Gingrich was a lobbyist

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Gingrich was a lobbyist By Jakob Nielsen, Washington jan. 27 2012 Novo Nordisk viewed Republican presidential hopeful New Gingrich as a lobbyist in Washington, according to the Danish company’s 2009 annual report in which Novo’s membership of Gingrich’s Center for Health Transformation is listed as “costs for lobbyism”. Gingrich has come under attack as he insists that he has never worked as a lobbyist, but has only offered strategic consultancy. The issue is a controversial one because Gingrich portrays himself as a politician who is not involved with what he calls ‘the Washingon elite’. Gingrich’s claim that he has not been a lobbyist is in sharp contrast to Novo’s annual report from 2009 in which the following “Costs for lobbyism” are listed. “The total lobby expenditure for 2009 was USD 1,725,000. The number includes staff time inhouse lobbying (staff time, expenses), fees for lobbying firms and law firms, membership fees to e.g. industry organisations”. DOCUMENTATION Novo Nordisk Annual Report 2009 A link leads directly to the organisations that Novo pays to be a member of, among which is the Center for Health Transformation, which Gingrich founded in 2003 and ran until he became candidate for the presidency. Novo has told Politiken that the company paid DK 1.1 million in annual


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