What we're up against in Health Care legislation...
When you wake up in the morning and rub the sleep out of your eyes are you surprised to find a great shadowy figure in the room? We are past the Fourth and the "let's celebrate America" holiday feeling only to find that the lobbyists continued to move forward while we were distracted by fireworks and speeches.
The Wapo points out this morning that a large number of former inner-office employees of Max Baucus and Charles Grassley and other active Congressional committee members are being snatched up by lobbying organizations:
The hirings are part of a record-breaking influence campaign by the health-care industry, which is spending more than $1.4 million a day on lobbying in the current fight, according to disclosure records. And even in a city where lobbying is a part of life, the scale of the effort has drawn attention. For example, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) doubled its spending to nearly $7 million in the first quarter of 2009, followed by Pfizer, with more than $6 million.
This is quickly distorting the Health Care debate, and, instead of researching the values of the Single-Payer system, or finding a way to extend a public option of any sort to fulfill Obama's campaign promise, we are finding the focus shifting to how much power the large corporate interests will retain and, indeed, expand into.
Public interest groups can scream all they like about how
the concentration of former government aides on K Street has distorted the health-care debate, and that it further illustrates the problem posed by the "revolving door" between government and private firms.
"The revolving door offers a short cut to a member of Congress to the highest bidder," said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, which compiled some of the data used in The Post's analysis. "It's a small cost of doing business relative to the profits they can garner."
And what is the level of discussion that is aimed at the common taxpayer? We are targeted with phrases like "socialized medicine" (read "Communism triumphs over Freedom") "government takeover" (making medicine the new GM.) It is clear that we are supposed to be kept riled up over the meaningless extremities of the argument, while the actual benefits of plans that the majority of countries in the civilized world use for lower cost and highly adequate health care for entire populations are totally ignored ... unless, of course, you are a Senator or Congressperson yourself, in which case your government health program is damn near close to "socialized medicine." (That brings up this gem from Iowa Republican Senator Grassley from Think Progress:
During a townhall in Waukon, IA Tuesday, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was asked by a constituent of his: “Why is your insurance so much cheaper than my insurance and so better than my insurance?” When Grassley struggled to explain the details of his own health care plan, the elderly man followed up, “Okay, so how come I can’t have the same thing you have?” Grassley said, “You can. Just go work for the federal government.”
Well... I would submit that we DO all work for the Federal Government. Out of our incomes we generate the taxes that the government uses to operate. We follow its regulations and we select its highest ranking employees through elections. Why shouldn't we have access to Grassley's less expensive health care?
The next months will be a challenge to all of us. I would submit however that, during the summer while legislators take vacations and during which time they cannot resist making speeches, attending fundraisers, and keeping generally visible (there's an election next year), we have the opportunity to be the PUBLIC LOBBYISTS and stay on them wherever they go.
Let's carry out our First Amendment rights to address our grievances, especially when it comes to the need for Public Health care, from Martha's Vineyard to the beaches of California!
There's a misconception about the Health Care available to congress members and federal employees. I was a career federal employee (NOT a political appointee) and I can tell you from personal experience that while my Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage might be one of the best plans available in the USA, it is NOT free nor does it cover everything.
I went thru a major illness and even with one of the best health care plans available, I ONLY AVOIDED BANKRUPTCY by the skin of my teeth ... and by selling my home to pay off the huge medical bills that WEREN'T covered by that health care policy.
Of course if I'd been of the Repub mindset, I'd have declared bankruptcy to avoid paying the bills at all and still managed to keep my home.
Fridge Magnet's decree: She need not explain herself. It's--God's Revealed Word!
GusII
· 5 months ago
Can we finally say Sarah Palin was not qualified to be Veep, without being called sexist? There is a strain of post feminist, Oprah-esque middle class thought that a woman who has carpooled is qualified to be Sec. of the Dept. of Transportation. Hillary Clinton, like many women, was qualified, Sarah Palin was not.
leliorisen
· 5 months ago
Actually, the real sexists are the ones who refused to hold Sarah Palin to the same standards, because she is a woman.
Sexism made Palin what she is today. The sexists who pretended she had what it takes when they know she didn't.
Had she been elected, true feminists would have suffered the ultimate blow.
Can anybody imagine a man, who is a Sarah Palin equivalent, advancing that far?
I would say Dan Quayle came close, but even Quayle could run intellectual rings around Sarah. Sarah could only do one thing well...recite GOP talking points (without having to demonstrate that she understood what they meant), and talk Bible-speak.
She will now parlay that into millions.
CDS2
· 5 months ago
"Can anybody imagine a man, who is a Sarah Palin equivalent, advancing that far?"
You know, that same rational could be used for our President.
leliorisen
· 5 months ago
Actually, I disagree. While Obama has been lacking as a leader, he campaigned as good as anyone.
