Congress Bought Off By Health Insurance Companies

Posted on May 5th, 2009 by iwaller

U_S_Capitol.jpgThink I’m kidding?  Congress has received millions of campaign donations over the past few years from health insurance companies and drug companies with significant millions of dollars going to Congressional leaders who have influence of the health care of all Americans.

Health insurance companies and their employees contributed $2.2 million to the top 10 recipients in the House and Senate since 2005, while drug makers and their employees gave more than $3.3 million to top lawmakers during that period, according to an analysis of federal elections data by Consumer Watchdog, a California-based advocacy group.  Who benefitted?

  • Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), received $546,000
  • Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) received $425,000
  • Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) received $413,000
  • Rep John Boehner (R-Ohio) received $257,000
  • Rep Eric Cantor (R-Va.) received $249,000
  • Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) received $104,000
  • Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.) received $180,000

Most Americans know the banks and energy companies have been powerful lobbyist in Washington but the Health Insurance lobbyists have quietly become one of the largest as well and have spent nearly $1 billion dollars in just two years and are stepping up their efforts to buy influence in Congress in order to put their profits over the health and well-being of American children, families and senior citizens.

Consumer Watchdog, formerly known as the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, says the amount of money pouring into Congress from the health-care sector raises questions about the independence of lawmakers as they consider dramatic changes to the health-care system. The group conducted the study using Federal Election Commission data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, isolating the insurance and pharmaceutical categories from the broader health-care sector.

Jerry Flanagan, Consumer Watchdog’s health-care advocate, noted that Sen. Max Baucus was the top Democratic recipient of contributions from health insurers and drug makers over the past four years. Baucus has taken a leading role in the health-care reform debate, and he issued a “white paper” in November advocating the kind of mandatory-coverage approach favored by major insurance companies.  Baucus has all but shut out the wishes of many Americans in attempting to remove the ‘single-payer’ option which has infuriated millions of U.S. Citizens.

“The concern here is that money is buying influence and policy changes that help the industry but hurt the American people,” Flanagan said. “They want a policy that requires Americans to buy their product.”

We all know what happens when lobbyists give money, big money to Congress, the results are that the recipients protect health insurance and drug companies. Instead of being open and fair-minded in doing what is right for Americans paying the lifetime salaries of Congressional Leaders.

When Americans voted for Barack Obama we voted for change, we voted against the continued pillaging and greed by Congress.  Max Baucus needs to confirm to the wishes of the electorate or the citizens of the great state of Montana need to vote him out of office for not representing the best interest of Americans.

Americans clearly want a choice and millions of Americans want the Single-payer option:

In February 2009 the Grove Insight Opinion Research revealed more than six in 10 Americans (64%) support federal legislation to create this public health plan option.  In the same month, the New York Times/CBS News Poll showed 59% of Americans say the government should provide national health insurance, including 49% who say such insurance should cover all medical problems.

Americans should have a choice to stay with their private insurance carriers, for those who can afford it, or to have the option of a single-payer plan by expanding the existing Medicare program for families who so choose.

All Americans deserve guaranteed health care coverage that will not bankrupt our families if we get sick or where families have to make choices to put food on the table or seek medical care because the cost of health insurance and prescription drugs are so expensive that only wealthy Americans and Congress can afford them.  There is absolutely no reason America should not have the world’s best cost effective health care in the world, but Congress and politicians put their greed above and before Middle America.

To add your voice to Single-Payer health care option contact

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Filed under: American Injustice

One Response to “Congress Bought Off By Health Insurance Companies”

  1. Jim S , on October 4th, 2009 at 4:54 pm Said:

    What has happened in America is an absolute disgrace. Congress no longer represents the will of the people who elected them and now represents the people who slip money into their pockets. This country is doomed if people don’t hit the streets and march on Washington and scare the bejebus out of these crooked politicians. Too bad most people don’t have the same guts to save our country that our marines do.

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