Wake Up To The Health Care Crisis!

[FOTD]

Seems most everyone at TNF is on the same page with regard to healthcare. In the Single Payer thread, little division exists between posters much like the same consensus in our nation.  Unless you are a party to private industry's gross profiteering and denial of care, most want a solution to the health care crisis. There exists little cries of "that's socialism" on this forum. Why the reluctance to call out our politicians for not subscribing to the publics' will? There's a Dick Armey at work!

Familiar Players in Health Bill Lobbying
Firms Are Enlisting Ex-Lawmakers, Aides
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/05/AR2009070502770.html?hpid=topnews

By Dan Eggen and Kimberly Kindy
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, July 6, 2009
"The nation's largest insurers, hospitals and medical groups have hired more than 350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress in hopes of influencing their old bosses and colleagues, according to an analysis of lobbying disclosures and other records."

"The hirings are part of a record-breaking influence campaign by the health-care industry, which is spending more than $1.4 million a day on lobbying in the current fight, according to disclosure records."

"..public interest groups and reform advocates complain that the concentration of former government aides on K Street has distorted the health-care debate, and that it further illustrates the problem posed by the "revolving door" between government and private firms."

" The analysis identified more than 350 former government aides, each representing an average of four firms or trade groups. That tally does not include lobbyists who did not report their earlier government experience, such as PhRMA President W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, a former Republican congressman from Louisiana. Federal law does not require providing such detail."


And there's this!: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/01/baucus-battered-by-voters_n_209865.html
Now why would Senator Max Baucus keep single-payer advocates out of negotiations? Does receiving  $1,500 a day, every day, from January 2003 through 2008 from groups and individuals associated with drug companies, insurers, hospitals, medical supply firms, health service companies and other health professionals answer that question for you? It does for this demon.
And this!:http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_82f5d0c6-2998-5977-b58c-3e30df5ccfef.html

Sen. Baucus leads all of the committee Democrats with five health care lobbyist connections and Sen. Chuck Schumer and Tom Carper both have three connections.
These 20 staffers represent approximately 91 different organizations, often overlapping in the clients they handle. The overlap usually occurs when the health care lobbyists are employed at the same firm. This can be seen clearly with David Castagnetti, Sen. Baucus' former chief of staff, and Kelly Bingel, Sen. Blanche Lincoln's former chief of staff. Both Castagnetti and Bingel work for Mehlmen Vogel Castagnetti Inc. and handle nearly all the same clients.
The organizations represented by these 20 health care lobbyists include some of the biggest opponents to center piece of President Obama's health care plan: the public option. These include the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, PhRMA, and various pharmaceutical, medical device and insurance companies. The Senate Finance Committee is seen as the biggest obstacle to the public option.
http://assets.sunlightfoundation.com/images/blog/infographics/finance_committee/baucus_sfc_health.html


Senate Finance Committee Health Care Influence Cluster: The Democrats
http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2009/06/29/senate-finance-committee-health-care-influence-cluster-the-democrats/
"For Senate Finance Committee Democrats, the connections to the health care industry are wide and deep. Campaign contributions are high and staffers easily jump ship to lobby their former bosses. The impact of these influence measures are sure to be felt in the debate over the form of health care reform."

"Stay tuned later this week as we look at the other side of the committee: the Republicans."



It's time to stand and deliver POTUS OBAMA and corrupted members of congress. Quit with crapping up our country you crooks.

[guido911]

Apparently the House is wanting to tax the "rich" an additional 4% to help pay for health care reform. The rich in this model are those making over 200K.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a3wUXb42NPX0

[Cats Cats Cats]

Apparently the House is wanting to tax the "rich" an additional 4% to help pay for health care reform. The rich in this model are those making over 200K.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a3wUXb42NPX0

I think it is because you are always laughing at people who lost their jobs.

[guido911]

I think it is because you are always laughing at people who lost their jobs.

+1