By Doug Bandow
It’s gotten so bad politically that even the Democrats now are joining with Republicans to demand information on the administration’s back-room dealings with industry in promoting health care “reform.” Despite the president’s claim to be representing the people, his preferred legislation should have been called the No Lobbyist Left Behind Act. The big health insurance, physician, and pharmaceutical trade associations all backed a federal takeover of American medicine.
But the public was less than impressed, and now the politicians are back-peddling. Reports Politico:
A top House committee responded to the mounting voter backlash against backroom deals on health reform by seeking more information Wednesday about White House negotiations with industry groups.
Hours before President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address, Republicans and Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee agreed to pursue a revised GOP request for additional documentation about the talks that led to a series of controversial administration agreements with doctors, hospitals and drug makers at the outset of the health care debate.
The rising tide of anger against those industry-endorsed pacts – coupled with voters’ frustration about other last-minute concessions party leaders made to wavering Democrats – helped propel Republican Scott Brown to the Senate in Massachusetts in a shocking result that has imperiled health care reform on Capitol Hill.
Under the agreement Chairman Henry Waxman brokered with Texas Republican Rep. Michael Burgess, the California Democrat has offered to help Republicans get a comprehensive list of meetings the White House held with industry representatives, as well as records documenting calls and e-mails between outside groups and the Department of Health and Human Services.
“I have long been an advocate for transparency in government,” Waxman said. “At the same time, I believe Congress should wield its oversight power judiciously.”
By all means, let’s find how who cut what deals when. After all, it’s supposed to be government of the people, by the people, and for the people, right!?
There’s nothing quite like watching a herd of politicians in full panic.
Doug Bandow, American Conservative Defense Alliance