The Blue Dog Coalition has recieved more $$ from the health care industry than any other PAC in 2009

Health care industry contributes heavily to Blue Dogs
Halimah Abdullah | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — 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.

The amount outstrips contributions to other congressional political action committees during the same period, according to an analysis by the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit watchdog organization. The Blue Dogs, a group of fiscally conservative lawmakers, successfully delayed the vote on health care overhaul proposals until the fall.

"The business community realizes that (the Blue Dogs) are the linchpin and will become much more so as time goes on," former Mississippi congressman turned lobbyist Mike Parker told the organization's researchers.

On average, Blue Dog Democrats net $62,650 more from the health sector than other Democrats, while hospitals and nursing homes also favor them, giving, respectively, $5,680 and $5,550 more, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit organization that tracks the influence of money in politics.

The contributions came at a time when health care and pharmaceutical companies were mounting a campaign against a government-run public health insurance option, fearing cost controls and an impact on business. The Blue Dogs' windfall also came at a time when the 52-member coalition flexed its muscle with both the White House and the Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives as an increasingly influential bloc in the health care overhaul debate.

At the same time, many Blue Dogs were also rubbing shoulders with health care and insurance industry executives and their lobbyists at fundraising breakfasts and cocktail receptions that cost upward of $1,000 a plate, according to public information compiled by the nonprofit Sunlight Foundation, which advocates greater government transparency. Since 2008, more than half the Blue Dogs have either attended health care industry fundraising receptions or similar functions co-sponsored by lobbyists representing the health care and insurance industries.

In June, as Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., who heads the coalition's task force on health care, publicly expressed the Blue Dogs' misgivings about the Democratic leadership's efforts, the former pharmacy owner was feted at a series of health care industry receptions. Ross has received nearly $1 million in campaign contributions from the insurance and health care industries over his five-term career, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Calls to Ross' office weren't returned.

That month, the American Medical Association, which lobbies for health care providers and is one of the top contributors to Blue Dogs, came out against a public option.

House Republicans, however, tend to collect more than Democrats — including Blue Dogs — from insurers, health professionals and the broader health sector, the Center for Responsive Politics found.

Many of the Blue Dogs hail from districts that are conservative-leaning and have sizable numbers of Republican voters. According to the Sunlight Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank that focuses on government transparency, Blue Dogs often take positions that are favorable to the health care industry.

Continue Reading: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/74426.html

Shocked I tell you.





Who would have thunk the Blue Dogs are a bunch of money grubbing hos. This is totally shocking!


:sarcasm:

by company is owned by two of the reddest of the red republicans say we need reform. These men would invite you to a party at one of their homes but actually for some dang blast it republican, but since our premiums has increased 22% just this year during our quarterly meetings me make sure to highlight the increase in our overall expenses are due to benefits (healthcare) which has decreased our net income.

When they saw during our last quarter net income decreased 5% compared to last year and the revenue has increased but it can't keep up with our expenses these two are now debunking the myths to their friends. Sometimes when we can point out how reform actually affects a persons life or finances some of them will come around.

They will not be allowed to ruin it for millions of people to protect their fat cat ass status.

sidewinding scumbags. :mad:

would land them in prison in many other western nations.

These days, one can barely make a credible run for a city council seat in a major American city without spending a million bucks or much more thus taking a lot of money from corporate lobbyist and corporate sponsored PACs. For the U.S. Congress, the situation is a lot worse. This is now unfortunately business as usual in American politics.

You are quite correct that this would be completely illegal in most other Western democracies

we need to show them that all of the lobbying dollars in the world won't win them the next election. The voters still have the final say. In the meantime, we need to find strong candidates to field against them in the primary.

...against Rahm's wishes.