Congress Investigates Insurance Companies That Oppose Obamacare
GrayRiderReps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Bart Stupak, D-Mich. have sent letters to 52 health insurers demanding financial records specific to employees making a million dollars annually and above from 2003 trough 2008.
They also want records of meetings and conferences held offsite as well as the types of transportation, lodging, food, entertainment and gifts exchanged.
The companies claim that the action is punitive to those companies that have openly opposed the President's proposed health care reform legislation and an attempt at intimidation. They also claim that the letters were not sent to health insurers that are in support of the reform. The congressmen would not say what the investigation is about or what they're looking for. No republicans on the committee were informed of the letters.
Private health insurers warn that a public option could put them at a competitive disadvantage and even out of business, but they insist they support health care reform in general.
Selective investigations by any government agency or agents are considered illegal by most. Some believe that the country has not seen this level of blatant government intimidation since the alleged IRS audits of foes by Richard Nixon.
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Reader Comments (17)
Yeah, that's pretty goofy. Congress has pretty wide latitude in what it investigates, but "cough up your records, never mind why" just isn't right. That's a big-time overreach.
Executive pay is popular thing to attack...we've already seen that in the attack ad criticizing the CEO of CIGNA for his compensation package. This strikes me as way to get those figures out into the discussion; it's both obvious and heavyhanded.
If the insurers are going to claim that a public option will force them out of business, they SHOULD disclose this information - but I don't agree with this method at all.
I think Congress should investigate the blatant corruption of their own members (big chance!) and the Obama administration (Axelrod/Soros/Big Pharma connection etc...). Are there any honest people left on the left who have enough courage/integrity to voice those obvious corruption (instead of making moral equivalent and vague excuse)?
We need the full disclosure of the TARP/porkulus/and big interest connection of the leaders in Congress and the Obama adminstration asap given the blatant corruption in front of our eyes.
Doesn't Congress already have access to this information from SEC filings?
You know, Machiavelli, I was wondering the same thing...I'll dig around and see what's available.
Doesn't Congress already have access to this information from SEC filings?
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As usual, Mach brought out a good point. Another example of the effort to demonize the insurance companies. These people want to reach out to Hamas and the mullahs!
This is a pure intimidation tactics and it reveals a fundamental dishonesty of Waxman. I am waiting for honest people on the left to rise up and strongly condemn him (*chuckle*)
To his credit, Wes did.
They have to pummel the boogyman for all to see. Nothing like a little sideshow distraction to get the voters minds off track.
To his credit, Wes did.
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Understand your point, Gray. Wes couldn't bring himself to simply denounce this. He has to pull his usual "centrist" routine!
Executive pay is popular thing to attack...we've already seen that in the attack ad criticizing the CEO of CIGNA for his compensation package. This strikes me as way to get those figures out into the discussion; it's both obvious and heavyhanded.
If the insurers are going to claim that a public option will force them out of business, they SHOULD disclose this information - but I don't agree with this method at all.
It's as close as he gets. lol..
It's as close as he gets. lol..
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That 's the typical routine to pretend that you are "centrist" etc... People like Frums and Brooks do that all the time. These folks cannot pretend to have any intellectual honesty if they totally ignore the blatant corruption of the Obama administration/dem congress. So they have to acknowledge it and then turn around to immediately ignore it!
Actually, I wasn't trying to be centrist - I was trying to analyze the political play behind the request. As far as the tactic itself, I did nothing but condemn it. Sorry if that went over your head, LAI.
Actually, I wasn't trying to be centrist - I was trying to analyze the political play behind the request. As far as the tactic itself, I did nothing but condemn it. Sorry if that went over your head, LAI.
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Actually, I was simple trying to analyze your posts given a very long list of typical "centrist" routines. No need to bash the insurance companies in this case. In fact, these big insurance companies deserve what they got for getting in bed with Obama and the dems. Sorry that I didn't expect that it went over your head. Maybe I will give more detailed explanation in the future.
BTW, the pork-buster effort against the wasteful spending by the Republican Congress and the Bush administration is an example of how not ignore the corruption on your side. These folks didn't even claim to be centrists. They simply SUSTAINED a continual criticism of the fiscal irresponsibility. Now look at the left for a comparison wrt the Iraq/Afghan war and deficits etc...
I think I see the Lost City of Atlantis in that nostril of Waxman's. Whoa when Henry sets out to do a "little house cleaning", it's an all day job.
Puhleeze, no more close ups of waxmans nose hair. BAAAAAAAAAAAAArrrrrrrrrrf.