Group items tagged

A $10 billion investment in community health centers, expected to go to $14 billion when Congress completes work on health care reform legislation, was included in a final series of changes to the Senate bill unveiled today. The provision, which would provide primary care for 25 million more Americans, was requested by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Drugmaker lobby has said it would oppose legislation allowing the government to negotiate prices on medicines sold through the U.S. drug program Medicare. They have offered to lower costs by $80 billion over 10 years (in general).

As of mid-August 2009, there were six (6) lobbyists per single (1) member of House and Senate (Bloomberg News). That's 6:1, folks. Just for healthcare reform. For financial industry reform, there are 2,400 lobbyists in play. The Chamber of Commerce spent $26.2 million--in the first 2 quarters (6 months) of 2009. Clearly, private industries and their foot soldiers on K Street/Capitol Hill influence/dictate American policymaking. No matter who's 'voted in,' it's the influence machine that rules Washington. Worse, there's a good chance that the Supreme Court will grant corporations (as 'fictive persons') to spend unlimited dollars in funding electoral campaigns. Is there hope that this country will be a democracy one day? Or is it doomed to become increasingly, irrevocably plutocratic?

As of mid-August 2009, there were six (6) lobbyists per single (1) member of House and Senate (Bloomberg News). That's 6:1, folks. Just for healthcare reform. For financial industry reform, there are 2,400 lobbyists in play. The Chamber of Commerce spent $26.2 million--in the first 2 quarters (6 months) of 2009.

C-Span Video of Markup Session, plus Documents: Updated Chairman's Mark (9/22), Amendments to America's Healthy Future Act, and Chairman's Mark Scoring

Three C-SPAN Videos: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening Sessions

Three C-SPAN Videos: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening Sessions, plus GOP Press Conference

Three C-SPAN Videos: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening Sessions

Three C-SPAN Videos: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening Sessions