If you are insinuating that he got elected, because he was African-American, how do you explain Jesse Jackson? He, too, had good oratorial skills, but could not parlay it into more.
Charismatic is charismatic. He also was excellent at talking about topics, in-depth, and off-the-cuff. Palin had to have everything scripted.
As disappointed as I am in Obama, there is a world of difference.
Cautious Man
· 5 months ago
Sarah Palin is not gone, yet. Who knows what form her career may take as she stalks the Presidency. She combines the unhinged, say-whatever political approach of Congresswoman Michele Bachmann with a dash of the "Know Nothing", nativist and dangerous hate-mongering of Hal Turner.
She's Bachmann-Turner Overdrive!!!!
Bostonian_Queer_in_Dallas
· 5 months ago
K Street dropping 1.7 MILLION $$$$ per fucking day on lobbying money from Big HMO insurance to our politicians...let's just keep the status quo and lie to the nation about how horrible socialized medicine will be! Mmm and I thought my premiums were going toward possible future claims if I had a heart attack or cancer. How fucking naive I am! Nope I am making sure my Congresscritters have plenty of booze and trips and undoubtedly whores to play with too.
RainbowPhoenix
· 5 months ago
"Marriage defender" Marion Barry has been arrested for stalking his ex-girlfriend.
So far, there are no claims that the bitch set him up.
NAVDOC3rdMAR
· 5 months ago
It is morally repugnant to profit off the misery or ill health of Americans. It's criminal that medical bills to private for-profit insurance/medical industrial complex make up 62% of all bankruptcies filed in the U.S. each year. The overhead at private for-profit insurance/medical industrial complex is upwards of 35% of the healthcare dollar spent each year in the U.S. This allows the private for-profit insurance/medical industrial complex to pay for their lavish lifestyles and huge salaries plus perks and bonuses. All the while milking the hard-working men/women of this great nation of their hard earned money. On the other hand Medicare has an overhead of 2%, Canada's system is 1.5%, Europe's 2.5% on average. The money that could be saved by eliminating the private for-profit insurance/medical industrial giants is estimated at $500 Billion a year. Enough money to help pay for putting all Americans on MEDICARE/SINGLE PAYER TYPE SYSTEM. We have to fight back and call, write e-mails, letters-to-editors and to Congress to let them know how America feels about for-profit health care in America. Here are 11 Democratic Senators who are wrong on Health Care reform. Give them a call and demand, "MEDICARE/SINGLE PAYER FOR ALL NOW!"
Mary Landrieu D-LA, Max Baucus D-MT, Kent Conrad D-ND, Ben Nelson D-NE, Maria Cantwell D-WA, Thomas Carper D-DE, Kay Hagan D-NC, Blanche Lincoln D-AR, Ron Wyden D-OR, Evan Bayh D-IN, Diane Feinstein D-CA and feel free to add your own...
Here are the toll-free numbers for the Capitol Hill Switchboard: (House and Senate) 1-800-828-0498 1-866-338-1015 1-866-220-0044.
Also give the President a call or write an e-mail:
White House Comments Line: 1-202-456-1414 M-F 09:00 - 05:00 est. (NOT A TOLL-FREE #)
Nothing rattles the Congress more than voters ringing the phones off the hook. Call the House, Senate and the White House and demand MEDICARE/SINGLE PAYER FOR ALL NOW!
dcinsider
· 5 months ago
Legislative Hearing on the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009
On Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia will hold a legislative hearing to examine H.R. 2517, the “Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009.”
H.R. 2517 is intended to ensure equal treatment to lesbian and gay federal civilian employees by providing that same sex partners be entitled to the same benefits available to a married federal employee and his or her spouse. The purpose of the hearing is to examine the merits of this legislation and to discuss its potential implementation and cost.
For further information regarding the hearing, please contact the Subcommittee Clerk, Aisha Elkheshin, at ext – 65132.
Indigo
· 5 months ago
Relax. It's July. We'll get back to work after Labor Day.
All Comments
When you wake up in the morning and rub the sleep out of your eyes are you surprised to find a great shadowy figure in the room? We are past the Fourth and the "let's celebrate America" holiday feeling only to find that the lobbyists continued to move forward while we were distracted by fireworks and speeches.
The Wapo points out this morning that a large number of former inner-office employees of Max Baucus and Charles Grassley and other active Congressional committee members are being snatched up by lobbying organizations:
This is quickly distorting the Health Care debate, and, instead of researching the values of the Single-Payer system, or finding a way to extend a public option of any sort to fulfill Obama's campaign promise, we are finding the focus shifting to how much power the large corporate interests will retain and, indeed, expand into.
