Millions spent to sway health care opinions

[kpete]

Source: CNN

Millions spent to sway health care opinions

(CNN) -- The amount of money lobbyists are spending on health care reform could break records, and now that the five bills before Congress have cleared committee, that spending is expected to go into overdrive.

"It is sort of a Super Bowl of lobbying for health care reform. The lobbyists are winning so far. But the game's not over yet," said Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tennessee.

As lawmakers work to come up with a plan that can make it to President Obama's desk, industries and interests close to the issue are digging deeper into their pockets to sway public opinion and those in office.

The insurance industry launched its first air attack with an ad aimed at seniors.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/15/health.care.lobb...

[JuniperLea]

1. They will need to raise rates to recoup that spending...

Maybe lay off some people too. But you better not say one word about executive salaries and bonuses! To question such things is corporate sacrilege!

[tomm2thumbs]

2. Wendell Video from earlier - PBS full interview

I know this was posted but it certainly is more poignant today than ever - Moyers Interview with Cigna whistleblower
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QwX_soZ1GI

[jmondine]

3. Spin: Every dollar spent on lobbying is a dollar not being spent on life-saving treatment

[liberal N proud]

4. For the insurance companies, its an investment

They will turn around billions in the jacket up rates they will be drawing from us poor suckers.

[handmade34]

5. must destroy for-profit insurance companies.......

[ej510]

6. You can't take on the insurance industry in a capitalism society?

[Quantess]

7. Ultimately paid for by the peons who pay for their insurance policies.

[No Elephants]

8. Time for the politicians to work as hard giving speeches and interviews as they do when they run for

office.

Isn't that why we vote for them? To work hard for things like health care reform? 122 Americans die each and every day for lack of affordable health care. (RIP David.)

And that's not counting the millions, both insured and uninsured, who have to re-mortgage their homes, go into bankruptcy, etc. bc of out of control medical expenses.


Since when have businesses and associations of businesses NOT opposed legislation that affects them adversely, and spent as much money as they can to do that?

With a Democrat in the White House, sixty Democrats in the Senate and an overwhelming majority in the House, don't we have a right to expect health care reform, even if there is opposition to it? And the best they came up with was the BAUCUS bill?


Insurers do not vote on legislation. Neither do their dollars. Neither do Teabaggers, Rush Limbaugh, or Glenn Beck. Only the people WE put in office get to have a say on this. And only WE human being citizens get to vote. Not corporations and not their dollars.

Make it clear to DEMOCRATS in Washington, D. C. that you will be holding them accountable the next time you vote in a primary. And, if we don't get meaningful health care reform--emphasis on meaningful--make sure you are a member of your state Democratic Party and do your damndest to primary anyone who let us down.