Industry cash flowed to health-reform senators

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Committee chairman received $1.5 million from health-related companies


WASHINGTON - As liberal protesters marched outside, Sen. Max Baucus sat down inside a San Francisco mansion for a dinner of chicken cordon bleu and a discussion of landmark health-care legislation under consideration by his Senate Finance Committee.

At the table on May 26 were about 20 donors willing to fork over $10,000 or more to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, including executives of major insurance companies, hospitals and other health-care firms.

"Most people there had an agenda; they wanted the ear of a senator, and they got it," said Aaron Roland, a San Francisco health-care activist who paid half price to attend the gathering. "Money gets you in the door. The only thing the other side can do is march around and protest outside."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32023391/ns/world_news-washington_post/

[ixion]

1. I think this is a great example of what is wrong with our system

We, the People are summarily ignored while the top 1% get the 'ear' of the elected rep.

The Result: big handouts for Big Med, and the shaft for the rest of us.

[Stuart G]

2. K and R nt

[PHIMG]

3. We need Publicly Financed Elections?

If all the single issue groups formed a mega coalition around publicly financed elections wouldn't this be such a huge win that all their single issues would be easier to get accomplished?

Why don't they try?