Blue Dogs Rolling In Health Industry Money

McClatchy:

As the Obama administration and Democrats wrangled over the timing, shape and cost of health care overhaul efforts during the first half of the year, more than half the $1.1 million in campaign contributions the Democratic Party's Blue Dog Coalition received came from the pharmaceutical, health care and health insurance industries, according to watchdog organizations.

Read the whole story: McClatchy

Comments

[beaglecloud]

How many on here realize that any money paid by medicare (and you have to hit the deducible) is considered income? If they pay 50.00 to your doctor that is send on a 1099 at the end of the year. Is that what you really want? Do you really want the government taxing health benefits? Trust me they will if they get an opportunity for the one payer system. You will find yourself paying lots more taxes. They will get their money, and you will get screwed. Medicare if not a good system. They FORCE you to go on it when you claim SS benefits. I carry my own health insurance (cigna) and its a hell of a lot better than the 100 a month I have to pay for the medicare part D (required or you are penalized.). I signed up for SS benefits...my insurance went from 100 a month with my employers to 300 a month with SS benefits, and anything they pay is taxed as income. Folks.....you need to keep the government out of the health insurance business....its all about money from the insurance companies to the campaigns of these people, including Obama. He is just a Chicago criminal you voted in as your president....you are all fools.

[MrJM]

What are Blue Dog Democrats?

Moderate legislators from small population, low-cost media markets where a few million campaign dollars either way can swing the results of the election.

In other words, Blue Dogs are disproportionately powerful, inexpensive, low-hanging fruit for corporations.

-- MrJM

[lobear00]

The question should be where in the world is "Our so-called Justice Department. There's a whole lot of Criminals in our government who should be behind bars. This nation as it stands today has nothing to be proud of, but everything to be ashamed of .

[ddDinah]

SWEEP, SWEEP, SWEEP....Obama compaigned against George's meeting behind closed doors with Pharm's and deciding there will be NO BIDDING FOR LOWER PRICES FOR DRUGS AND MEDICARE AND YET HE DID THE SAME. He has on a continual basis ignored his campaign promises. Obama has complained about HIGH COSTS in Medicare and YET he has SAID NO to a major issue that would save a whole lot of money for Medicare. Tell me what part of this that makes sense. I DON'T TRUST HIM ANYMORE.
And by the way is Obama spending money for his campaign for Health Care that could be deemed a conflict with being President and the Democrat Party. I remember how Karl Rove was found in a conflict for using his position in the Bush administration for promoting the RNC's agenda.

And by the way, O'S NO NAME HEALTH CARE PLAN IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

[lobear00]

So was George bush, and Cheny's meeting with the Oil Rats, did you open your loud mouth at that time !

[AllieMD]

Here is a lil tip for you. Republicans are usually captialists - we *like* big business - so we had no trouble with Bush and Cheney working with them.

[OpposingViewpoint]

Here is another sector of "the industry" and their recipients from inside the beltway. The Blue Dogs are not the only canines eating well. Don't be fooled, it's the entire kennel that needs muzzled.


Pharmaceuticals / Health Products: Money to Congress
1989-2010
Top 20 Members
Source: opensecrets.org

Candidate Amount
Obama, Barack (D) $2,153,090
Hatch, Orrin G (R-UT) $1,303,374
Specter, Arlen (D-PA) $1,084,316
Ferguson, Mike (R-NJ) $967,251
Clinton, Hillary (D-NY) $926,579
Kerry, John (D-MA) $855,043
McCain, John (R-AZ) $845,865
Johnson, Nancy L (R-CT) $820,830
Baucus, Max (D-MT) $751,605
Barton, Joe (R-TX) $747,488
Dingell, John D (D-MI) $723,734
Harkin, Tom (D-IA) $723,632
Burr, Richard (R-NC) $718,697
Santorum, Rick (R-PA) $717,698
Eshoo, Anna (D-CA) $669,283
Lieberman, Joe (I-CT) $612,540
Dodd, Chris (D-CT) $581,778
Thomas, Bill (R-CA) $572,550
Hastert, Dennis (R-IL) $566,250
Rangel, Charles B (D-NY) $558,752

[AllieMD]

Interesting - if that is the cummulative total from 1989-2010 - Obama wasn't even a Senator for most of those years - not til 2005 - and his take is still the highest.

[OpposingViewpoint]

These numbers reflect those contributions (top 20) for house and senate seats. Contributions to presidential candidates are tallied separately. One more thing, these two totals are for only two of the four industry sectors, it gets much worse.

[KarateKid]

The important question is: who on this list is trying to obstruct health care reform???

[AllieMD]

Pretty much all of them. Obama has not pushed single payer, he's backed away some from public option, back door deals with big pharma - the Congress - all of them went on vacation without any agreement. None of them are going to do major overhaul - they are not going to bite the hand that has fed them. Some are just more open and upfront about it.

