Emerson and the drug companies

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's Nov. 13 op-ed column bemoaned the drug companies' influence over health care reform. She claims that Congress is in the pockets of the drug companies, that they are the ones steering reform.

I am not sure how Emerson could do this, considering she herself is in their pockets. In 2003, when the Republican Congress was considering expanding Medicare to prescription drugs, Emerson voted for the legislation, giving the drug companies millions of new customers. With these new customers came new profits, and Emerson saw the profits in the form of campaign contributions.

DAVID MITRANI, Rolla, Mo.