Think Progress - Top Health Insurance Companies Secretly Funneling Money To Chamber To Kill Reform

[TomCADem]

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/03/11/ahip-twofaced-chamber/

Health Insurance Industry Spin: Funding Attack Ads And Newt Gingrich Is Consistent With Supporting Reform

In September, ThinkProgress reported that, despite its public support for health care reform, the insurance industry was engaged in a “duplicitous” campaign to undermine the effort. Recently, the National Journal confirmed our reporting by revealing that six of the top health insurance corporations had secretly pumped up to $20 million dollars into the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for a $100-million-dollar attack ad campaign against health reform last year. This week, insurers purchased a new round of attack ads, again with millions laundered through the Chamber.

It’s not just the Chamber. As we have detailed, the health insurance industry also funds Newt Gingrich’s lobbying firm, which has helped to draft health legislation for Republican lawmakers — including bills aimed at deregulating the health insurance market — and advises GOP leaders on ways to kill reform.

Yesterday at the annual conference for America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the lobbying juggernaut for the health insurance industry, the industry again falsely claimed that it is fully behind health reform. ThinkProgress spoke to industry spokesman Robert Zirkelbach, who refused to acknowledge any other attack groups the industry may be funding.

* * *
Former CIGNA executive Wendell Potter, who for years helped the health insurance industry kill reform before becoming a whistle blower, explained that AHIP regularly works behind closed doors to orchestrate a massive right-wing campaign against reform. In the past, health insurers have used third party PR firms to coordinate attack ads, talking points to conservative radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh, and organizing efforts akin to today’s tea parties. As insurers continue to hike premiums for patients across the country, much of that money is not being spent on actual medical care. Instead, up to 20 percent (or 40 percent in the individual market) goes to profits, administrative costs, and lobbying to kill reform.

[LuckyLib]

1. Yes indeedy, the health insurance corporations are persons. Didn't you know?

They can donate whatever they want to any political cause they want. Criminal enterprises, one and all.

[kestrel91316]

2. I have no doubt a lot of their money goes to pay people to post on websites in opposition to HCR.

[TomCADem]

4. Yes, No One Seems To Notice That Fox News Only Gives Daylight To Liberals...

...who are willing to piss all over health care reform or whatever the Obama administration is doing. However, if you are progressive and support the President, you simply do not see the light of day. It creates perverse incentives when to get a progressive message out you have to throw in your lot with Grover Norquist. Other times, it just plain old conservatives silently recommending and kicking anti-Democratic posts without any comment or discussion, except for gratuitous attack on some Democrat or another.

[jtrockville]

3. If this is such a good idea, why keep it secret? nt

[upi402]

5. health insurance industry writes talking points for Rush

That guy is such a blatant corporate propagandist. Sometimes I think that if Americans are this stupid we don't deserve to keep our democracy.