Frist's Votes Found to Favor HCA Interests

[DoYouEverWonder]

December 4, 2005

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- An analysis of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's voting record shows a pattern of supporting bills that benefit HCA Inc., the Nashville-based hospital company that's been the foundation of the Frist family's wealth.

Frist's office said the Tennessee Republican wasn't available to comment directly on the Tennessean newspaper's research, but he has said in the past that his connections to HCA have not influenced his actions in the Senate.

Frist, considered to be a possible 2008 presidential candidate, has often been criticized for his financial stake in HCA possibly creating a conflict of interest.

"Because he owned so much stock in HCA ... there is the appearance that any legislation that could help the company would have helped him financially," said Mike Surrusco, ethics director for Common Cause, a nonpartisan watchdog group, which has called on the Senate ethics committee to reconsider whether Frist should be prohibited from voting on bills that could affect the fortunes of his family.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-frist-votes,0,4894926.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

I supporse Frist has never heard of the concept of recusing himself?

[NanceGreggs]

1. Another Presidential Hopeful bites the DUST!

"Frist, considered to be a possible 2008 presidential candidate ..."

:rofl: Say buh-bye to THAT idea, Senator Frist!

[Olney Blue]

2. No need to recuse himself- he took a hypocritical oath.

[texpatriot2004]

9. LOL nm

[tnlefty]

3. Recommended 'cause everyone should be aware of FrankenFrist's dirty

dealings. Just like W he uses religion and being a "fine christian man" and all of that to get away with corruption that some of us "godless liberals" would never consider doing because it's JUST PLAIN DAMNED WRONG!

[LiberalFighter]

22. It wouldn't be just dirty dealings on his votes but ALSO

what he might have done as a result of being Senate Majority Leader.

In that position he can wield a lot more influence over others in the Senate AND House to vote a particular way. So it wouldn't be just his votes but the votes of others having a much greater impact on legislation.

[VegasWolf]

4. Humm, first insider trading now bribery! Frist is looking like toast. nt

[Sgent]

5. This seems a little fishy

The way this article has been reported. Just because his votes are beneficial to HCA, doesn't mean there is anything illegal. Just as if Andy Stern (SEIU President) was elected to the Senate and voted in Union's favor.

The problem is the appearence of wrongdoing. We need to get the money out of politics.

Note -- the above being said, I think Frist is guilty as hell. I just don't think that voting in a beneficial way towards HCA bills (unless they are earmarks or the like) is the way to prove it.

[dogfacedboy]

6. It's still evidence of the stink of ethics violations. eom

[NashVegas]

7. I'm With Sgent On This

It's entirely possible - probable - that Frist has voted the way he has because he genuinely believes(or is pre-disposed to believe) what's good for health care corporations (not just HCA) is good for the US. In much the same way that DICK and * believe what's good for energy companies is good for the US.

He'd be wrong, of course.







And still corrupt as all get out.

[Lasher]

11. But then there's the fake 'blind trust'

What you say is true, Crisco, but there's more to the issue.

Remember, there was the 'blind trust' that Frist set up to make it appear he was conforming with Senate rules. Turns out, the trust was not blind at all. Frist knew all about his holdings in HCA, which was an absolute corruption of the 'blind trust' precaution against conflicts of interest. He even participated in insider trading, but that's another chapter of this saga.

Frist can be expected to empathize with fellow HMO owners, and the record shows this did occur in tangible ways. This is not by its self unethical, as you have said. But he profited financially from his pro-HMO actions in the Senate, and he knew at the time he was directly benefiting, since the 'blind trust' was nothing but a smokescreen.

Together, the creation of the fake 'blind trust' and failure to recuse himself were a breach of ethics.

[NashVegas]

19. Now That You Mention That Stock

It surely does bring a whole new definition to "voting shares," doesn't it?

I still think he thinks there's absolutely no wrong in it. No matter.

It won't matter until we know who's driving these stories, IMO. Someone who's actually got the goods on him and wants him out of the way in 2008, or Frist's own people, making sure these stories get vetted and out of the way to keep them out of the news in 2008.

[DoYouEverWonder]

16. I am sure he does believe in corp health care

But in government, when you are directly connected to a particular company or group, you are expected to recuse yourself. It's called ethics, which obviously Mr. I AM HOLIER THEN THOU FRIST doesn't seem to possess.

[WhiteTara]

24. thanks for being so gullible, now

I have some swamp land in NO that is just prime, want to buy it?

