That's why, analysts say, health care industry lobbyists have showered them with more campaign cash on average than other senators this year, in an attempt to influence the outcome.
Three Republican and three Democratic senators in the group, all of them members of the Senate Finance Committee, received an average of $74,600 from health industry lobbyists, according to The Chronicle's analysis of records through June.
That is about 25 percent more than the average of $59,632 in such donations that the gang's other Senate colleagues raked in from lobbyists for the pharmaceutical, hospital, insurance and nursing home industries, according to the analysis, which was based on records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit watchdog group.
"Money buys access," said Henry Brady, a professor of public policy and dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.
Campaign contributions - along with volatile public opinion, confusion about what's in the reform plans in Congress and a lack of clarity from President Obama on his vision of reform - could also "swing some Democrats to the center on health care," said Larry Berman, a professor of political science at UC Davis.
"I'm not saying it's the only thing, but it could be a factor," Berman said.
Grassley, Baucus at top
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Finance Committee who is seen as key to influencing other conservatives, received the most this year - $223,600. Committee chair Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., was second with $141,000.
In times of rowdy town hall meetings, middle-of-the-road Washington legislators hold more power in this increasingly pitched battle for a simple reason: They are seen as holding opinions that could be influenced, analysts said.
"There is not a quid pro quo but there is an expectation that a contribution gives you a chance to be heard by the member," said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks the influence of money on politics and government.
"Money is a huge consideration for members of Congress, who are constantly running for re-election," she said. "Their constituents aren't always running up to them on Capitol Hill. But these lobbyists are."
Baucus' $856 billion, 10-year bill, which is scheduled to be amended and voted on beginning Tuesday, has been criticized by liberals and conservatives across Capitol Hill.
Conservatives blasted the plan for increasing the tax burden on some Americans. The plan imposes a 35 percent excise tax on so-called "Cadillac" insurance plans that cost more than $8,000 a year per person, or $21,000 a year per family.
Liberals dislike the Baucus plan because it does not allow consumers to choose a government-run insurance option, which could hold down costs by promoting competition with private insurers.
Baucus' bill would allow cooperatives to sell insurance as a form of competition for private insurers, but Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf said co-ops "seem unlikely to establish a significant market presence in many areas of the country."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco has held off on a House vote until the Senate acts. She has not decided how to move forward.
Blue Dog Democrats
In the House, the key players are the conservative, Blue Dog Democrats. Their 52 members are self-described fiscal conservatives who largely represent southern and Midwestern districts that swing back and forth between Democrats and Republicans.
Blue Dogs have received an average of $31,467 from health care lobbyists this year, more than the $27,385 average of other House members, according to federal figures compiled by The Chronicle.
But that dynamic doesn't hold true among California Democrats. The Golden State's seven Blue Dogs received less on average than their generally more conservative Blue Dog colleagues in other states, and less than California's other Democrats.
One reason: California is home to some of the House's top leaders, including Pelosi and committee chairs, including Rep. Pete Stark, D-Fremont, and Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles. Committee chairs generally pull in more campaign contributions because of the power they wield over the legislative flow.
"The feeling among the health care lobbyists may be that the California Democrats wouldn't be able to contradict their leadership," Berman said.
Online: Find out how much in campaign contributions your senator or representative received from the health care industry at sfgate.com/ZIES.
Health care money to members of Congress
Senate's "Gang of six"
Six Senate Finance Committee members who negotiated a health reform plan that goes before the committee Tuesday represent about 3 percent of the nation's population but received 25 percent more in campaign funds from health care interests than their Senate colleagues through June 30.
Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa - $223,600
Max Baucus, D-Mont. - $141,000
Kent Conrad, D-N.D. - $51,000
Mike Enzi, R-Wyo. - $18,000
Olympia Snowe, R-Maine - $9,000
Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. - $5,000
California senators
Barbara Boxer, D - $42,500
Dianne Feinstein, D - $15,500
House Blue Dogs
The fiscally conservative "Blue Dog" Democrats are a key constituency in the health care debate, receiving more campaign contributions, on average, than other members of the House of Representatives, except in California, which is home to powerful House committee chairs and leaders.
California Blue Dog Democrats
Mike Thompson, St. Helena - $81,750
Dennis Cardoza, Atwater (Merced County) - $38,000
Adam Schiff, Glendale (Los Angeles County) - $22,800
Joe Baca, San Bernardino - $13,650
Loretta Sanchez, Garden Grove (Orange Co.) - $7,900
Jane Harman, Venice (Los Angeles County) - $5,750
Jim Costa, Hanford (Kings County) - $1,000
Average, California Blue Dogs - $24,407
Average, Blue Dogs in other states - $31,467
Bay Area House members
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco - $188,900
Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto - $86,300
George Miller, D-Martinez - $33,500
Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton - $32,850
Pete Stark, D-Fremont - $31,751
Barbara Lee, D-Oakland - $25,650
Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose - $17,750
Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma - $12,425
Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough - $12,000
Mike Honda, D-San Jose - $11,500
Source: Federal election records through June 30, compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics and analyzed by The Chronicle.
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