Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., argued that a 72-hour delay between the Senate Finance Committee’s markup and vote on a health care reform bill was needed to give time for “the people that the providers have hired to keep up with all of the legislation that we pass around here, and the regulations that we pass around here, to say, ‘Hey, wait a minute. Have you considered this?’” That’s a reasonable suggestion, as lobbyists are an important part of the legislative process.
But the Democratic National Committee produced an ad claiming Roberts’ comments revealed how the GOP is protecting the health insurance industry. The “Colbert Report” on Comedy Central lampooned Roberts’ “bold admission” that the delay is really about giving time for health care lobbyists to change the bill. Host Stephen Colbert congratulated Roberts for coming “out of the closet” about his committed relationship with the pharmaceutical and insurance industries, noting the campaign donations Roberts has received from both groups. “I say, ‘Good for you, sir,” Colbert said of Roberts. “The truth shall set you free.”
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Shall we talk about donations? and who is getting them?
Much ado about nothing, giving a bill 72 hours. Wow. How disturbing!!! A bill that affects 18% of the economy and 100% of the citizens of this country. 72 HOURS!! MY GOD! WHY THE DELAY!!!
IT”S AN EMERGENCY!!! PEOPLE ARE DYING BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO INSURANCE!! Current bill to take effect in 2013. Oh wait….
Well, at least we know now who it is our good senator really represents, and it sure isn’t the people who voted for him. (rousing chorus of “Love for Sale”)
When you are writing something as complicated as this, there are always going to be unintended consequences. Things no one thought of. Congress obviously should give those who would be affected adequate time to review and analyze. The fact that they aren’t means something.
That seems to be a theme with the Dems on this. First, deadlines from the Obama. Then the earlier 1,000 page bill no one had read. Shove it through before anyone notices.
Roberts continues to be an utter embarrassment to the state of Kansas.
But because he’s a good-ol’-boy CON, he’s got a seat in the Senate as long as he wants it.
Who the heck is Stephan Colbert and why does anybody think what he does is of any significance? Thank you Senator Roberts for fighting this monstrosity.
The biggest roadblock to the democrats desire for a “public” option are – democrats. And this key democrat is soundly opposed to a public plan. Why? Because he is clearly in the pocket of the healthcare industry. And you want to whine about a lowly powerless republican? HA HA!
Healthcare Senator Baucus
“Since Roberts gets nearly 1/3 of his campaign donations from the insurance/health industry, I’m going to speculate he’s against this reform!
Campaign Contributions.”
I would imagine the democrat running the senate healthcare show is too:
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
As liberal protesters marched outside, Sen. Max Baucus sat down inside a San Francisco mansion for a dinner of chicken cordon bleu and a
discussion of landmark health-care legislation under consideration by his Senate Finance Committee.
At the table on May 26 were about 20 donors willing to fork over $10,000 or more to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, including executives of major insurance companies, hospitals and other health-care
firms.
“Most people there had an agenda; they wanted the ear of a senator, and they got it,” said Aaron Roland, a San Francisco health-care activist who paid half price to attend the gathering. “Money gets you in the door. The only thing the other side can do is march around and protest
outside.”
As his committee has taken center stage in the battle over health-care reform, Chairman Baucus (D-Mont.) has emerged as a leading recipient of Senate campaign contributions from the hospitals, insurers and other medical interest groups hoping to shape the legislation to their advantage. Health-related companies and their employees gave Baucus’s political committees nearly $1.5 million in 2007 and 2008, when he began holding hearings and making preparations for this year’s reform debate.
Many former Baucus staff members, including two chiefs of staff, lobby on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry and other health-care players and have been closely involved in negotiations on the legislation.
But Baucus, a senator from a sparsely populated and conservative Western state who is serving his sixth term, stands out for the rising tide of
health-care contributions to his campaign committee, Friends of Max Baucus, and his political-action committee, Glacier PAC. Baucus collected $3 million from the health and insurance sectors from 2003 to 2008, about 20 percent of the total, data show. Less than 10 percent of the money came from Montana.”
Examples from Baucus’s Glacier PAC include $5,000 from the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America and $2,500 from lobbyists with
U.S. Strategies, which represents numerous health-care firms. Overall, half of the $110,000 in donations to the PAC from April to June came
from health-care firms and lobbyists, including Schering-Plough, Medtronic and New York Life.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/20/AR200907
2003363.html?hpid=topnews
What’s really embarrassing is Roberts’ admission the 72-hour lag wouldn’t be for the people to read the final bill, or even for him and other congresscritters to read and study the bill, but for the LOBBYISTS to read the bill.
Yeah, we know all too well, what you say is true, Am_Way.
It’s despicable that this POCrap from a state with the population of Wichita can screw up the lives of millions of Americans.
But his motive is clear–he opposes real health care reform for the money.
Why do YOU do oppose it, Am_Way?
To paraphrase Roberts: “I need time to run it by my bosses!” and we ain’t talking constituents.
At least you have to give some miniscule credit to the rich republicans that oppose it and to the bought off pol., at least they have a monetary interest to protect. But, what can be said for the poor dumb sap republicans, except they’re poor dumb saps?
“What’s really embarrassing is Roberts’ admission the 72-hour lag wouldn’t be for the people to read the final bill, or even for him and other congresscritters to read and study the bill, but for the LOBBYISTS to read the bill.”
They know their constituents, and that they can say whatever they damn well please, just as long as they keep the ‘values card’ in their vests to be played at the appropriate time.
Good ad.
“But his motive is clear–he opposes real health care reform for the money.”
Wrong Capn.
Apparently, you forgot who won the election. It ain’t Roberts party.
It’s your own party.
And as I’ve posted above, the democrat LEADER in the Senate who coulda/shoulda/woulda approve a public plan – said no. And he has the money honey from the healthcare industry!
Democrats defeated a government plan option. D-E-M-O-C-R-A-T-S.
get it?
“Roberts’ admission the 72-hour lag wouldn’t be for the people to read the final bill, or even for him and other congresscritters to read and study the bill, but for the LOBBYISTS to read the bill.”
Thats stupid Monkey. You can’t read a document in three days?
Besides, libs don’t read anything anyhoot. Your people in congress vote without reading. That’s a fact jack.
Look at the video, “American_Way” –
Roberts specifically stated the 72 period was for lobbyists.
Just like when he slow-walked the Senate Intelligence Committee report in order to protect Bush and Cheney, Senator Roberts has again made abundantly clear his total disregard for the people he was elected to serve. And he did so in the most doltish way possible–by taking up for INSURANCE COMPANY LOBBYISTS. I guess he’s just availing himself of the luxury of the safest seat in the Senate.
insurance industry: the check’s in the mail.
It ain’t for nuttin I labeled him Patsy Roberts!
Thought for the day: If Roberts’ a patsy for the lobbyist, and you’re a repub patsy for Roberts, who is the greater fool?
“Just like when he slow-walked the Senate Intelligence Committee report in order to protect Bush and Cheney, Senator Roberts has again made abundantly clear his total disregard for the people he was elected to serve. And he did so in the most doltish way possible–by taking up for INSURANCE COMPANY LOBBYISTS. I guess he’s just availing himself of the luxury of the safest seat in the Senate”
He has to hold his constituents that continually re-elect him in total contempt.