Health Care Lobbyists vs. The People: The Final Showdown (VIDEO)

After spending about a half-billion dollars over a decade to block meaningful health care reform, health industry lobbyists and their Republican allies are ramping up their efforts this week to block a public health-care option favored by the President.

Yesterday, Congressional hearings and the President's White House televised meeting on health care reform shone a new spotlight on the issue as the political battle heats up. (Note: Bill Scher's indispensable Progressive Breakfast has a complete round-up of news on those fronts.) Meanwhile, grass-roots reformers organized by Health Care for America Now (HCAN) are coming to Washington on Thursday to lobby for real change, including the public option that gives consumers a choice between a public plan or using private insurance.

UPDATE: A new Senate report finds that these same insurance companies fighting health care reform have yet another reason to uphold the status quo: They've been bilking consumers of billions of dollars in medical bills the companies should have paid themselves. No wonder the insurance industry opposes the real competition represented by a public health care option.

Not surprisingly, the public, most polls show, backs the public option approach by over 60% to as much as 76% percent, as a new Wall Street Journal/NBC poll found. Strikingly, even half of self-identified Republicans favor a public option. Yesterday, the AFL-CIO added to the rising chorus calling for change by revealing the results of an online poll that offers a breadth of response that's compelling: over half of the roughly 23,000 people who took the survey said they couldn't afford health care. As the AFL-CIO Now blog reported:

Out-of-control health care costs are forcing working families to forgo needed medical care and shredding family bank accounts, while private health insurance companies deny claims and, far too often, refuse to provide coverage.

The results of the 2009 Health Care for America Survey--sponsored by the AFL-CIO and Working America--show that more than half of the 23,460 people who took the survey cannot get the health care they need at a price they can afford and one-third say they forgo basic medical care because of its high price. In a nearly unanimous response, survey takers say health care reform is urgent.

Says AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker:

"Our current system is broken and this survey shows how our fractured system hurts both the insured and uninsured alike. The time for real health care reform is now. We simply can't wait any longer."

Amber was one of the people who submitted a story out of a total of 6,409 stories dealing with struggles with the broken health care system. The Florida resident says she has health insurance but:

"I find myself trying to determine what is going to get refilled, and if I can still see the doctor for follow up....I just don't have the copay because I still have to afford the gas to get to and from work. I am constantly finding myself rationing my medication and not taking it as prescribed because I can't afford to get it all the time."

Despite the clamor for an alternative that offers real competition, the right-wing continues to spread misinformation on the plan -- largely unchallenged by mainstream media outlets. Wednesday morning, as noted by Media Matters and the Health Care for America Now blog:

On June 24, CNN's American Morning co-host John Roberts did not challenge former New York Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey's assertions that the Affordable Health Choices Act "basically" "pushes everyone into an HMO-style plan" and that most Americans will have to "go through what they call a 'medical home,' which is this decade's term for an HMO gatekeeper." However, under the proposed legislation, individuals already enrolled in a health care plan or receiving health insurance coverage are able to keep their coverage and are not "pushed" into "an HMO-style plan."

McCaughey later stated that "most Americans will have no options. When they file their taxes, they're going to have to staple a proof, like a W-2, that they've enrolled in one of these qualified health plans, with the limits of choice: limits of choices of doctors, limits of choices of when you can see a specialist, when you can have a diagnostic test." In fact, individuals do not have to enroll in "qualified health plans."

McGaughey, a right-winger whose previous claim have been shredded by critics as the work of a serial fabricator, represents the desperation tactics of a party and industry fighting overwhelming public opinion favoring health care reform.

Now the health insurance industry has piled on, escalating its apocalyptic rhetoric in a blistering letter to Congress Tuesday claiming that the competition it might face from the public health-care option would destroy the entire industry. Among other extravagant claims:

"A government-run plan no matter how it is initially structured would dismantle employer-based coverage, significantly increase costs for those who remain in private coverage, and add additional liabilities to the federal budget," said the letter from America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) chief Karen Ignagni and Scott Serota, the head of Blue Cross.

