Grassley Receives $150K From Health Insurance Industry

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley took in $154,350 in third-quarter campaign donations from the health insurance industry, according to the Public Campaign Action Fund.

Grassley, a ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, which voted down a health reform earlier this year, has received at least $3.3 million from the health care industry, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

"Sen. Grassley was showered with health industry contributions while the Finance Committee was meeting to discuss health care legislation," said David Donnelly, national programs director for the Public Campaign Action Fund."

Grassley has stated that he will not support reform legislation that includes a public option.

"It'd be very difficult for me to support any public option, which is another word for a government-run health care plan, or another new entitlement on top of Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, which are already bankrupt," Grassley said in October. "Can we afford any more entitlements?"

As the Senate Finance Committee took a lead role in crafting health care legislation, campaign contributions from the health care industry flowed to its members, including Chairman Max Baucus.

Baucus was already a leading recipient of health-care cash, taking in nearly $1.5 million through political action committees in 2007 and 2008.

Comments

[clearlythinking]

That wouldn't be while he was working so hard on that health care reform bill that would it. Big shock!

[Layman23]

Thats so cheap. For 150k grassley sold his soul? Maybe he should negotiate more, the profits are in hundreds of BILLIONS for the insurance industry.

[Corners]

I'm sure hes guaranteed a job with the insurance industry after like Billy Tauzin(former congressman) did after weaseling the MediGap-D/Advantage subsidy to the drug industry. Whats sad is Billy didnt wait 2 months before he passed that bill and started working on the books for PHARMA.

[SocialistBoy]

There's a big thief amongst us!!!

[ChelseaC]

Grassley is a bad boy.
Obama excepted over 1.3 million from the insurance cartel.
What I would like to know is who HAS NOT excepted monies from the cartel--THAT
would be a great story!

[Digeeedad]

Why is it that on a local or county level, any politician or elected official accepting BRIBES to influence their votes end up facing jail terms and congressman count the bribes as part of the perks of office???

[robeson]

It looks like he received it intravenously.

[seattlejames]

It is past the time when we should have a law limiting contributions to these creeps. They are supposed to be representing the people but more and more they ignore the wishes of the people in favor of big corporate interest. I don't believe there is a single representative whose district or state is opposed to a public option yet there are at least 200 in congress who would vote against it. Can anyone explain why this is other than they have been bought and paid for.

[Grada3784]

These donations, for both parties, aren't smelling more and more of outright bribery.

[Okieborn]

The list just keeps getting loner !!
These elected officials who are supposed to stand up and protct the citizenry of America are choosing to have their coffers filled than to do the moral thing !!
You shameless creeps !!!

[knowhelpnow]

Personally I find it strange that these corporate lobbyist are still throwing money at this public option reform, it has been drained of any real reform, my only guess is they are fighting to keep out those provisions that say they can not drop anyone because they are costing them to much money and the provisions that says they have to take people with preexisting conditions, other wise I really don't see this public option making much difference to most of the problems that are confronting the majority of the people.
Once again our representatives have watered a good public option that would eventually saved this country and individuals money and given health care to most people; they are voting against the people in favor of corporations.

[keepyourheaddown*]

a CROOK AND A LIAR!

[BeauRadley]

Only 150K, Chuck? Jeez Louise, you can do better than that--after all you've already got millions from the health industry in the past.

[Cogs]

There's plenty more where that came from. All the pols have to do is play ball. Congress has become a millionaires club while their former aides roam the hallways lobbying. We're getting pushed out of the picture. Government corruption at all levels is the real threat to democracy.

[mamalisa38]

Until we get corporate money out of our elections the American people will always lose.

[rbchilds]

This article is so much tripe its unbelievable. Find one person who doesn't agree with your views, dig up some meaningless contributions and try to tie them together. Obama has received over $12 Million in contributions from the Health Care Industry with $11.7 million during the 2008 election cycle, Hillery has received $5.5 million, Kerry has received $4.6 million, McCain has received $6.1 million, all of this from 1992 to 2010.

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=H01&cycle=All&recipdetail=M&sortorder=U

Obama, Barack (D) $12,090,833
McCain, John (R-AZ) $6,154,601
Clinton, Hillary (D-NY) $5,445,992
Kerry, John (D-MA) $4,637,575
Pallone, Frank Jr (D-NJ) $2,014,515
Price, Tom (R-GA) $1,966,349
Norwood, Charles W (R-GA) $1,927,918
Brown, Sherrod (D-OH) $1,768,281
Gramm, Phil (R-TX) $1,702,304
Johnson, Nancy L (R-CT) $1,678,807
Ganske, Greg (R-IA) $1,667,378
Gingrey, Phil (R-GA) $1,654,194
Specter, Arlen (D-PA) $1,633,490
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) $1,442,991
Harkin, Tom (D-IA) $1,385,852
Cornyn, John (R-TX) $1,366,028
Stark, Pete (D-CA) $1,298,914
Frist, Bill (R-TN) $1,292,935
Santorum, Rick (R-PA) $1,229,458
Kyl, Jon (R-AZ) $1,142,850


In 2010 the top 20 recepients in congress are:

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=H01&recipdetail=M&sortorder=U&cycle=2010

[knowhelpnow]

This is the main problem with our election process, we need government financed elections from towns to President.
Truth be told they are all bought by big corporations on one level or another, when it takes millions and millions to run a campaigns.
We are no longer a republic our government has become a puppet for Corporate America.

[rbchilds]

I believe that a canidate should not spend more than 1 years salaray for the office he/she is running for. That would force them to get out and face the people.

[Grada3784]

Corporate interests have always contributed to both sides. This way, they win, no matter who's elected.

[PhillyQuaker]

How much did Dennis Kucinich get from the insurance companies, I wonder....­.....!?

[rbchilds]

Kucinich, Dennis J (D-OH) $11,589

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=F09&cycle=All&recipdetail=H&sortorder=N&mem=Y&page=5