[jimmygee]

This is news? There all on the take. They'll pimp anything for money. I'm just tired of them pimping me.

[OpposingViewpoint]

Right you are jimmygee, both sides of the aisle have been bought. Some folks and the media would have you believe millions of dollars in "contributions" should only be reported when one group of politicians can be singled out for criticism or whenever it fits into the story of the day. Ask yourself, when was the last time you were provided an unbiased accounting of contributions to Congress and the power elite by the MSM. I am a registered non-aligned Independent that has grown tired of the duplicity and polarization on both sides of the aisle. The Repubs have become the party of "NO" while the Dems have become the party of "Yes, we CAN'T". Each blaming the other for the gridlock, greed, duplicity, and corruption that is pervasive from both sides. Main Street, having bought into the divisiveness eagerly served to them by both sides, doesn't care so long as they continue with the lefty / righty BS that is sending this country down the proverbial drain hole in the bottom of the sink.

[OpposingViewpoint]

It's not just the Blue Dogs, It's not just the Red Dogs, it's practically the entire darn kennel taking a bite out of our collective behinds. Here are the honest to goodness numbers and names of the recipients from just one sector of "the industry. This article is biased and meant to serve the progressive ideology, don't fall for anything less than the whole truth.

Health Services/HMOs: Money to Congress

1989-2010
Top 20 Members
Source: opensecrets.org

Candidate Amount
Obama, Barack (D) $1,463,550
Clinton, Hillary (D-NY) $851,491
Johnson, Nancy L (R-CT) $629,282
Kerry, John (D-MA) $535,190
McCain, John (R-AZ) $499,403
Baucus, Max (D-MT) $463,350
Specter, Arlen (D-PA) $324,909
Northup, Anne M (R-KY) $316,431
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) $283,952
Rangel, Charles B (D-NY) $283,050
Thomas, Bill (R-CA) $277,954
Gephardt, Richard A (D) $275,179
Santorum, Rick (R-PA) $259,158
Lieberman, Joe (I-CT) $255,417
Grassley, Chuck (R-IA) $251,115
Ensign, John (R-NV) $244,804
Hatch, Orrin G (R-UT) $236,557
Lincoln, Blanche (D-AR) $209,499
Dodd, Chris (D-CT) $202,355
Kyl, Jon (R-AZ) $199,065

Again, don't be fooled. It gets even worse when you combine the remaining three sectors of this industry. 100's of millions of $ to BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

[Phxflyer]

This is news? It has been clear since the start of this that these guys are bought and paid for.

[AllShookUp]

If you think our health care is the best in the world, guess again. The article below is a must-read.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/opinion/27kristof.html?_r=2&ref=opinion

[motoGpifupleez]

Our corporate masters don't car which party is in "power" because they know who really runs the program.

[babyboomerorig]

Honestly, I don't care what the issue is, anytime you allow a major industry into your fund raising you've committed the biggest sin against the citizens of this country.

As citizens, we don't have the money or access to any politician outside our own state or district to voice our concerns. Loud mouthes and bullies at town hall meetings are only there to interrupt any sort of civil conversation.

It's absolutely disgusting to me that big business has so much pull and power. They don't take care of their own employees, but have open access to politicians to line their pockets and take us out of the equation.

This is the most dispicable practice that we've allowed to happen in DC.

[Rugger]

Does anyone want to factor the cost to US GDP of all the personal bankruptcies that result from the barbaric U..S. practice of health care for profit? Just because something isn't counted on the balance sheet doesn't mean its not there. The U.S. taxpayer ends up paying the bill so the health insurers can enjoy their profits.

[AllieMD]

Do you know how many bankruptcies are claimed to be 'medical'? And how it compares to the size of the population? The US taxpayer does not supply money for bankruptcies, nor do they pay for anyone's care except medicaid and medicare patients.

[Waltb31]

You are seriously misinformed about the health care problem in this country.

[blakeart]

Read what George Carlin thinks about these ‘Rich “P****ks’ that dont care about you AT ALL, AT ALL!”
( that's a quote, people ) in his latest Guest Post here:

http:blame­blakeart.w­ordpress.c­om

ps - it's not only informative, but funny. Funny ha ha.

[AllieMD]

Hmm, political advice from a dead guy.........

[blakeart]

Whoops - here's a link that works -

http://blameblakeart.wordpress.com

[lillypad1]

is this a surprise?

[nevergiveup]

one-term wonders--wonder what they were thinking. That we wouldn't notice their deceit, treachery, dishonesty, selling their souls, selling out our health care. For money. They suck.

[AllieMD]

that would be Obama.......

Obama - Health Services/HMO's - $1.4 million in 2008
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=H03&cycle=All&recipdetail=M&sortorder=U

Obama - Pharma - $1.1 million in 2008
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=H4300&cycle=All&recipdetail=M&sortorder=U