The right-wingers' attacks targeting health care reform have become so ludicrous that SEIU has crafted a witty ad lampooning them, as shown in a brainstorming session by the not-so-fictional Healthy Americans Against Reforming Medicine (HAARM):

In the real world of political advocacy, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, among other critics, has denounced the industry's extremist claims. Those assertions are part of a long history of Big Business opposition to any health care reform, including the "socialized medicine" of Medicare, over the last 60 years. Sweeney points out:

For far too long, Americans have struggled under a broken health care system dominated by insurance companies who care about one thing - their own profits. Passing health care reform that includes a quality public health insurance option is crucial to America's workers because it will provide a competitive impetus for companies to reduce overhead expenses and lower costs.

Anyone who wants to keep their current insurance is free to do so, but it will be their choice between a private and public option, not their insurance company's. Not surprisingly, polling shows that the people overwhelmingly favor a public health insurance option being included as a part of health care reform.

The 'chicken little' letter from the big insurance companies shows that their true agenda is to hold onto their record profits and bonuses by preventing Americans from being able to choose between private insurance and a quality public health insurance option.

Richard Kirsch, the National Campaign Director for HCAN, underscores the absurdity of the health insurance industry's claim that a competitive option would destroy it:

"With more than 150 million customers, billions spent in marketing and building brand name recognition, contracts in place with businesses throughout America, and well-established provider networks, how can the insurance industry say it can't compete with a public health insurance option? The insurance industry is clearly aware it's failed to meet the needs of its customers. If it was doing such a great job, wouldn't it welcome the chance to compete?"

Actually, it doesn't welcome competition, as shown by the recent antitrust complaint to the Justice Department asking it to look into monopolies by health insurers that jack up costs and squelch competition. Sen. Charles Schumer joined Health Care for America Now and other experts in asking for an investigation and reform:

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) joined Health Care for America Now (HCAN) - the nation's largest health care campaign - in releasing a new report today that shows extreme health insurance industry consolidation has resulted in a market failure where a small number of large companies use their concentrated power to control premium levels, benefit packages, and provider payments in the markets they dominate. As a result, health insurance premiums have skyrocketed, going up more than 87% - on average - over the past six years. "This is the starkest evidence yet that the private health care insurance market is in bad need of some healthy competition," Senator Schumer said. "A public health insurance option is critical to ensure the greatest amount of choice possible for consumers. We believe that it is fully possible to create a public health insurance plan that delivers all the benefits of increased competition without relying on unfair, built-in advantages. If a level playing field exists, then private insurers will have to compete based on quality of care and pricing, instead of just competing for the healthiest consumers."

After reviewing the report entitled "Premiums Soaring in Consolidated Health Insurance Market," David Balto, former Policy Director of the Federal Trade Commission and now a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, sent a letter -co-signed by HCAN - to the Department of Justice Antitrust Division asking for a comprehensive investigation into the health insurance marketplace.

And what do consumers get for all this near-monopoly power that insurers want to preserve? Little but a litany of abuses, as summarized by Health Care for American Now:

Most people don't trust health insurance companies and with good reason. They are a powerful industry that is not easily prodded, pushed or intimidated into doing the right thing by their members.

Insurance companies routinely abuse the trust of patients and providers alike. A new report by Health Care for America Now outlines the habitual abuses perpetrated by health insurance companies, including leaving patients with high out-of-pocket costs, denying coverage for medically necessary care, preventing doctors from delivering care they feel is best for their patients, and unduly delaying reimbursement to patients and providers.

The report demonstrates how health insurance companies repeat the same abuses over and over again, despite being reprimanded and fined by state insurance agencies. For example, the report notes how the Texas Department of Insurance has fined United Healthcare millions of dollars for violating the state's prompt payment law. The 2007 fine, $4.4 million dollars, was "the second time in two years and the fourth time since 2001 that Texas fined United Healthcare for the same type of violation."

But Texas is not the only state where United Healthcare has perpetrated that particular abuse. The report also gives examples of similar fines being levied in Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Insurance companies are clearly not intimidated by state regulators. These companies seem to consider the fines they incur just the cost of doing business. How much money must they be saving by breaking prompt payment laws if they are willing to keep violating the law over and over again?

So if the public wants a public option and the non-competitive private insurance industry can't deliver affordable, accessible health care, what's keeping Congress from backing it strongly right now? Mostly extravagant health care industry spending on campaign donations and lobbying, especially when it comes to centrist Democrats who are balking at the public option supported by President Obama. Statistics guru Nate Silver has even quantified the link between health care donations and the positions taken so far by moderate Democrats:

The insurance industry's influence appears to swing about 9 votes against the public option. Whatever number of senators wind up supporting the public option, add 9 to it, and you'll have a decent ballpark estimate for what the level of support might be if not for insurance industry contributions...