[Zynx]

14. When you own stock in a company and vote in its favor, that's a conflict.

[LiberalFighter]

21. Not so much vote in favor but the fact that he even votes on those bills

IS a conflict of interest.

[Zynx]

27. Indeed. He should totally recuse himself, but he's a scumbag.

[WhiteTara]

23. fishy? Let's see, first he used to own

incredible amts of stock in HCA (pls google), then he lied about putting the stock into a "blind trust" which he controlled, made laws that benefitted himself, sold his stock days before a HCA stock crash and you think the article is fishy? Hmmm, do you watch a lot of Faux News? :shrug:

[lovuian]

8. Another greedy millionaire doctor!!!

Pretty obvious!!! There is never enough money More and More is needed!!!

[alittlelark]

10. I, as a cat lover' DETEST HIM to a degree few understand.

I just wanna inject him w/ some of the drugs he used on CATS and coat him with tuna juice.... I'll let my cats have their way with him......


Guess What!!! There is no more 'him'. .... and now I haveta scoop him outta the litter box.. MAN, IT STINKS !!!

[bostonbabs]

12. The article does not mention

that HCA(HEATH CARE AMERICA) was investigated from 1993 to 2002 ...over 30 US Attorneys and 22 FBI field Offices and 11 states were involved.The largest health care settlement in History 1.6 billion is what HCA paid .
The settled with the government was 2 DAYS BEFORE LOTT STEPPED DOWN.
Frist used 3.5 million of HCA money to run for office!
Rep.Senator CHUCK Grassley said:
"This case is troubling because it shows how one company with unbridled greed systematically defrauded the government health care plan"
........HCA are the "thieves of thieves" and AFTER they get caught they run FRIST FOR SENATE.....he was one of the first to give the Clinton's problems with health care.
These people are such scum.
FRIST was writing health care legislation and getting it passed ....and dealing in stock at the same time.....on the largest health care company in America....
FRISTS FATHER AND BROTHER WERE TO BE deposed the day after they settled.......why are they not in jail???????

[AnneD]

15. Thank you...

I was hoping someone else would remember this. HCA has had a bad rep among Nurses for a long time. They treat you like crap and pay you like crap too. We have had their number for a long time. Have never liked Frist and found all the PR nauseating.

[indepat]

13. My take is Frist went to Congress to promote welfare for HCA-types

[SharonAnn]

25. Of course. That's the only reason he went there. He was apolitical,

only personally greedy before then. It is said that he didn't even vote until shortly before re ran for office.

His family was upset about the regulations they had to follow and the oversight they had to put up with.

Between 2000 and 2004, HCA was fined over $1.2 BILLION for DEFRAUDING Mediaid and Medicare.

What upright businesspeople, what moral Christians, what hypocrites!

[indepat]

30. But at least, reichous, sanctimonious hypocrites

[4_TN_TITANS]

17. hee hee.....

it's been fun watching Frist put the knife in his own back and ruin Repub options for his seat next year...

[No Exit]

18. Let me be the first to say, I'm shocked, SHOCKED, I tell you!

Who'd have thought the good doctor and cat enthusiast didn't have the good of The American People first in his "heart" when voting on legislation???

[texpatriot2004]

20. Huffington Post has this story too

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

[KamaAina]

26. Another reprint from the upcoming issue of DUH! magazine

then again, all the time he spends making the rich richer is that much less time he has to spend with the kitties. It's a good thing!

[antonialee839]

28. Hey, the poor guy has to make a living some way.

:sarcasm:

[snippy]

29. How very republican. n/t

[merwin]

31. kick

[Thom Little]

32. Analysis shows Frist's votes favor HCA Inc. (the company his family owns)

An analysis of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's voting record shows a pattern of supporting bills that benefit HCA Inc., the Nashville-based hospital company that's been the foundation of the Frist family's wealth.

Frist's office said the Tennessee Republican wasn't available to comment directly on The Tennessean newspaper's research, but he has said in the past that his connections to HCA have not influenced his actions in the Senate.

Frist, considered to be a possible 2008 presidential candidate, has often been criticized for his financial stake in HCA possibly creating a conflict of interest.

"Because he owned so much stock in HCA ... there is the appearance that any legislation that could help the company would have helped him financially," said Mike Surrusco, ethics director for Common Cause, a nonpartisan watchdog group, which has called on the Senate ethics committee to reconsider whether Frist should be prohibited from voting on bills that could affect the fortunes of his family.

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/state/article/0,1406,KNS_348_4289302,00.html

[Thom Little]

33. Analysis shows Frist's votes favor HCA Inc. (the company his family owns)

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