$1.4 Million Dollars Per Day

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.afscmeblog.org/2009/07/08/1-point-4-million-dollars-per-day/?__utma=1.2346843193277722000.1237762290.1247010996.1247187327.44&__utmb=1.1.10.1247187327&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1246579580.41.13.utmcsr=unionplus.org|utmccn=(referral)|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/&__utmv=-&__utmk=123756554

July 8th, 2009

Think Progress points to this story from the Washington Post about the massive amount of money being spent to block health care reform:

The health care industry is spending more than $1.4 million a day on lobbying against President Obama’s health care reform effort. As part of this “record-breaking influence campaign,” the nation’s “largest insurers, hospitals and medical groups have hired more than 350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress” to lobby Capitol Hill “in hopes of influencing their old bosses and colleagues” on health care legislation.

More from the Post article:

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. And even in a city where lobbying is a part of life, the scale of the effort has drawn attention. For example, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) doubled its spending to nearly $7 million in the first quarter of 2009, followed by Pfizer, with more than $6 million.

“Influencing” is a euphemism for killing any meaningful reform in the legislation and keeping the status quo. We’re not about to let that happen. Real health care reform means:

* Coverage we can afford;
* Comprehensive benefits we can count on;
* Choice of a private or public health insurance plan;
* No taxation of health care benefits; and
* Equal access to quality care.

Counter the influence of the health care industry by calling the Senate right now. We make it easy for you: just give us your phone number and we’ll patch you through directly. (Click the link to take action)

[abumbyanyothername]

1. Great link Steve.

btw -- love your posts.

Council Bluffs Jim (formerly at least, now of Santa Monica, but stay tuned as financial stresses may necessitate a change back)

[imdjh]

2. Why isn't this front page news? Why isn't it on TV? Congress is selling us out, and DU...

.... is the only place you hear about it.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

3. K&R

[Wednesdays]

4. K&R

:kick:

[spanone]

5. working AGAINST the people...ain't that america

[WeDidIt]

6. The US doesn't HAVE a Health Care Industry.

It has a Death Deciding Industry. Human lives are weighed against dollars and cents. Those not highly valued, die.

[Omaha Steve]

7. Kick