The single senator who's position on the public option is most likely to have been changed by lobbying money is Mark Warner of Virginia, who has already raised $69,000 from insurance industry PACs in spite of having been in the Senate for less than six months. Absent industry money, the model estimates about a two-thirds likelihood that Warner would support the public option; with it, the model thinks the chances are very low. Indeed Warner has been mum on the public option to date.

Ranking next on the list is Harry Reid, who has taken some $78,800 from insurance industry PACs and who has also yet to articulate a position on the public option in spite of his status as Majority Leader. If the model is right, Reid's noncommittal stance on the issue might be better conceived of as tacit, if somewhat soft, opposition. Following Reid is Kent Conrad of North Dakota, who has floated a compromise bill that would replace the public option with a co-op system, a version of which the Senate Finance Committee appears likely to adopt.

Whatever role money plays in Senate decision-making on health care reform, it's clear that without citizens voicing a call for real reform, as with Wednesday's lobbying day, the public health care option critical to reform could be weakened even as support grows for it.

A compelling case for the public health insurance option designed to lower costs and keep health insurers honest started airing on TV last week in the states of key senators in Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington. Take a look -- and then ask if the health care industry or the public asking for reform will have the final say:

Comments

[Jojoy]

I have to sit back and laugh. There is no debate. We have to have health care reform. It's a disgrace so many Americans are unable to afford health care. I was speaking with a friend in Canada who gasped when I told her I had paid $1,500 for an MRI and $9,565 for an emergency room visit not withstanding the fact I had health insurance. But that was "critical care" insurance with fine print on the policy that whispered emergency room visits were only covered on the condition of admittance to hospital. Incidentally, that $9,565 emergency room bill did not cover the charges of the emergency room doctor - another $500, plus, plus, plus for this, that and the other. I can't remember the total. I'm glad. I could get ill thinking about it, and how much I paid in health insurance premiums for nothing. After providing nothing, my health insurance company had the audacity to increase my premium. I told them I would rather die than pay. So I've joined the ranks of the uninsured who risk death through illness because we can't pay. That's no joke. We can die. And those lobyists and their cohorts in Congress are fighting health care reform? There are no words to describe such callousness, irresponsibility and greed. We the people have to stand up to them. I agree with whoever said in their comment we should be allowed to vote on health reform. We must. Our lives depend on it.

[Jason68467]

This wouldn't be a problem if the Justice Department had the guts to break all of these guys up like Ma Bell.

[Chaimirija]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/06/24/state_cuts_its_health_coverage_by_115m/

This is what the Insurance Lobby is fighting for....

[Awake-and-Sing]

The time for "new poltiics" and "bipartisanship" on this is long over.

I wish the President would declare he wouldn't sign any health care reform bill without a robust public option and let the war begin.

Don't let the Republicans and DINOs hide behind the false god and faux merits of "bipartisanship". If the Republican Party and the conservative movement want to defend insurance and pharmaceutical corporations, they should have to do so publicly.

Political capital doesn't last forever. There are two ways to squander it (1) spend it too early on the wrong thing or (2) wait too long until is atrophies and there is none left when its most needed.

If the President and the Administration can waste their valuable time and energy picking fights with the gay community and others in their base to prove how "centrist" they are, then they have energy to actively battle the real bad guys who are opposed to any public, not-for-profit plan or alternative.

If the President would simply state he will not sign any bill without a robust public health care option, it would totally undercut the DINOs at the knees and throw the conservative saboteurs off balance.

Social Security, Medicare, women's suffrage, abolition, labor rights, none of these things came from negotiation with conservatives and bipartisanship. They only came from ramming them down unwilling conservative throats.

Let the war begin.

[jmpurser]

"No wonder the insurance industry opposes the real competition represented by a public health care option."

Can you show me where in the "Public Option" bill it outlines how we're going to provide "real competition" while "competing on a level playing field" and "never becoming single payer"???

I can't find it.

[scooperss]

As long as lobbyists can buy a Congressman, we're well and truly shafted when it comes to anything FOR the public that a corporation can't make money from.

