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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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 OPINION 
15

Health Industry Shakedown Imperils Reform

Obama must ignore lobbyists for insurers, doctors, drug makers

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(Newser) – In dealing with pharmaceutical companies, insurers, and the AMA, President Obama should take a page from David Letterman's book and not fall prey to blackmail, writes former Labor Secretary Robert Reich. Promises the administration made to those three constituencies in exchange for staying neutral or positive about health care reform amount to “hush money,” writes Reich. "When they all get paid off, who will do the paying? Middle-class Americans who are already in a financial squeeze."

The deal created tens of millions of new customers, and no reforms that bit into profits—no Medicare bargaining for lower drug prices, no public option to compete with private insurance, and no messing with the fee-for-service model that pays doctors more for more treatment, not better outcomes. If the president doesn’t slam on the brakes, not only will the extra coverage he wins for currently uninsured Americans represent a hollow victory, but "Sarah Palin or some other right wing-nut populist will wallop Obama."

Former Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, speaks at a political conferenc, February 17, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA.
Former Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, speaks at a political conferenc, February 17, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA.   (Getty Images)
This May 18, 2008 file photo shows Robert Reich, Labor Secretary during the Clinton administration, giving his commencement speech during graduation at California State University, Fullerton.
This May 18, 2008 file photo shows Robert Reich, Labor Secretary during the Clinton administration, giving his commencement speech during graduation at California State University, Fullerton.   (AP Photo/California State University, Fullerton, Kelly Lacefield)
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15 comments
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JoeQ
Oct 19, 09 4:00 PM CDT
This is what I have always been afraid of from the start with the idea of universal health care. We surely need it buy our for of government is too far gone for it to ever happen. When a politician uses the word "reform" grab for your wallet. Big Pharma and Big Insurance will not let something pass unless their income stream goes WAY UP. They have many millions in money taken from us to pay for lobbyists to make sure this is what happens. Instead of a public option we may all just get mandatory health insurance, a captive market for the insurance companies. The medical stock lately has been acting like they are sitting on a gold mine which means the smart money in Wall Street knows this. This is the worst time in the world for the middle class to get stiffed. The way Obama handled the financial industry I fear he will not stand up to these guys either. Reply
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LovinLife
Oct 19, 09 4:08 PM CDT
Please call your representatives and tell them what you want. If every sane, brave and caring person in the country would make one phone call in support of real reform, this would be done - and done with a Public Option. As it stands now, our local Representative is hearing from constituents 10 to 1 AGAINST. It's the same people calling over and over, but they're not hearing from people like you with valid concerns. Let's do this - let's take back our government by letting our Representatives know in no uncertain terms, what we want. www.healthcare.barackobama.com It really takes just a few minutes.
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IN RESPONSE:
Monjubikahn
Oct 31, 09 11:06 AM CDT
The only way to stop this is to Repeal The Federal Reserve Act and Remove the Insurance Industries immunity from trust busting. Only then can the Government of The people by the people and for the people work in good faith to bring about appropriate healthcare reform. Right now the lobbyist spread pixie dust and make veiled threats and back them up with the GOP speaking as though what the Insurance Industry says is gospel. Follow the money and take their hands out of the tax payers pockets. There is enough wealth in this nation to insure the whole nation and guarantee choice without the choice being controlled by the Insurance Industry. This Nation was not built on the economics of scarcity. If the monopolies do not give to the benefit of the nation as a whole, then they will become stagnant pools of fiscal stench that will scream, "We are too big to fail." Fail they must and fail they will. And our government will go down with them if they do not begin representing the people.
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ksu92
Oct 19, 09 4:55 PM CDT
I don't appreciate Newser selling ad space to right-wing scare mongers trying to kill off health care reform. Were you paid with thirty pieces of silver, Newser? Reply
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-2
SemperFI
Oct 19, 09 5:46 PM CDT
I say get rid of all lobbyists. Especially banks and insurance companies. What it is ....is legal payoffs. "Ohhhh....this is for your wink...wink....campaign." Yeah sure. The insurance companies droll out 1 M a day to sane their way of life Reply
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