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Friday, July 03, 2009 8:06 AM Political Notes, July 3 By Matt Shaw | Times Staff Writer Delegation gets health care donations Congressmen are reaping millions in contributions from major health care interests, just as they begin to debate reforms, research shows. "Legislating Under the Influence," a new report by Common Cause, shows how the health care industry has spent billions on campaign contributions and lobbying over the past decade to influence Congress. So far this year, it has spent more than $1.4 million a day to lobby Capitol Hill. Members of the N.C. delegation have received a total of $192,450 in 2009 from the health care sector, including health professionals, hospitals and drug companies. These include U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, $85,100; U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, $12,500; U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, $6,500; and U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones, $2,000. "The economic downturn doesn't seem to be stopping big money special interests from investing heavily in our elected leaders, whether it's Raleigh or Washington," said Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina. "Systemic campaign finance reform is needed to break the big money politics that plagues our democracy." Common Cause President Bob Edgar, a former congressman, said, "When health industry executives bankroll the campaigns of the legislators in charge of writing the rules, it creates an undeniable risk of bias and destroys the public's trust in its government." Donations have totalled more than $373 million since 2000. Contributions are mainly targeted at leadership, committees with power over their health agenda and members of the majority party, the report found. The full report is available at www.commoncause.org/HealthCare2009 Burr criticizes VA procedures U.S. Sen. Richard Burr recently was critical of Veterans Affairs officials over reports of the use of contaminated endoscopy equipment at VA facilities. "When veterans have lost confidence in VA, we have all failed in our mission to deliver world class health care to those who fought for us," Burr said during a June 24 hearing by the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Earlier this month, the VA's inspector general released a report on the endoscopy failures, finding that more than half of VA facilities visited by investigators are currently not in compliance with the standard operating procedures and competency guidelines for the reprocessing of endoscopy equipment. Jones battles for Marine equality Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-Farmville, to redesignate the Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps has gained 300 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives. Less than 10 of the nearly 3,000 bills introduced in the House this session have garnered that many cosponsors, according to Jones' office. Jones has sought the change since 2001. "This is an issue close to my heart," Jones said. "The Marine Corps is not a subordinate arm under the Navy, but rather an equal member of a team that deserves equal recognition." |
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concerned US citizen said...
Big money special interest groups have been running our congress for a long time. This article speaks for itself. It is time for TERM LIMITS for all 535 of our congress persons. There is no one left to fight for the rights and desires of the US citizens that voted them into office.
Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Big money special interest groups have been running our congress for a long time. This article speaks for itself. It is time for TERM LIMITS for all 535 of our congress persons. There is no one left to fight for the rights and desires of the US citizens that voted them into office.
Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 11:14 AM
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