Nate Silver: Health Care Industry Lobbying, Contributions Could Doom Public Option

FiveThirtyEight.com:

As I lamented yesterday, health care is one of those areas where both popular opinion and sound public policy seem to take a backseat to protecting those stakeholders who benefit from the status quo. But can we actually see -- statistically -- the impact of lobbying by the insurance industry on the prospects for health care reform? I believe that the answer is yes.

Read the whole story: FiveThirtyEight.com

Comments

[citizensrus]

Here's an idea..I will probably get jumped on for it. Maybe we can cut back on what we fund Israel for their arms.

[PhilipTaylor]

Results from Nate Silver's Model of Senator's Ideology, Health Spending in State, and PAC Campaign Contributions - use this list everywhere you go as a TOOL to bring these PEOPLE in line with 74% of Americans!

Democratic Senators Uncommitted on Public Option

Senator --- Probability of Public Option Support

Begich 87.4%
Byrd 84.6%
Cantwell 80.9%
Dorgan 73.1%
Tester 65.1%
Wyden 57.3%
Nelson, Bill 54.4%
Hagen 52.2%
Lieberman 45.1%
Udall, M. 39.1%
Carper 37.7%
Feinstein 31.1%
Bennet 27.4%
Conrad 24.7%
Pryor 23.0%
Reid 19.8%
Bayh 11.7%
Lincoln 5.5%
Nelson, Ben 1.0%
Warner 0.7%
Baucus, Max 0.6%

21 Senators that NEED CONVERSIONS to the PUBLIC OPTION!

When are we going to get Campaign Funding Reforms to make our Votes count after the November Election?

How can we win with 38 Democrats for a Strong Public Option?

Why is Max Baucus head of anything to do with Healthcare or Insurance?

[nomorefed]

1st 100 days - There are 2.9 million more people unemployed in May than there were unemployed in January. The unemployment rate went from 7.6% to 9.4%.
Since May 2008, we have lost 5.5 million jobs. The biggest losers were:
Manufacturing 1.5 million lost
Finance & Prof Serv 1.5 million lost
Construction 1.1 million lost
Retail & Leisure 1.3 million lost

hat tip to href=".http://www.iamned.com"> for providing good finance and economics articles

where is the change? where is hope? why cant ppl find jobs?

[blueken]

It took 8 years of de-regulation and pre-emptive war to get us here, and you want it fixed in 100 days? I don't think so. This country has been talking about health care reform since Eisenhower and you want this cleaned up in 100 days? I am very frustrated with the president right now. I am hoping that he will see that he can't work with the GOP and just get busy fixing this country, but 100 days? Come on!

[PhilipTaylor]

Bush&Company really Messed America UP!

$306 to Wall Street for every $1 to Main Street!

Stop the EL1TE Oligarchy with Campaign Funding Reform and Audit the FED!

FED DEBT Generation = Transition from # 1 Creditor Nation to # 1 Debtor Nation!

[citizensrus]

We were told we were headed for a recession..with many saying a Depression. A depression is generally thought of as a recession that lasts years.
If President Obama can just arrest the damage Bush did ..it would be a great achievement.
So far, although I'm not in agreement with the centrist vision Obama has (but I knew this before he was elected)..I'm happy, because I believe he is dealing straight with us. At least as straight as one can hopefully expect from a politician.

[totaldisbelief]

I've been reading a book about retiring out of the USA and the health care in some other places is just as good and a whole lot cheaper than in the USA.

[totaldisbelief]

But Congress people have their health benefits for life.
I strongly suggest that come election time voters throw out any congress people that voted against any health care plan (and I mean a real one not some watered -down excuse for a real plan)
It's way past time to kick the Congressprostitutes to the curb.

[PlanetKansas]

We all express shock at the mullahs controlling the outcome of the Iranian elections. How is the control of Wall Street, Insurance and Pharmaceuticals on our government any different?

After Tiennaman Square, the Chinese did not give up power, and instead medicated the populace with personal freedoms, mostly to consume. We have the same personal freedoms, but it is an illusion to think the people have a say in how our government is run. Same as it ever was.

[infodoc1]

The struggle for public health care has made it more clear than ever to what degree congress is beholden to their corporate masters. Maybe Obama can create another house of congress that responds to the people's interest rather than to corporate donors.

[Slick88]

"rather than to corporate donors" - don't you mean corporate "johns"?

[ThePeacemakers]

But how many votes do the lobbyists have???

[MaidinMossyCreek]

K-Street is Congresses Ayatollah.

[joecoolconservative]

Myth busters. Read it if you dare - http://emac.blogs.foxbusiness.com/2009/06/23/health-care-myths/

[everonward]

Well, I guess we know what side Fox business is on, what a surprise.

[joecoolconservative]

Prove it wrong - if you can.

[HisPetGoat]

But that's just corporate propoganda.

[everonward]

Enter your zip code here and find your elected officials, let them know your views on health care and the public option:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

[Slick88]

I do - everyone of them (including the White House) every week. But I don't have 100k to throw them - so all I get is the same canned email responce. But I keep sending them every week.

[everonward]

Yes, we're at a disadvantage because we don''t have lobbyists and lots of cash to throw at them. I called all mine today, they were all receptive, though the one republican was somewhat less so.

[lobear00]

All members of the Congress taking "Bribes" should be charged with "Treason". Working against the interest of the citizens of the United States should be considered "Treason". This regime in the congress is no different than the one in Iran, N. Korea, or Alaska!

[HisPetGoat]

Let's just take up a collection and offer a larger bribe to support the Public Option.

[doublethink]

Yet another perfect example of how our elected officials are bought and paid for by special interest. This is why the artificial two party system is a double headed beast which represents the far "right" and the moderate "right" and not the people. The k street lobby and the federal reserve have ruined our young country in which many of our ancestors died for. The federal and state governments are rouge and illegitimate and do not have the Americans interests in line. The powerful international elitists who own the debt now run the decisions being made on the Americans behalf. We must collectively stand up and say NO to this hijacking of America.

[quindy]

If you want to support public option go to

www.StandwithDrDean.com