Hundreds Of Former Lawmakers And Congressional Staffers Hired To Lobby On Health Care

Washington Post:

The nation's largest insurers, hospitals and medical groups have hired more than 350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress in hopes of influencing their old bosses and colleagues, according to an analysis of lobbying disclosures and other records.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Mikeeee]

The solution appears to be to make it illegal for any former Gov employee to work for a lobbying company of any type with the addition that former Gov employees cannot discuss business of any type with current Gov employees, except on social or personal issues.
Any breach of this should be grounds for immediate dismissal of Gov employee and a charge of interference in Gov business for the ex employee.

[emailers2]

Not bad but a better solution would be to bar any member of Congress from offering, supporting or voting on any legislation, resolution, etc. that would effect any donor to the member, or his/her party.
The only problem is it would take years for any legislation to appear.

[bannorhill]

So throw out the constitution.

It does not matter when it says "Congress shall make no law respecting­... the right of the... to petition the government for a redress of grievances­." That's not important.

[IndelibleVoice]

Maybe the GOP and lobbyists are tying up health-care just long enough to try and vilify single-payer and public option in the minds of "non-political" Americans?

[frappe]

They'll try...and they have been using all of their scare tactics that they can muster, ("government run" health care) but they won't succeed. People have finally reached their breaking point on this subject. And as the truth finally, finally begins to rise to the surface, a tsunami of public support for at least a strong public option will emerge and become a normal and accepted part of the debate.

[mountainweb]

Why would the GOP bother when the democrats are doing such a good job?

[numbnuts]

Just think if all that effort and money actually went to health care.

[MNTom]

No wonder my Insurance keeps going up.

[frappe]

It's like a "private corporate tax"...(fo­r those who only complain about "government taxes").

Governments charge for their services (taxes). Private corporations charge for their services, too. It's called a "price". Although an important distinction between the two is that one is involuntary while the other is voluntary, where health care is concerned, it's virtually involuntary. After all, who wants to be without health care coverage? The answer: No one does.

So, back to my original point -- health care insurance premiums can be considered as a form of "tax"...An­d these "taxes" have been draining our personal and public budgets to the tune of 20%. That's right. One out of every five dollars is spent on health care. Such a cost, if allowed to continue by our congress, would constitute a serious dereliction of duty and responsibility.

[melodramy]

This is a very good frame on the issue.

[darker]

ALL Former Lawmakers And Congressional Staffers MUST BE BANNED
from LOBBYING. It is HORRIFIC CORRUPTION.

[obamanomics]

Stop regulation, and you stop lobbying. The lobbiest has a first amendment right. You want to regulate their businesses, but don't want them to have a voice in what's going on. That was a major part of why we split from great brittain. Taxation without representation.

[MaximMaximus]

Another non-sensical comment from the intellectual midget called Obamanomics. The lobbiest's do what they do to ensure the lawmakers seek their interests and not that of the public. It has nothing to do with taxation. And deregulation with no horizon in sight is what caused the mess in which we are. It created an atmosphere in which corporate America corrupted itself. Get a clue you little living proof of Darwin!

[numbnuts]

Since when is it a amendment right to pay off politicians and dump tons of money on them. Congress can show some responsibility with lobbing and follow the will of there constituents not business.

[frappe]

A "voice" is one thing, but outright bribery is quite another. We are all very familiar with our constitutional rights of "free speech", etc., but any attempt to cast this argument in such terms is like putting lipstick on a pig. It bears no distinction to the reality of what is happening -- buying votes and soliciting favors based upon some kind of payoff, whether it be an outright contribution to a political campaign or a promise of a job at some future date. It's wrong, plain and simple. And if you were intellectually honest, you would admit as much.

[Mort]

VOTES FOR SALE!! GET YOUR RIPE, NEW VOTES RIGHT HERE!!! BEST ONES TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER!!

[IndelibleVoice]

What will car insurance and health insurance soon have in common? You'll be required by law to purchase both. This is a huge win-fall for the health insurance industry -- just as it was for the car insurance industry. Either get covered or face a fine. That's the reform coming out of the Senate, without single-payer and without public option...

Without the money these lobbyists have, what else can the average American do but stand back and watch in disgust...

