Oh, Well. It Looked Good At First…

This from the Associated Press: (President) Obama, desperate to ensure that the reform bid does not fail, has told congressional leaders to rewrite the legislation to keep (Senator John) Lieberman (Indep-CT) happy by removing any real competition to private insurance companies in an effort to get it passed by Christmas.

Lieberman, 67, used his deciding vote in Congress to help strip out a provision for government-run medical insurance, intended to set up competition to the abuses of private companies, by threatening to filibuster the legislation.

Another member of Congress from Lieberman’s home state, Rosa DeLauro, told Politico website: “No individual should hold healthcare hostage, including Joe Lieberman, and I’ll say it flat out: I think he ought to be recalled.”

Some of Lieberman’s critics see his stance on healthcare as shaped by his acceptance of more than $1m in campaign contributions from the medical insurance industry during his 21 years in the Senate. The blocking of public-run competition is a huge relief to an industry that has been increasing premiums far ahead of costs and making huge profits while individuals are bankrupted by chronic illnesses. Many of the medical insurance companies are based in Lieberman’s home state.

It has also not gone unnoticed that Lieberman’s wife, Hadassah, works for a major lobbying firm as its specialist on health and pharmaceuticals. She previously worked at drug companies such as Pfizer and Hoffmann-La Roche.

( Editors note: Of course, we will never know the truth, and who is to say what the truth is… )