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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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30

Lobbyists Deal Death Blows to Health Care Cost Cuts

Having KO'd most cuts, they're aiming at Cadillac tax and Medicare commission

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(Newser) – Who's winning the health care battle? Lobbyists, says the New York Times, who've succeeded in blocking virtually every avenue for cutting health care costs that has been put on the table. They've killed proposals that would pinch doctors, hospitals, insurers and employees who are the beneficiaries of so-called Cadillac health plans. Now they're aiming at the last two measures still standing: a scaled-back Cadillac tax and a nonpartisan Medicare cost-cutting commission.

Both labor and business lobbyists have brought out the big guns on the Cadillac tax, managing to get 157 House Democrats to sign a letter to speaker Nancy Pelosi opposing it. And drug lobbyists have won a cost-cutting agreement with Sen. Max Baucus that appears to exclude drug price negotiations through a Medicare commission. A parallel White House deal with hospital lobbyists also appears to have excluded negotiation by such a commission, and that's causing other constituencies to cry foul.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., holds up notes for photographers, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, before the start of the afternoon session of the committee's continuing hearing on health care reform legislation.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., holds up notes for photographers, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, before the start of the afternoon session of the committee's...   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. gestures during her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 in Washington.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. gestures during her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 in Washington.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Senate Finance Committee member Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., left, and committee chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., wait on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, for the start of the committee's hearing on health care reform legislation.
Senate Finance Committee member Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., left, and committee chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., wait on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, for the start of the committee's...   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2009 file photo, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. gestures on Capitol Hill in Washington.
FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2009 file photo, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. gestures on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg, FILE)
FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2009 file photo, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, of Nev., right, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., left, and newly-named Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa,...
FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2009 file photo, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, of Nev., right, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus,...   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
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To work, it has to look at the full picture. There can be no carve-outs for specific provider groups. - Sen. Jay. Rockefeller on the
Medicare commission

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30 comments
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RockyPneumonia
Oct 11, 09 7:01 AM CDT
If the Republicans had not spread such viral lies, we'd have had meaningful health care reform months ago...which, of course, is why the Republicans have spread such viral lies. Reply
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+19
IN RESPONSE:
Wraith
Oct 11, 09 7:49 AM CDT
Due in part to the fact a few Rich Republicans order their minions to obstruct any sign of progress, it better helps line the pockets of the Rich Repubs and their lackeys "lack" the intelligence they are only serving their masters
Vote up! Vote down!
+8
IN RESPONSE:
godawgs
Oct 11, 09 12:59 PM CDT
@rocky or wriaith did either of you read the summary or just have your cookie cutter responses that blame the republicans on the ready? the democrats have been bough off by the special interests which among other things is the reason we don't have meaningful health care reform, that and the lack of a backbone from the democratic party.
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
Snowleopard
Oct 11, 09 3:51 PM CDT
Godawgs: Yes, there are a number of corrupt bluedog democrats that have also been bought off by the insurance industry, and without them the only legislation that could pass is that where the insurance company allows it to pass. But that wouldn't be the case if every single republican wasn't also in the pocket of corporations and special interests. If there were some republicans that really acted in the interests of the american people instead of just lobbyists, then it would be easier for the democrats to pass real reform.
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0
SilenceDogood
Oct 11, 09 7:32 AM CDT
Now Obama is beginning to understand; Washington has a life of its own and it’s resistance to change is mighty. GWB came to Washington to privatize sections of government, Clinton attempted to effect change with little success. The lobbyists are from the construction unions, the health care industry, the teachers unions, big Pharma, little Pharma, Wall Street and a hoard of others. But wait, did I not remember that Obama promised to keep lobbyist out? Reply
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+3

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