”Democrat Senator & Drug Money!” (My Title)

Montana Standard ^ | 6/14/09 | Mike Dennison

[FredJake]

HELENA — As Sen. Max Baucus has taken the lead on health-reform legislation in the U.S. Senate, he's also become a leader in something else: Campaign money received from health- and insurance-industry interests.

In the past six years, nearly one-fourth of every dime raised by Baucus, D-Mont., and his political-action committee has come from groups and individuals associated with drug companies, insurers, hospitals, medical-supply firms, health-service companies and other health professionals.

These donations total about $3.4 million, or $1,500 a day, every day, from January 2003 through 2008.

Baucus, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee that is drafting a major health-care reform bill this month, insists this cavalcade of money is not unduly influencing his work "No matter the issue, Max always puts Montana first," said his spokesman, Ty Matsdorf. "Max will continue to do what's right for our state, and groups like SEIU (a union representing thousands of health-care workers) and AARP (a senior citizens' group) wouldn't line up in support of his health-care reform effort if this wasn't true." Baucus' office also lists numerous examples of how his proposed reforms are challenging the health-care and insurance industries, such as requiring insurers to accept all customers, regardless of health condition.

[FredJake]

The headline was my idea because I wanted to make a Democrat look as bad as the MSM makes Republicans look in as few words as possible. Here is a place where the reporter who wrote the article is interviewed about his findings.

New Democracy interview of Mike Dennison

[FlingWingFlyer]

In the past six years, nearly one-fourth of every dime raised by Baucus, D-Mont., and his political-action committee has come from groups and individuals associated with drug companies, insurers, hospitals, medical-supply firms, health-service companies and other health professionals.

Any questions?

[cookcounty]

When is he up for re-election? Wasn’t he just re-elected in November?

[cookcounty]

To answer my own question, Baucus is up for re-election in 2014. Better focus on the near-term.

[allmendream]

Do you suppose Pharmaceutical companies SHOULDN’T lobby people who are shaping legislation that could torpedo their industry?

Should Airlines not lobby Congressmen more heavily who are on Transportation subcommittees?

Do you have something specific against “drug companies” and them looking out for the self interest of their employees and stockholders, when it is about to be negatively impacted by legislation?

[SunkenCiv]

from the Weird Coincidence Desk:

As Sen. Max Baucus has taken the lead on health-reform legislation in the U.S. Senate, he's also become a leader in something else: Campaign money received from health- and insurance-industry interests. In the past six years, nearly one-fourth of every dime raised by Baucus, D-Mont., and his political-action committee has come from groups and individuals associated with drug companies, insurers, hospitals, medical-supply firms, health-service companies and other health professionals. These donations total about $3.4 million, or $1,500 a day, every day, from January 2003 through 2008. Baucus, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee that is drafting a major health-care reform bill this month, insists this cavalcade of money is not unduly influencing his work...

...and I'm sure, if this monstrosity passes, that those expecting a quid pro quo are gonna let him off the hook, no hard feelings.

[Oldpuppymax]

Of course that 1500/day has NO EFFECT WHATEVER on his job performance! And he is confident that we are all stupid enough to believe that!