It's bad enough that Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln has flip-flopped on the public option, but what is even more revealing is how much a recipient she has become of money from the very ones fighting the reforms.
Here's part of what Roll Call reported about her flip-flop:
“For some in my caucus, when they talk about a public option, they’re talking about another entitlement program, and we can’t afford that right now as a nation,” Lincoln said in a speech to the Elder Law Task Force at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “I’m not going to vote for a bill that’s not deficit-neutral, and I’m not going to vote for a bill that doesn’t do something about curbing the cost in the out years, because it would be pointless. ... I would not support a solely government-funded public option. We can’t afford that.”
But in an opinion piece she wrote for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in July, Lincoln said the public insurance option should be included in health care reform legislation. A public insurance option would compete with private insurers to offer health care coverage.
“Health care reform must build upon what works and improve inefficiencies. Individuals should be able to choose from a range of quality health insurance plans. Options should include private plans as well as a quality, affordable public plan or non-profit plan that can accomplish the same goals as those of a public plan,” she wrote.
But who DOES have Lincoln's ear? Check this out from the Huffington Post:
BLANCHE LINCOLN IS THE QUEEN OF CASH FROM THE HEALTH INDUSTRY The Sunlight Foundation's Paul Blumenthal reports that Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) has taken more money in campaign contributions from the health industry than all but one of her Democratic peers in 2009. According to data from the Center for Responsive Politics, Lincoln benefited from $325,350 in contributions from the health industry in the first half of 2009.
"The large amount in contributions underlies a constantly shifting position by the senator on health care reform," notes Blumenthal. Lincoln sits on the Senate Finance Committee, the lone panel that has so far failed to get its act together on health care reform legislation.
Here's a list of the top 20 Lincoln contributors since 2005 (healthcare interests in bold):
(name of company)--total--individuals-- PACs
1 Nix, Patterson & Roach $60,200 $60,200 $0
2 Home Depot $47,500 $12,500 $35,000
3 Weyerhaeuser Co $44,150 $20,150 $24,000
4 Wal-Mart Stores $43,300 $13,300 $30,000
5 Stephens Group $38,800 $28,800 $10,000
6 Esop Assn $36,250 $250 $36,000
7 American College of Radiology $35,000 $0 $35,000
8 Entergy Corp $34,100 $7,600 $26,500
9 FedEx Corp $33,400 $3,400 $30,000
10 Koch Industries $32,500 $2,500 $30,000
11 National Thoroughbred Racing Assn $32,000 $2,000 $30,000
12 American Physical Therapy Assn $30,000 $0 $30,000
12 AT&T Inc $30,000 $500 $29,500
14 Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp $29,900 $2,400 $27,500
15 Tyson Foods $29,600 $7,600 $22,000
16 Blue Cross/Blue Shield $29,500 $11,000 $18,500
17 DaVita Inc $29,150 $19,150 $10,000
18 College of American Pathologists $28,000 $0 $28,000
19 National Assn of Broadcasters $25,750 $8,250 $17,500
20 American Assn of Nurse Anesthetists $25,500 $0 $25,500
This sure makes me wonder whether Lincoln really concerned about average folks in her state or is she far more concerned about the moneybags who fund her campaigns from healthcare interests who oppose any reform?
If I were living in Arkansas, I'd be sending lots of letters to Lincoln and my other Congress critters demanding passage for healthcare reform. Short of that, I sure hope this woman gets the strongest possible primary opponent since she won't stand up for average folks by supporting the public option.
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