Winners & losers; With Democrats taking control of both the U.S. Congress and the Indiana House, here's what it could mean to some of the state's big

Pharmaceuticals

Expect some quick and dramatic shifts under a Democratic House on issues from prescription prices to the drug-approval process. Both will cost drug companies money.

Democrats have promised to rewrite the Medicare drug benefit to allow the government to negotiate lower prices with pharmaceutical companies.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the likely next House speaker, has said she will seek such legislation within 100 hours after the new House convenes. Rep. Henry Waxman, the likely new chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, has said he will increase oversight of prescription drug prices for consumers.

The pharmaceutical industry has been a big supporter of Republicans, pouring millions of dollars into political campaigns.

Indiana, home of Eli Lilly and Co., has about 274,000 jobs directly tied to the health and life-sciences industry, or nearly 10 percent of all Indiana jobs.

-- John Russell

Utilities

The industry has reason to fear and cheer a Legislature controlled by Democrats.

Utilities already have won tax incentives for coal-gasification power plants.

But they might face proposals to get more of their energy from renewable or alternative sources. Such a plan died in committee last session, when Republicans controlled the House.

In Congress, tougher regulation of carbon dioxide emissions could come sooner with Democrats in control.

--J.K. Wall

Automotive/manufacturing

Manufacturers hope Democrats will take a tougher stance on trade, especially with China.

The Precision Metalforming Association has called for China to revalue its currency, making imports more expensive in the U.S.

Automakers, however, hope Democrats won't try to ratchet up mileage standards as a way to push the industry toward alternative energy technology.

"Legislative efforts to increase CAFE (mileage) standards have been rejected by a bipartisan majority of legislators on several occasions,'' said Charles Territo, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

-- Ted Evanoff

Telecommunications

Phone companies got most of what they wanted during the last session of the Indiana General Assembly with new laws regarding video service. But they haven't gotten them through Congress. That's good news for cable companies.

"Generally speaking, the telecom reform act that was passed last session was the culmination of several years of work and accomplished a great deal," said John E. Koppin, president of the Indiana Telecommunications Association.

"There was an effort to replicate some of the reforms that were made here on a national level," Koppin said. "We doubt those issues will move forward with any speed."

-- Erika D. Smith

Health care/Insurance

The cost of health care is a hot-button issue for Democrats.

Republicans championed "consumer-driven'' health care, giving consumers more say in medical treatment but also requiring them to pay more of the bill.

Democrats are likely to push for broader health coverage, said Daniel Evans, chief executive of Indianapolis hospital system Clarian Health Partners.

At the state level, Evans expects the governor's office to announce plans to expand Medicare coverage to provide coverage for uninsured Hoosiers.

-- Daniel Lee