Panicked Healthcare Lobbyists Descend On Massachusetts To Save The 60th Democratic Vote For Reform

[girl gone mad]

From http://www.businessinsider.com/healthcare-lobbyists-descend-on-massachusetts-to-save-the-60th-vote-for-reform-2010-1">The Business Insider:

We've been following the special election in Massachusetts, where the GOP hopes to pull a surprise upset in the race to fill Ted Kennedy's seat.

If they do pull it off, healthcare reform is instantly in trouble, as the Democrats drop below 60.

But money is coming to the rescue of Democrat Martha Coakley -- healthcare industry lobbyist money, specifically.

Tim Carney identifies several of her top fundraisers. Take a look at who they represent:

• Thomas Boggs, Patton Boggs: Bristol-Myers Squibb
  
• Chuck Brain, Capitol Hill Strategies: Amgen, BIO, Merck, PhRMA
  
• Susan Brophy, Glover Park Group: Blue Cross, Pfizer
  
• Steven Champlin, Duberstein Group: AHIP, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis
  
• Licy Do Canto, Raben Group: Amgen
  
• Gerald Cassidy, Cassidy & Associates: U. Mass Memorial Health Care
  
• David Castagnetti, Mehlman, Vogel, Castagnetti: Abbot Labs, AHIP, Astra-Zenaca, General Electric, Humana, Merck, PhRMA.
  
• Steven Elmendorf, Elmendorf Strategies: Medicines Company, PhRMA, United Health
  
• Shannon Finley, Capitol Counsel: Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, Blue Cross, GE, PhRMA, Sanofi-Aventis.
  
• Heather Podesta, Heather Podesta & Partners: Cigna, Eli Lilly, HealthSouth
  
• Tony Podesta, Podesta Group: Amgen, GE, Merck, Novartis.
  
• Robert Raben, Raben Group: Amgen, GE.
  

So much for the idea that the big insurance and big pharma oppose this reform.

[FLAprogressive]

1. Oops! Look who's bought and paid for now.

[shopgreen]

9. This is such an obvious example of corporate influence

[Mass]

2. Sure, let's elect Brown. He is so much better than Coakley. Some people here are clearly planted GOP

[msongs]

4. you for example? well since u didn't identify anyone, it could be you

[Mass]

6. Why? Because I care not having a rabig GOPer as senator? and because I can recognize a few famous

Democratic names?

I was not supporting Coakley in the primary, but I see no point helping somebody who is against ALL I believe in.

BTW, this is the person who started the rumor. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Big-Ripoff/Timothy-P-Carney/e/9780471789079

This is what I was referring to. Whoever is reporting it is either not checking its source or is a GOPer.

[dkf]

3. Interesting

[Kansas Wyatt]

5. The Insurance Industry & Big Pharma have spent so much....

Because they are GETTING everything they have wanted.

Anyone who claims they are actually fighting this alleged 'reform' is an idiot.

[Luminous Animal]

7. It looks like the health insurance industry likes this bill very very much.

[rgbecker]

8. Here's the GOP Scott Brown on waterboarding....

"I believe that it's not torture. America does not torture. We used agressively enhanced interrogation techniques."

We want this guy representing Massachusetts, and a status quo situation in the Health Care Insurance industry?

I Don't Think So.




(Quote from Joan Vennochi's column in the Boston Globe, Thursday, Jan 7th, 2010.)

[liberal_at_heart]

10. We may not want republicans in office but democrats like this

have to be held accountable to the voters.