Wednesday, July 8th, 2009
Billions for bribes “lobbying,” but not one cent for health care!*
That seems to be the motto of CIGNA, Aetna, Kaiser Permanente, United Health Group and the rest of the major health insurers, according to Raw Story.
The healthcare industry is spending upwards of $1.4 million each day on average to lobby members of Congress on health care legislation, a report issued by Common Cause this week reveals.
Industry spending has nearly doubled since 2000. Healthcare interests contributed $94 million to Congress members during the 2008 election cycle alone — up from $40 million in 2000.
Common Cause’s report has received almost no treatment in the press — with a single article in Bloomberg News and one in the National Journal.
The industry is attempting to alter the course of Democrats’ plans to provide universal health coverage for most Americans.
You’d think that if they have this much money to bribe Congress with, surely they could spare some pocket change for, say, ACTUALLY COVERING POLICYHOLDERS. You’d be sorely mistaken. This story comes barely a month after the murder-by-spreadsheet industry responded to demands by Congress to stop culling the poor and minorities by spitting in Congress’ face en masse.
Talk about chutzpah.
* With apologies to Robert Goodloe Harper.
