A coalition of infant formula companies—known as the International Formula Council—hired big guns such as former Republican National Committee chairman Clayton Yeutter (see letters from Yeutter to HHS head Tommy Thompson here) to help them plead their case that planned advertisements were too “negative” and might make women feel “guilty” for using formula.  Several of these companies are divisions of pharmaceutical giants, which have been generous givers overall and particularly to the Republican party. In 2004, when lobbying over the advertisements was intense, Abbott Laboratories, parent of Ross Products Division, ponied up more than $600,000, 83 percent of that to Republicans, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Bristol Myers Squibb, parent of Mead Johnson, gave $364,000 that same year, 65 percent to the GOP. Wyeth, parent of Wyeth Nutrition, ponied up $370,000, 72 percent of that to Republicans. Meanwhile, Nestle USA CEO Joe M. Weller was a Bush “pioneer,” raising at least $100,000 for President George W. Bush’s 2004 campaign.  It's been said that campaign money is the "mother's milk of politics." This  lobbying episode shows that infant formula companies know that when it comes to politics, they proffer no substitutes. [crossposted at Muckraking Mom.]