Howard Deans goes after Max Baucus for accepting 3.9 million from health and insurance interests

masuki bance

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Tue Jul-21-09 03:23 PM
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Howard Deans goes after Max Baucus for accepting 3.9 million from health and insurance interests

Edited on Tue Jul-21-09 03:24 PM by masuki bance

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izNe4Bw_Ars

Posted on YouTube: July 20, 2009
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Posted on DU: July 21, 2009
By DU Member: masuki bance
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John Kerry may be next-

A week after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said it was a “waste of money to have Democrats running ads against Democrats,” two liberal groups launch an ad tomorrow that takes on one of the Senate’s most powerful Democrats.

The new ad from the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America singles out Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., for accepting more than $3.9 million dollars – more than any other senator -- from “health and insurance interests,” according to the coalition. The ad airs for one week in three markets in his home state: Billings, Butte-Bozeman, and Helena.

Baucus was the first winning recipient of the Democrat attack ad. In a 10 day contest, the Democratic coalition for the public option tallied 64,000 online votes as to whom the ad should target. Baucus received 23 percent of the vote out of seven other candidates, (while John Kerry was close behind with 20 percent). The ad is based on previous ads the coalition sponsored that scroll the names of its online supporters during the commercial.

The ad airs at precisely the time when other Democratic groups, namely the DNC, have also released ads -- albeit more sugar-coated -- in key states to sway moderate Democrats on heatlh care reform. Health Care for America Now (HCAN) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) launched an $800K TV ad campaign last week asking constituents of states to call their Democratic senators in support of the public option, while also naming names.

Baucus is not the only key senator voting on health care legislation receiving funds from the insurance industry. The Washington Post put together a list of key leaders in Congress who have a stake in the insurance industry.

ABC News’ called Baucus’ office for a response.

“As Senator Baucus continues to work to pass meaningful health care reform that lowers costs and improves quality, he is looking at all options and is only driven by one thing: what is right for Montana and the country. He will continue working together with the President, his colleagues in Congress and groups and individuals from across Montana and the nation to get this legislation passed,” his spokesperson said.

Although Baucus hasn't come out for or against of the public option, a spokesperson said he's working on provisions with the Senate Finance Committee that hold insurance companies feet to the fire, provisions that he hopes are bipartisan.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/07/liberal-groups-attack-dem-senator-baucus-on-health-care.html