A Democratic lawmaker in Maine double dips as a fellow at an influential healthcare advocacy group that is taking steps to shape drug policies across the United States, records show.
Drew Gattine, former chairman of the Maine Democratic Party and a member of the Pine Tree State's legislature, is also a senior policy consultant for the National Academy for State Health Policy, a nonprofit group that has backed Obamacare and crafted model bills aiming to lower prescription drug prices, including in Maine, documents show. This same lawmaker has also been testifying in several states on behalf of the Maine-based NASHP in connection to drug-related measures that could impose stricter regulations, according to records reviewed by the Washington Examiner.
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"Looking at this situation, it’s easy to see why the public’s trust in government at all levels continues to decline," said Michael Chamberlain, director of Protect the Public's Trust, an ethics watchdog group. "People rightfully look skeptically at the revolving door where individuals move rather seamlessly between lobbying and government service. This doesn’t just create perception issues in the eyes of the public, there is a very real danger of potential conflicts as the same matters he lobbies on could come before him as an elected representative."
NASHP identifies as nonpartisan, though it has held ties to the Democratic Party over the years. The group, which develops policies that "advance high quality and affordable health care, and address health equity," successfully pushed for the extension of Obamacare subsidies under President Joe Biden. It also paid the Democratic lobbying firm Avenue Solutions $654,000 between 2017 and 2020 for "consulting services," according to tax forms reported on by the Washington Examiner.
Gattine served in Maine's House from 2012 to 2020 before going on to chair Maine's Democratic Party from 2021 to 2022. He was reelected in December 2022 to the legislature, which is part time and pays over $16,000 for the first session and roughly $11,600 for the second session.
At the same time, Gattine has been a fellow for NASHP since September 2020, according to the group's website. In July 2019, for instance, the group touted how Maine passed a law, based on its model proposal, that requires drug manufacturers to disclose to the government when wholesale acquisition costs are hiked. Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) also signed a bill into law in April 2022, following a NASHP proposal under the same name, which limits certain prescription drug prices based on their going rates in Canadian provinces.
"Drew played a lead role in NASHP’s efforts to design impactful and innovative model legislation to rein in the high cost of prescription drugs and supported NASHP’s partners in the executive and legislative branches as they work to implement those policies," NASHP says on its website, noting that the lawmaker once chaired the legislature's Health and Human Services Committee.
Gattine has recently advocated on behalf of NASHP in states mulling bills that would purportedly lower drug prices. He submitted written testimony to the Minnesota and Oregon legislatures in February, documents show. Last March, he also submitted written testimony to North Dakota's legislature, according to meeting minutes and a presentation reviewed by the Washington Examiner.
It's unclear how much Gattine earns per year through his senior NASHP role, and Maine lawmakers do not have to report on their financial disclosure how much income they pull in from outside employers. NASHP, however, has said in the past that several of its employees have pocketed well above six figures, tax forms show. It disclosed on 2020 tax forms that Trish Riley, its former longtime president and board of directors head, received over $270,000 annually.
Two Republican Maine representatives expressed ethical concerns to the Washington Examiner over Gattine double dipping as a NASHP consultant. Jeffrey Adams, an Air Force veteran and first-term lawmaker, said there's a clear conflict of interest.
"It shouldn't be allowed," he said, noting that the GOP should "probably" investigate the matter. "It is definitely concerning if he's working for a group and he's writing policy as well."
State Rep. Randall Greenwood thinks the situation has the "appearance" of a conflict.
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"It sounds like he's lobbying outside of his legislative duties," Greenwood told the Washington Examiner.
Gattine and the National Academy for State Health Policy did not reply to requests for comment.