The new markup of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus‘s healthcare proposal offers higher subsidies for the financially strapped, and limits penalties and those affected by a new tax. The overhaul is expected to return favor from key Republican Senator Olympia Snowe. (LATimes) The Massachusetts Senate voted to allow Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick the final …
Tag: baucus
Wellpoint lobbyist & ex-Enzi staffer wrote key parts of Baucus plan
Still more evidence that Wellpoint wrote the Baucus plan: the insurance company’s lobbying efforts in DC are headed up by Senator Mike Enzi’s former chief health adviser at Senate HELP, Stephen Northrup. Enzi is a member of Baucus’s so-called “Gang of Six” shaping the bipartisan compromise bill. In fact, key provisions in the Baucus plan …
Rep. Grijalva: Everything in Baucus bill “had to be approved by the industry”
This morning Democracy Now! interviewed Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which is vowing to withhold support from any health care reform bill lacking a strong public option. Amy Goodman asked Grijalva about the significance of the revolving spinning door between the industry and Senator Baucus’ staff, citing research first published …
Baucus’s last health chief? Also a Wellpoint lobbyist.
Last week, I noted that the key Baucus healthcare staffer is a former insurance executive. Now, Liz Fowler’s stint at Wellpoint is getting some more attention, as her electronic fingerprints have been found on the Senator’s new healthcare plan. Not surprising, as she’s the top health staffer in Baucus’s office, but the symbolism is rich: …
Baucus tax chief is former insurance and pharma lobbyist
Just when you thought the Baucus revolving door couldn’t spin faster: the Senate staffer responsible for devising the tax policies at the heart of the Baucus plan is a former lobbyist for health insurance and pharmaceutical interests, including an insurance industry front group. Cathy Koch, who heads the Senate Finance committee’s tax department, was director …