CASH & KERRY'S HEALTH CARE HYPOCRISY
Chooses Special Interests
Over Lower Health Care Costs
_______________________________________
"'The note of reality is he has been brought to you by special interests,' said Charles Lewis of the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity, a watchdog group that has closely studied the senator's relationship with special interests. 'It's very hard [for Kerry] to utter this rhetoric without some hollowness to it.'" (Jim VandeHei, "Kerry Leads In Lobby Money," The Washington Post, 1/31/04)
ATTACKED PRESIDENT BUSH FOR
PHARMACEUTICAL CONTRIBUTIONS …
In Press Release Linking Prescription Drug Card Providers And Bush Campaign Contributions, Kerry Attacks Bush For Raising "Money From The Drug Companies Hand Over Fist And … Protecting Their Profits Before Cutting Costs For Consumers." (John Kerry For President, "Kerry Campaign Statement On Ties Between Bush And Pharmaceutical Industry," Press Release, 5/10/04)
… BUT TOOK THOUSANDS FROM EMPLOYEES
OF VERY SAME FIRMS HE ATTACKED …
Kerry Has Raised $60,000 From Employees Of At Least 11 Firms Contracted To Provide New Prescription Drug Cards. (Sharon Theimer, "Medicare Drug Card Providers Include Big Political, Lobbying Spenders," The Associated Press, 5/10/04; Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 5/11/04)
Since 1989, Kerry Has Raised $1,761,781 From Health Care Industry Employees, Fourth-Most Of Any Senator During That Time Period. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 5/10/04)
ü Kerry's Presidential Campaign Has Raised $967,449 From Health Care Industry Employees. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 5/10/04)
… AND EVEN PAID ONE FOR CAMPAIGN TRAVEL!
Kerry Campaign Paid Prescription Drug Card Provider Caremark Inc., $3,340 For "Travel Expenses." (Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed 5/11/04; Melissa Davis, "Medco, Caremark Itching To Play Medicare Card," TheStreet.com, 3/29/04)
ATTACKED PRESIDENT BUSH FOR
RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS …
"Sen. John F. Kerry Charged Monday That President Bush Was Ignoring Soaring Health Care Costs, As The Democratic Presidential Candidate Launched A Week-Long Campaign To Highlight His Plan To Reduce Insurance Premiums And Extend Coverage To 27 Million Uninsured Americans." (Jim VandeHei, "Kerry Addresses Health Care Costs," The Washington Post, 5/11/04)
… BUT OPPOSES MEDICAL LIABILITY REFORM
THAT LOWERS HEALTH CARE COSTS …
Kerry Opposed Or Voted To Block Medical Liability Reform At Least Ten Times. (H.R. 956, CQ Vote #137: Motion Rejected 39-61: R 10-44; D 29-17; I 0-0, 5/2/95, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 956, CQ Vote #140: Motion Agreed To 65-35: R 24-30; D 41-5, 5/2/95, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 956, CQ Vote #141: Motion Agreed To 56-44: R 13-41; D 43-3, 5/2/95, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 956, CQ Vote #144: Passed 53-47: R 48-6; D 5-41, 5/2/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 956, CQ Vote #151: Motion Rejected 46-53: R 44-10; D 2-43; I 0-0, 5/4/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 956, CQ Vote #152: Motion Rejected 47-52: R 45-9; D 2-43; I 0-0, 5/4/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 956, CQ Vote #160: Motion Agreed To 54-44:: R 46-7; D 8-37, 5/10/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 956, CQ Vote #161: Passed 61-37: R 46-7; D 15-30, 5/10/95, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1052, CQ Vote #212: Motion Agreed To 52-46: R 2-45; D 49-1; I 1-0, 6/29/01, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 812, CQ Vote #197: Motion Agreed To 57-42: R 6-42; D 50-0; I 1-0, 7/30/02, Kerry Voted Yea)
Kerry Missed 2003 And 2004 Votes On Medical Liability. (S. 11, CQ Vote #264: Motion Rejected 49-48: R 49-2; D 0-45; I 0-1, 7/9/03, Kerry Did Not Vote; S. 2061, CQ Vote #15: Motion Rejected 48-45: R 47-3: D 1-41; I 0-1, 2/24/04, Kerry Did Not Vote; S. 2207, CQ Vote #66: Motion Rejected 49-48: R 48-3; D 1-44; I 0-1, 4/7/04, Kerry Did Not Vote)
ü CBO Said House Bill Would "Lead To Lower Charges For Health Care Services And Procedures, And Ultimately, To A Decrease In Rates For Health Insurance Premiums." ("Cost Estimate Of H.R. 5, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act Of 2003," Congressional Budget Office, 3/10/03)
ü According To 2003 Joint Economic Committee Report, Meaningful Medical Liability Reform Could Lower Health Care Costs Sufficiently So That Another 3.9 Million Americans Could Afford Health Insurance. ("Liability For Medical Malpractice: Issues And Evidence," Joint Economic Committee, United States Congress, 5/03)
… AND TOOK OVER $1 MILLION FROM
TRIAL LAWYERS WHO OPPOSE REFORM
Washington Post Editorial Calls Trial Lawyers "Special Interest." "What's beyond dispute is that trial lawyers are a special interest. They pump millions of dollars into Democratic coffers because their livelihoods depend on such legislative issues as caps on damages in medical malpractice cases, limits on class action lawsuits and settlement of asbestos litigation." (Editorial, "Mr. Edwards's Bundle Of Secrets," The Washington Post, 1/23/04)
Since 1991, Kerry Has Raised $1,457,371 From Trial Lawyers. (Dwight L. Morris & Associates Website, www.campaignfinanceanalysisproject.com, Accessed 5/10/04; Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed 2/6/04)
ü Kerry's Presidential Campaign Has Raised $892,625 From Trial Lawyers. (Dwight L. Morris & Associates Website, www.campaignfinanceanalysisproject.com, Accessed 5/10/04) |
