THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

This paper examines the relationship between political action committee (PAC) contributions from four sectors of the health care industry and committee membership in the House of Representatives over three election cycles, 1998-2002. The hypothesis tested is that members of the House who serve on committees with oversight responsibility for the health care industry are more likely to receive contributions from health care industry PACs than members of the House who do not serve on these committees. We find mixed support for the hypothesis. ( JEL D72, HI0, I10) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]