So, you know that letter I mentioned in my last blog? The one written by nine Republican Senators and sent to Obama to passionately object a public health plan?

“The signatories argued that creation of a so-called “public option” will undermine private insurers and eventually limit provider and treatment choices for consumers.”

Well I did a little digging and came upon this curious finding:

It seems as though the nine Senators that signed the letter each racked up close to $2 million in donations from health insurance and health care interests , totaling to $17.7 million.

All nine Senators sit on the Senate Finance Committee, which is actively engaged in debating health care reform. The nine signers include Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Jim Bunning (R-KY), Mike Crapo(R-ID), Pat Roberts (R-KS), John Ensign (R-NV), Mike Enzi ( R-WY), and John Cornyn (R-TX).

$ 17 million?! If you ask me, that’s one expensive letter. But I guess to the insurance industry, the money is worth it. It’s obviously being put to good use, right? I am sure the private insurance fat cats are analyzing the pros and cons of bribing Congress and what that means at a time like this. Maybe their analysis goes something like this:

• Strongly worded letter to the President opposing his public health insurance option = $2 million
• Using fear-mongering to convince Americans that a public option would mean government take-over and therefore they should trust the industry instead= $17 million
• Winning the health care debate (thanks to those Members of Congress that had our backs!) and continuing to make ridiculous profits while Americans struggle to pay for their asthma inhalers = Priceless

So that’s the industry side of it, but what about Congress? Are our Senators there to represent us or the money?

This kind of campaign financing is not OK. This kind of back-door influencing is not how decisions on our future should be made. If we are ever going to get real health care reform, real climate change solutions, and affordable access to higher education, we have to Change Congress.   Check out the great site on campaign finance reform that has to happen now!