[sonoffestus]

Correct, that's why campaign finance reform must be done before you will ever get congress to work for the people. Presently all of them prostitute themselves for corporate interests.

[Ozarks]

Well if the public option fails maybe we will see just who, like Reid, Feinstein and Nelson to name a few are being paid off by Health Care Insurance companies. In that event guess we will just have to vote them out in the same manner as Daschle , the poster boy of Paid off Senator's

[Spesabsquemetu]

Can someone please explain to the rest of us - WHY - a United States Senator, or a Representative to the House is somehow able to summon MASSIVE SUMS OF MONEY FROM THE INSURANCE AND HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY, while Robin Beaton, faced with terminal breast cancer - having paid ALL HER PREMIUMS, was abruptly DROPPED by her insurance company after being diagnosed with cancer, and given NO FINANCIAL SUPPORT ( until her representative fought for her) , while OUR ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS - WITH FREE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR LIFE, WERE ALL COLLECTING MILLIONS - M I L L I O N S......from the very industry that refused to help Robin, and countless other Americans, in their greatest time of need?

How is it that a United States Senator, and a U.S. Representative to the House - who have HEALTH CARE PAID FOR - FOR LIFE, are somehow able to collect MORE MONEY from an insurance company - than a gravely sick working mother, who paid all her premiums, and ended up - LIKE THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS - being kicked off her insurance company's rolls and left with NO COVERAGE?

HOW CAN THIS BE CONSIDERED ETHICAL, OR JUST IN AMERICA?

WHERE ARE THE VOICES OF CONSCIENCE IN THIS CONGRESS?
WHERE ARE THE ETHICS?

WHERE ARE THE PATRICK FITZGERALDS IN OUR SENATE, IN OUR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES?

WHERE IS THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE AND INTEGRITY ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?

[Macready]

the old guard and the big insurance companies who are blocking the health care option are the mullahs in Congress . . these are the same guys who would have loved to have bombed Iran and who say our Prez should be more vocal about what is happening in Iran . . . they are mainly the same bunch . . they have to go . . . get out on the streets and protest ... get 76% of population to march on Washington and camp out until they pass it . . . otherwise they will kill it because they can . . . those the don't knows have to be made to vote Yes . . . .

[Drgon66]

March on Washington and they will clean the lawns just like they did the veterans of WWI that only wanted the bonuses they were promised....Does anybody remember the Tombstone Bonus, looks alot like Tienamen(sp) square.

[rogersma]

Yes we all know they are all sucking at the teat across the board. My question to Obama is how can you think Americans can keep what they have now? How can the private health care insurers compete with the government plan? Ultimately, we cannot keep the insurance we have now since the private insurers will have to fold up shop and go out of business. That seems to me that we will eventually end up with ONE BIG INSURANCE COMPANY, i.e., the US Government. There is no way private insurers can stay in business if all the companies decide to ditch and let their employees suck on the government tit.

[marxmarv]

The most likely "public option" is a closed system. Premiums in, benefits out.

Besides, what value-add do private insurance companies provide to the insureds?

[Spesabsquemetu]

The question now is: WHO DO THESE PEOPLE REPRESENT?

ALL TOOK THE MONEY.
So, what is their understanding as to what THOSE kinds of sums of money are buying, when they are taking an OATH to represent the American people's interests?

WHO DO THEY REPRESENT?

[Spesabsquemetu]

opensecrets.org

Top members of House thru 2010 - receiving money for influence in Washington:

All Members of the House
Candidate Amount
Meek, Kendrick B (D-FL) $119,000
Pelosi, Nancy (D-CA) $102,000
Becerra, Xavier (D-CA) $73,750
Schwartz, Allyson (D-PA) $68,673
Kirk, Mark (R-IL) $58,400
Hoyer, Steny H (D-MD) $57,000
Cantor, Eric (R-VA) $55,750
Matheson, Jim (D-UT) $54,698
Rangel, Charles B (D-NY) $52,300
Pomeroy, Earl (D-ND) $52,035
Waxman, Henry A (D-CA) $50,850
Eshoo, Anna (D-CA) $49,500
Doggett, Lloyd (D-TX) $47,900
Sessions, Pete (R-TX) $47,650
Blunt, Roy (R-MO) $46,400
Boustany, Charles W Jr (R-LA) $45,950
Crowley, Joseph (D-NY) $45,000
Buchanan, Vernon (R-FL) $44,300
Thompson, Mike (D-CA) $43,500
Clyburn, James E (D-SC) $42,500
Pallone, Frank Jr (D-NJ) $41,750
Adler, John H (D-NJ) $41,550
Altmire, Jason (D-PA) $41,050
Fleming, John Calvin Jr (R-LA) $40,082
Davis, Geoff (R-KY) $39,350
Murphy, Chris (D-CT) $39,350
Cassidy, Bill (R-LA) $38,750
Moran, Jerry (R-KS) $38,400
Space, Zachary T (D-OH) $38,319
Yarmuth, John A (D-KY) $35,950
DeGette, Diana (D-CO) $35,900
Murphy, Tim (R-PA) $35,050

