July 21st, 2009:

via Industry Cash Flowed To Drafters of Reform – washingtonpost.com.
Key Senator Baucus Is a Leading Recipient

Senator Max Baucus, R-MT

What! You thought Baucus was a Democrat? You are sadly mistaken. Senator Baucus, who is chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee and who is one man with influence enough to push health care reform toward success thereby sealing the deal for 46 million uninsured in America, has unashamedly opened the floodgates for cash donations from those who wish to see the public plan killed.

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.

Baucus has held lavish fundraising events which lured top insurance executives, health care and pharmaceutical lobbyists. The health care lobby has given over $170 million to federal lawmakers in 2007 and 2008, during the time when health care reform was a top issue during the Presidential campaigns, 54% going to Democrats. The health-care lobby saw this coming and began early to kill any kind of real reform. These donations have focused on on just a few in Congress who has the influence to make or break reform, with the biggest part going to Baucus.

This is how the insurance industry is spending your premium dollars.

Republicanease is a term I invented to help you good readers understand the upside-down true meanings behind Republican’s words. An example is “saving Social Security” when they really mean “give Social Security to Wall Street”. The next excerpt from the article contains explanations for Republican speak: [Republicanease].

Baucus declined requests to comment for this article. Spokesman Tyler Matsdorf said the senator “is only driven by one thing:  [money] what is right for Montana and the country. And he will continue his open process of [getting his palm greased] working together with the president, his [Republican] colleagues in Congress, and groups [health care lobbyists]  and individuals [big pharma and insurance execs] from across the nation to get this legislation passed [without a public option].”

I go by the duck theory. If it quacks like a duck, has webbed feet like a duck, waddles like a duck, then it is a duck. Max Baucus talks like a Republican, holds corporate interests above people like a Republican, and takes pay-offs like a Republican, then he is a Republican.

We must elect better Democrats.

Write letters to newspaper editors and your Representatives, make phone calls to Congress. Our efforts can win us health care reform. Keep hope alive.