Rep. Boustany Hauled in $1.25 Million From Health and Insurance Industry

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Republican Congressman Slated to Oppose President Obama's Health Care Plan
Hooked on Health and Insurance Campaign Contributions

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Public Campaign Action Fund
raised serious conflict of interest questions about Rep. Charles Boustany
(R-La.) and the expected opposing remarks he will deliver tonight in response
to President Barack Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress on health
care reform.

According to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Rep. Boustany has
received $1,256,056 from health and insurance interests since first being
elected in 2004. The total counts for more than 20 percent of all of his
fundraising.

"There is a conflict of interest when members of Congress stand before the
public and recite the same talking points put forth by lobbyists and the heads
of insurance and HMO giants opposing health care legislation," commented David
Donnelly, national campaigns director of Public Campaign Action Fund. "Rep.
Boustany has taken more than $160,000 in campaign contributions from insurance
and HMO interests alone. Do you think he'll disclose that to his national
audience tonight? It's time to end the money chase and pass the Fair Elections
Now Act."

Introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and in the House of
Representatives by Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), the Fair Elections Now Act
(S.752, H.R. 1826) would create a voluntary system of public financing that
provides candidates with a limited sum of public funds once they demonstrate
broad community support. Candidates are also able to raise additional funds in
small amounts on top of the grant that are matched on a four to one basis, up
to a limit, and are eligible to receive media vouchers for airtime. Because
the system is voluntary and places no further restrictions on those who choose
not to participate, the law is constitutional.

Public Campaign Action Fund is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to
passing comprehensive public financing of elections and working to hold
elected officials accountable for the favors they give to special interest
donors.
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS225937+09-Sep-2009+PRN20090909

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