[Spesabsquemetu]

opensecrets.org

Top senators thru 2010 with largest money contributions from HEALTH Industry:

All Senators
Candidate Amount
Lincoln, Blanche (D-AR) $218,850
Reid, Harry (D-NV) $210,950
Schumer, Charles E (D-NY) $148,100
Specter, Arlen (D-PA) $112,150
Murray, Patty (D-WA) $97,550
Wyden, Ron (D-OR) $91,600
Burr, Richard (R-NC) $85,100
Vitter, David (R-LA) $68,900
Bayh, Evan (D-IN) $63,250
Mikulski, Barbara A (D-MD) $57,974
Gillibrand, Kirsten (D-NY) $48,025
Dodd, Chris (D-CT) $48,000
Grassley, Chuck (R-IA) $45,200
Dorgan, Byron L (D-ND) $43,850
Isakson, Johnny (R-GA) $42,350
Baucus, Max (D-MT) $38,000
Feingold, Russ (D-WI) $36,150
Hatch, Orrin G (R-UT) $30,600
Bennett, Robert F (R-UT) $28,500
Clinton, Hillary (D-NY) $26,600
Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK) $26,150
Bunning, Jim (R-KY) $25,150
Nelson, Ben (D-NE) $23,900
Brown, Sherrod (D-OH) $23,250
Crapo, Mike (R-ID) $23,000
Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI) $21,400
Thune, John (R-SD) $21,325
DeMint, James W (R-SC) $20,050
Corker, Bob (R-TN) $19,200
Harkin, Tom (D-IA) $17,250
Carper, Tom (D-DE) $15,520
Merkley, Jeff (D-OR) $15,250

[frenchbulldog]

Looking at these numbers, it kills me that the amount of these contributions represents only pennies when compared to the healthcare exec salaries and company profits.... the insurance companies are getting everything without having to pay off the politicians very much at all.

[Spesabsquemetu]

TOP SENATORS, overall who received greatest contributions from health care industry:

All Senators

Obama, Barack (D) $20,215,185
Clinton, Hillary (D-NY) $9,193,942
McCain, John (R-AZ) $8,712,461
Kerry, John (D-MA) $8,162,141
Specter, Arlen (D-PA) $4,048,133
Baucus, Max (D-MT) $2,853,781
Santorum, Rick (R-PA) $2,829,408
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) $2,746,068
Harkin, Tom (D-IA) $2,709,846
Lieberman, Joe (I-CT) $2,392,719
Hatch, Orrin G (R-UT) $2,341,594
Brown, Sherrod (D-OH) $2,339,295
Gramm, Phil (R-TX) $2,190,083
Frist, Bill (R-TN) $2,151,283
Burr, Richard (R-NC) $2,129,944
Alexander, Lamar (R-TN) $2,062,258
Cornyn, John (R-TX) $2,020,853
Kennedy, Edward M (D-MA) $1,993,865
Kyl, Jon (R-AZ) $1,983,468
Grassley, Chuck (R-IA) $1,927,679
Ensign, John (R-NV) $1,801,899
DeWine, Mike (R-OH) $1,759,665
Talent, James M (R-MO) $1,718,751
Rockefeller, Jay (D-WV) $1,689,129
Chambliss, Saxby (R-GA) $1,592,683
Cardin, Ben (D-MD) $1,573,297
Reid, Harry (D-NV) $1,571,351
Bradley, Bill (D) $1,552,019
Schumer, Charles E (D-NY) $1,550,458
Daschle, Tom (D-SD) $1,516,770
Lincoln, Blanche (D-AR) $1,512,058
Coleman, Norm (R-MN) $1,511,572
Torricelli, Robert G (D-NJ) $1,496,280
Dodd, Chris (D-CT) $1,437,265
Gore, Al (D) $1,434,573
Smith, Gordon H (R-OR) $1,433,874
Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA) $1,430,422
Durbin, Dick (D-IL) $1,423,265
D'Amato, Alfonse M (R-NY) $1,384,024
Conrad, Kent (D-ND) $1,337,863
Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R-TX) $1,336,638
Dole, Elizabeth (R-NC) $1,332,594
Landrieu, Mary L (D-LA) $1,296,372
Dole, Bob (R) $1,278,521
Wyden, Ron (D-OR) $1,254,088