[frappe]

There WILL be a strong and viable public option that comes out of this process or there will be hell to pay at the polls in November, 2010. We will all be watching and listening closely and we will remember. When 3 out of every 4 Americans want a strong public option, with the remaining 25% who are opposed somewhere to the right of Attila the Hun, representatives are placing their political careers in serious risk. And you can bet that progressive organizations like MoveOn and others will be sure to remind voters well before the mid-term elections of who was and was not on the side of the American people during this critical health care debate.

[BeasleysMom]

Get involved with the efforts of Move On. The gops hate them. Wonder why?

www.moveon.org

[IndelibleVoice]

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you're right! But, if the recent past is any indication, these people get what they want or else fly well under the radar to get it...

[frappe]

There WILL be a strong and viable public option that comes out of this process or there will be he!l to pay at the polls in November, 2010. We will all be watching and listening closely and we will remember. When 3 out of every 4 Americans want a strong public option, with the remaining 25% who are opposed somewhere to the right of Attila the Hun, representatives are placing their political careers in serious risk. And you can bet that progressive organizations like MoveOn and others will be sure to remind voters well before the mid-term elections of who was and was not on the side of the American people during this critical health care debate.

[newtom]

Right.... $1.4 million a day of the money they've already made off Americans many of whom can barely afford proper healthcare.

Bring all the options BACK on the table! Including SINGLE PAYER!!! What happened to limited access for Lobbyists, Mr President? Where's the change?

[psch]

It's like they are using "bl.o.o.d" money to continue the system that provides them with the b.l.o.od money.

[SinfullySublime]

That is EXACTLY what they're doing.

[numbnuts]

Why do you think he had such a hard time filling his cabinet. The POTUS can't control what congress does.

[newtom]

Two words:

Executive Order.

OK, two more words: Democrat majority.

DO SOMETHING WITH IT, Mr President!

[december30]

All this is going and yet, many are STILL bashing President Obama for trying to get health care for all Americans. WE need to speak out for ourselves and our President more. Please, write, call your elected officials.

[bannorhill]

How much is Obama spending a day pushing his health care reform?

[BeasleysMom]

"His" health care reform? What is this "his?" It is OUR health care reform that he is fighting for. That is his JOB. It will not benefit him. He and his family will be guaranteed good health care for rest of their lives.

I hope you will enjoy paying excessively for YOUR health care if this is not passed. Or do you think that you don't need health care insurance? American who fight against this seem to be unable to think ahead to what will happen if they are unemployed and lose their employer provided policy.

[bannorhill]

It is not MINE. It is NOTHING like what I want. I want the government to stay OUT of health care. It is already wasting TOO much of my money.

I know I will pay more for less if the government runs it.

The real sollution is to allow portability of coverage if you leave your job. We do not need socialized government run health care to get that.

[obamanomics]

Not sure, but my guess is more than 1.4 million. Staged town hall meetings where DNC staffers ask unimportant, softball, question cost money.

[BeasleysMom]

Hmm. All those tactics were just fine with you during the Bush administration.

[bannorhill]

You forget flying all over the country to do it.

[Militant Leftist]

The opponents of economic democracy will do anything in their power to defeat the moral imperative of universal healthcare. What greater example of e v i / incarnate is there?

[bannorhill]

I will fight for my right to keep the government out of my life.

I can decide for myself how to spend my money on healthcare.

[Militant Leftist]

You're welcome to stay in the 19th century then comrade. Good luck.

[layman]

Congressional personnel, former and current, form the machinery of legalinzing the illegal; in this case, another form of public looting.

It's legal to loot publicly in this country if you'r able to buy and to bride into congressional parasites, former and otherwise with power or influence. This type of legislature will soon collapse,and bankrupt the nation, morally, financiallyand structurallly.

[HarrysLeSabre]

Q: What do these three men have in common?:

Armey, Gephardt, Cheney.

A: They are all stealing your money under the guise of protection.

[bannorhill]

They have not taken one cent of my money since they left congress. They sure took a lot when they were in congress. I don't want congress to take more.

[Swatantra]

Now I want to see a close look at the "former government staff members and retired members of Congress" to verify that they are complying with what I call "The Firewall Rule".

As ordered by President Obama:

Post-Government "Cooling Off" Period

http://www.cleanupwashington.org/lobbying/page.cfm?pageid=40

Pay close attention to the enforcement of these rules!

[bannorhill]

Did it pass into law?

Or does the First Amendment still apply.

[walleymr]

and all this time, i thought insurance companies didn't like to pay out money ...