Public interest groups can scream all they like about how
And what is the level of discussion that is aimed at the common taxpayer? We are targeted with phrases like "socialized medicine" (read "Communism triumphs over Freedom") "government takeover" (making medicine the new GM.) It is clear that we are supposed to be kept riled up over the meaningless extremities of the argument, while the actual benefits of plans that the majority of countries in the civilized world use for lower cost and highly adequate health care for entire populations are totally ignored ... unless, of course, you are a Senator or Congressperson yourself, in which case your government health program is damn near close to "socialized medicine." (That brings up this gem from Iowa Republican Senator Grassley from Think Progress:
Well... I would submit that we DO all work for the Federal Government. Out of our incomes we generate the taxes that the government uses to operate. We follow its regulations and we select its highest ranking employees through elections. Why shouldn't we have access to Grassley's less expensive health care?
The next months will be a challenge to all of us. I would submit however that, during the summer while legislators take vacations and during which time they cannot resist making speeches, attending fundraisers, and keeping generally visible (there's an election next year), we have the opportunity to be the PUBLIC LOBBYISTS and stay on them wherever they go.
Let's carry out our First Amendment rights to address our grievances, especially when it comes to the need for Public Health care, from Martha's Vineyard to the beaches of California!
Under The LobsterScope
I went thru a major illness and even with one of the best health care plans available, I ONLY AVOIDED BANKRUPTCY by the skin of my teeth ... and by selling my home to pay off the huge medical bills that WEREN'T covered by that health care policy.
Of course if I'd been of the Repub mindset, I'd have declared bankruptcy to avoid paying the bills at all and still managed to keep my home.
Magical Thinking---
CNBC's cheerleaders:
"Clap harder! . . . HARDER!! . . ."
Fridge Magnet's decree:
She need not explain herself.
It's--God's Revealed Word!
There is a strain of post feminist, Oprah-esque middle class thought that a woman who has carpooled is qualified to be Sec. of the Dept. of Transportation.
Hillary Clinton, like many women, was qualified, Sarah Palin was not.
Sexism made Palin what she is today. The sexists who pretended she had what it takes when they know she didn't.
Had she been elected, true feminists would have suffered the ultimate blow.
Can anybody imagine a man, who is a Sarah Palin equivalent, advancing that far?
I would say Dan Quayle came close, but even Quayle could run intellectual rings around Sarah. Sarah could only do one thing well...recite GOP talking points (without having to demonstrate that she understood what they meant), and talk Bible-speak.
She will now parlay that into millions.
You know, that same rational could be used for our President.
If you are insinuating that he got elected, because he was African-American, how do you explain Jesse Jackson? He, too, had good oratorial skills, but could not parlay it into more.
Charismatic is charismatic. He also was excellent at talking about topics, in-depth, and off-the-cuff. Palin had to have everything scripted.
As disappointed as I am in Obama, there is a world of difference.
She's Bachmann-Turner Overdrive!!!!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...
So far, there are no claims that the bitch set him up.
On the other hand Medicare has an overhead of 2%, Canada's system is 1.5%, Europe's 2.5% on average. The money that could be saved by eliminating the private for-profit insurance/medical industrial giants is estimated at $500 Billion a year. Enough money to help pay for
putting all Americans on MEDICARE/SINGLE PAYER TYPE SYSTEM.
We have to fight back and call, write e-mails, letters-to-editors and to Congress to let them know how America feels about for-profit health care in America.
Here are 11 Democratic Senators who are wrong on Health Care reform. Give them a call and demand,
"MEDICARE/SINGLE PAYER FOR ALL NOW!"
Mary Landrieu D-LA, Max Baucus D-MT, Kent Conrad D-ND,
Ben Nelson D-NE, Maria Cantwell D-WA, Thomas Carper D-DE,
Kay Hagan D-NC, Blanche Lincoln D-AR, Ron Wyden D-OR,
Evan Bayh D-IN, Diane Feinstein D-CA and feel free to add your own...
Here are the toll-free numbers for the Capitol Hill Switchboard:
(House and Senate)
1-800-828-0498
1-866-338-1015
1-866-220-0044.
Also give the President a call or write an e-mail:
White House Comments Line:
1-202-456-1414 M-F 09:00 - 05:00 est. (NOT A TOLL-FREE #)
President Obama's e-mail: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Nothing rattles the Congress more than voters ringing the phones off the hook. Call the House, Senate and the White House and demand
MEDICARE/SINGLE PAYER FOR ALL NOW!
On Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia will hold a legislative hearing to examine H.R. 2517, the “Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009.”
H.R. 2517 is intended to ensure equal treatment to lesbian and gay federal civilian employees by providing that same sex partners be entitled to the same benefits available to a married federal employee and his or her spouse. The purpose of the hearing is to examine the merits of this legislation and to discuss its potential implementation and cost.
For further information regarding the hearing, please contact the Subcommittee Clerk, Aisha Elkheshin, at ext – 65132.