[Spesabsquemetu]

Results from opensecrets.org indicating greatest contrinbutions to members of congress from the HEALTH Industry:

TOP 20 congressional recipients of money for influence from the HEALTH Industry - overall:

Top 20 Members

Clinton, Hillary (D-NY) $9,193,942
McCain, John (R-AZ) $8,712,461
Kerry, John (D-MA) $8,162,141
Specter, Arlen (D-PA) $4,048,133
Johnson, Nancy L (R-CT) $3,845,449
Baucus, Max (D-MT) $2,853,781
Santorum, Rick (R-PA) $2,829,408
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) $2,746,068
Harkin, Tom (D-IA) $2,709,846
Pallone, Frank Jr (D-NJ) $2,547,086
Lieberman, Joe (I-CT) $2,392,719
Hatch, Orrin G (R-UT) $2,341,594
Brown, Sherrod (D-OH) $2,339,295
Thomas, Bill (R-CA) $2,291,550
Rangel, Charles B (D-NY) $2,290,854
Norwood, Charles W (R-GA) $2,196,254
Gramm, Phil (R-TX) $2,190,083
Frist, Bill (R-TN) $2,151,283
Burr, Richard (R-NC) $2,129,944
Price, Tom (R-GA) $2,118,527

[Spesabsquemetu]

opensecrets.org

Top members of House of Rep. who took greatest amounts of money from Insurance Industry thru 2010:

All Members of the House

Pomeroy, Earl (D-ND) $46,300
Kind, Ron (D-WI) $45,050
Cantor, Eric (R-VA) $45,000
Kanjorski, Paul E (D-PA) $42,500
Bean, Melissa (D-IL) $40,750
Bachus, Spencer (R-AL) $32,500
Rangel, Charles B (D-NY) $31,500
Neal, Richard E (D-MA) $29,000
Hoyer, Steny H (D-MD) $28,000
Crowley, Joseph (D-NY) $27,500
Maffei, Dan (D-NY) $26,457
Bachmann, Michele (R-MN) $26,100
Pelosi, Nancy (D-CA) $25,000
Buchanan, Vernon (R-FL) $24,500
Lance, Leonard (R-NJ) $23,666
Frank, Barney (D-MA) $22,250
Larson, John B (D-CT) $22,050
Maloney, Carolyn B (D-NY) $22,000
Kosmas, Suzanne (D-FL) $21,857
Boehner, John (R-OH) $21,750
Moore, Dennis (D-KS) $21,000
Royce, Ed (R-CA) $20,400
Castle, Michael N (R-DE) $20,000
Becerra, Xavier (D-CA) $17,800
Neugebauer, Randy (R-TX) $16,750
McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA) $16,000
Boyd, Allen (D-FL) $15,580
Gerlach, Jim (R-PA) $15,000
Lee, Christopher J (R-NY) $14,666
Klein, Ron (D-FL) $14,500
Ryan, Paul (R-WI) $14,500
Himes, Jim (D-CT) $14,157
Paulsen, Erik (R-MN) $14,066
Garrett, Scott (R-NJ) $14,000
Pascrell, Bill Jr (D-NJ) $14,000
Biggert, Judy (R-IL) $13,500
Camp, Dave (R-MI) $12,750
Roskam, Peter (R-IL) $12,708
Kirk, Mark (R-IL) $12,600
Levin, Sander (D-MI) $12,500
Pence, Mike (R-IN) $12,500

[Drgon66]

Need anything else be said about whose interests are really represented or going to be represented...You can change the name to contribution (lobby), but a bribe by any other name is still a bribe. Under American justice, contributions are legal, I think the word bribe is still criminal, but I maybe wrong.