And she’s steamed. On a visit to Penn Law in March, Pingree, using the battle over Medicare as a case study, railed against the pernicious influence of big money in politics, and how special interests continue to pervert democracy.

Speaking at an event sponsored by the Penn Law American Constitution Society, Pingree said the Medicare bill, which takes effect in 2006, will ultimately hurt the people it is supposed to benefit: senior citizens.

“We are paying the highest prices in the world because our government has been unwilling to negotiate for the best possible price,” said Pingree.

Pingree said pharmaceutical companies, which generate more than half the profits of all the Fortune 500 companies, worked feverishly to protect their investment. The industry spent $120 million to lobby Congress and state officials, and employed seven lobbyists per senator, she said.

And to make matters worse, she said, the pharmaceutical industry had friends in government. Medicare head John Scully, a former industry executive, sought a job with a lobbying firm for drug companies while deliberations over the bill were taking place.

But such conflicts of interest need not mar the political process, she said, pointing to Maine as an example of good government. Maine, where elections are publicly financed, was the first state to pass comprehensive campaign finance reform. While she led the Senate, the state also approved a prescription drug bill, Maine Rx Plus, that is expected to provide deep discounts to 275,000 uninsured residents.