Conflict Of Interest? Daschle Promotes Co-ops Which Dovetails With Interests Of His Industry Clients
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/...
Which clients you ask? Only the biggest health insurance industry in the entire country, UNITED HEALTH
One of every $700 spent on health care in this country went to pay Mr. Hemsley, CEO of United Health, according to Elizabeth Edwards
UnitedHealth has spent $12.7 MILLION lobbying Congress against the cost of coverage for families, which would have paid for health care coverage for 992 families of four for one year.
Remember: United Health is one of the groups MOST heavily invested against the Public Option.
NYT:
it often seems as if Mr. Daschle never left the picture. With unrivaled ties on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, he talks constantly with top White House advisers, many of whom previously worked for him.
He still speaks frequently to the president, who met with him as recently as Friday morning in the Oval Office. And he remains a highly paid policy adviser to hospital, drug, pharmaceutical and other health care industry clients of Alston & Bird, the law and lobbying firm.
Now the White House and Senate Democratic leaders appear to be moving toward a blueprint for overhauling the health system, centered on nonprofit insurance cooperatives, that Mr. Daschle began promoting two months ago as a politically feasible alternative to a more muscular government-run insurance plan.
It is an idea that happens to dovetail with the interests of many Alston & Bird clients, like the insurance giant UnitedHealth and the Tennessee Hospital Association. And it is drawing angry cries of accommodation from more liberal House Democrats bent on including a public insurance plan.
and you really wonder why the Public Option is in danger?
Daschle is one of Obama's closest allies, at the very start of his senate career since 2004. Do not underestimate Daschle's influence on Obama, his is probably almost as great as Rahm Emanuel's. I don't doubt he is personally invested in Obama's success, as they are great friends. But don't doubt for a minute that Daschle has any idea how to fix healthcare or has progressives' interests in mind. The guy has sold out, and has become one of the sleaziest lobbyists on K Street and remember that was always a Blue Dog while in congress. And he's got the president's ear and unfortunately, trust.
If you haven't, donate toward pressuring Democrats on the Public Option: http://www.actblue.com/...
We've raised a whopping $374,816 in just TWO DAYS. We're trying to get to $450,000. We're almost there!