Are Progressives “Special Interests Whove Prevented Health Care Reform for Decades”?
“By standing up to the special interests — who’ve prevented reform for decades, and who are furiously lobbying against it now — the Senate has moved us closer to reform.” – President Obama, 12/21/09 The Lieberman-gutted Senate health care legislation is a major win for the insurance and drug companies. That’s not to say there aren’t some good things in the bill, but even bill proponents who are honest about things will acknowledge this bill is great for the health industry. Indeed, this is why the insurance industry is now screaming “We win!” This might explain why AHIP, the chief lobbying apparatus for the insurance industry, doesn’t appear to be against this bill. It explains why the drug industry isn’t airing ads against this bill. It explains why the Chicago Tribune reports that other health industry lobbyists have been writing this kind of bill and advocating for it from the beginning. In short, the drug/insurance industry does not seem to be “furiously lobbying” against this bi
