”
Last year, however, Lilly strongly condemned the actions of the rioters and those who supported them, along with those who voted against certifying the election of Joe Biden as president.
“This certainly covers anyone who promoted violence or sedition that contributed to the appalling events on January 6th or who continue to support violence to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power our democracy is founded on,” Lilly said last year. “As such, LillyPAC will suspend political giving to those who voted against certification of the 2020 election results.”
The drugmaker gave $5,000 to Walorksi in July and $2,500 each to Baird and Pence in October and November, respectively, the report said. In all, Lilly gave $32,500 to lawmakers who voted against certifying the Electoral College results.
Twenty corporations and trade groups gave a combined $8 million last year to Republican lawmakers who objected to the election results, the report said. The donors include General Motors, ExxonMobil, Boeing, Duke Energy, FedEx, UPS, the American Bankers Association, the National Automobile Dealers Association and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Lilly is the only Indianapolis-based organization listed in the report.
“A year has passed since the deadly insurrection on the U.S. Capitol that spurred a flurry of corporate promises to defend democracy,” the report said. “For many of the biggest companies and trade groups in the country, those promises were broken when they funneled millions of dollars to election objectors in Congress.”
The Republican lawmakers to whom Lilly gave political donations, in addition to those from Indiana, include House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and lawmakers from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Alabama, Florida and Texas.
The report also said Lilly also donated $4,300 to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who signed a bill that would make mail-in voting more difficult. Executives from several dozen companies, including Lilly, had publicly opposed the Georgia law.
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And now that Lilly sees most people have forgotten about their suspended campaign donations, they can go back to openly greasing both sides of the political aisle. Money talks folks. Our Democracy is on fire and the moneyed interests will just keep adding fuel.
Col. Lilly is spinning in his grave.
Profits first.
Just dumped my Lilly stock!!
Thanks, Larry; ‘makes mine worth even more!
Lilly board room— “oh no! We lost Larry!” LOL. Chances are pretty slim you either own or “dumped” Lilly stock
There should be zero tolerance for insurrection.
What insurrection?
When they go to prison for their crimes against America will you still support them?
No – Bob P. will deny they’re in prison.
I suspect the insurrectionists and seditionists in jail will be called “political prisoners” by Faux News, and the sheeple will bleat the company line thereafter.
Marc, it is not a crime to have a political opinion opposed to yours. People declining to certify an election is not a crime, it was a stand against what I believe were at a minimum very shady actions taken to win an election.
What was a crime was committed by people who physically threatened the capitol. This is much the same as the crimes committed by people threatening major metro areas all across this country last year. stealing, looting vandilizing, intimidating.
Unfortunately this country has gone mad! People on one side demanding loose voting rules allowing for anyone to vote without any consideration of voter fraud. Quite honestly, if one cannot meet the requirements then why would you want them to vote? Do you really consider that person informed much less capable of making a decision that affects you, your family, friends and children? Don’t argue with me, just think about that for 5 minutes.
On the other side we have people that would follow the likes of Donald right off a cliff! Stop, think about what is going on here and look for the common ground. As I mentioned above people are pushing for nonsensical rules aka NO RULES but you can’t stoop to that level.
In the end, we are all Americans and we must come together to find common ground. If you find yourself going nuts on either end of the pendulum stop and take a breath. Are you really fighting for the right thing? Or are you just fighting.
Excellent. I’m happy to know Lilly will not be intimidated by the WOKE crowd. The members of Congress to whom Lilly has resumed donations are all fine people who have the best interests of our country and culture at the forefront of their campaigns and voting records. Bully for them…and a pox on all you nay-sayers, falling all over yourselves to be WOKE.
Patriotism in defense of democracy is apparently not ok with the Faux News crowd? Barry Goldwater must be turning in his grave.
When did it become “WOKE” to count votes and elect the person who the electorate voted for? The misinformation coming from right wing media is destroying this country and your mind Bob.
You don’t even know what “woke” means.
Bob P. So, you support the violent Jan 6 insurrection, and the attempt to interfere with the US democratic election process?
By doing do so, Lilly contributes to fostering the Big Lie, and in turn contributes to the demise of democracy in this state. All done with the intent of making more money. Shame on them.
Joann H and all you nay-sayers: Keep whistling past the graveyard, believing the 2020 presidential election wasn’t tainted in at least four big Democrat-run cities (Madison, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Atlanta) to swing those cities and, thus, those states, to “elect” our current Dementia-in-Chief and his PPVP (Political Prostitute Vice President).
Good reading for you if you dare:
https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/january-6-insurrection-hoax/
OH NO!!! This can’t be true. Companies, Labor unions and Associations contribute to parties and candidates In hopes of influencing them?
Lilly is paying for 3 of 4 Indiana Congresspersons because they have to grease some palms to get the action they want, but note that Jim Banks didn’t get a payout. He’s worse than the others. Perhaps he’s beyond the pale for the Lilly suits.
The Supreme Court ruled that corporations are people. Since they cannot legally vote, I guess this must be legalized bribery. I doubt that these contributions are saying that Lilly approves of the “Big Lie”, but they do want to continue to charge whatever they want for drugs in the United States, helping to keep our health care costs per capita at more than double what the next highest per capita cost of the next most expensive country’s costs are.
The Supreme Court ruled that corporations are people. Since they cannot legally vote, I guess this must be legalized bribery. I doubt that these contributions are saying that Lilly approves of the “Big Lie”, but they do want to continue to charge whatever they want for drugs in the United States, helping to keep our health care costs per capita at more than double what the next highest cost country.
Like it or not the political system is full of this. Are you familiar with “Lobbyists”? Not saying I agree or disagree just saying that Lilly is playing the game by the rules…. and so are companies of every kind and size.
As for charging what they want it’s A LOT more complicated than that. Consider all the FDA requirements, trials, taxes, etc… that are involved. I’m not really the person to speak on all the details I just know enough to point out what should be obvious to most of us.
You are definitely right on our health care system being broken. Not sure what the fix is, again, it’s broken on many levels and in more ways than most of us know.
If state legislatures can overturn any election results their party in power doesn’t win, the will of the people and democracy are dead and for the foreseeable future. Those with such power will not give it up without a fight and probably bloodshed. The Jan. 6 insurrection was just a warm up. Wake up Amerca before we lose you.