Posted on 08/19/2009 12:31:38 PM PDT by markomalley
Two senior House Democrats are seeking a raft of financial figures from health-insurance companies, upping the ante as President Obama and his allies push to make the insurance industry's flaws a centerpiece of their campaign for health-care reform.
House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), chairman of the panel's subcommittee on oversight and investigations, wrote letters Monday to more than 50 of the nation's largest insurers informing them that the committee "is examining executive compensation and other business practices in the health insurance industry." They requested detailed information on the compensation packages of the companies' highest-paid employees, as well as information on the companies' boards, conferences and events they sponsored, the profitability of the individual health-care products they sell and revenues earned through government programs like Medicare and Medicaid
(snip)
Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America's Health Insurance Plans, said the industry viewed the Waxman-Stupak letters as a "politically driven" distraction from more important issues.
"This is a fishing expedition," Zirkelbach said. "There has been an effort in recent weeks to shift the debate to focus on the health insurance industry rather than solutions on health care."
Both in his current post and his previous one as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Waxman has developed a reputation as a master of orchestrating high-profile hearings, often with representatives of major industries in the hot seat. It is not yet clear whether Waxman and Stupak intend to bring insurance company executives to Capitol Hill for similar grillings before banks of television cameras.
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
This is the same tactic used by the NAZI’s in Germany during the Fascist takeover under Hitler.
The question now stands. Will the InsCos tell them to pound sand?
"Are you now or have you ever been a CEO?!"
“House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), chairman of the panel’s subcommittee on oversight and investigations”
This is just a standing “witch hunt” political inquisition. It nauseates me, as it should all true Americans.
Don’t they need a subpoena?
You know, it won’t be too much longer before henry nostrilitis and his ilk try to make it illegal for any industry to perform a neccesary function while turning a profit.
If henry really wanted to do something for the good of this country perhaps he could stop emitting CO2 for a day, that would work.
Or as they're known in the developing world; "Show trials".
Were I a Insurance Exec I would demand to see the Gov's books on Medicare/Madicaid before producing any documenation.
I feel safe in saying that the will be billions unaccounted for in those books, if they even exist.
I predict that some lefty prosecutor out there with designs on being the next Judge Sonia is going to trump-up a reason to serve a search warrant on a BC/BS partner or other large insurer, so that we can be treated to video of their “opulent executive offices” for the next six weeks.
Pray that the insurance companies RESIST this “One-World Fascist” pressure.
Note to the Nazis. Come and get the information!
http://politics4all.com/users/fillise/blog
Blog post about the article. I’m waiting for someone to show me the constitutional powers that allow them to do this?
I know ragging on someone’s looks is gratuitous, but, honestly...how in the world did Waxman get so ugly? Was he the victim of some terrible accident? I’ve never seen a nose like that outside of botched plastic surgery.
And does he have the authority to compel the executives to comply?
I agree that BCBS will likely be exposed to humiliating coverage about their "opulent" executive outings. Left wing media outlets have become no more than scandal sheets. If they go after BCBS, I want to see the same coverage of Fannie and Freddie's corporate entertainment. (Just don't show me pics of Bawney and friends celebrating!)
I agree that BCBS will likely be exposed to humiliating coverage about their "opulent" executive outings. Left wing media outlets have become no more than scandal sheets. If they go after BCBS, I want to see the same coverage of Fannie and Freddie's corporate entertainment. (Just don't show me pics of Bawney and friends celebrating!)
You would think so - but I’m aware of one major insurance company that is preparing the information requested - I think they are afraid not to.
I like Neil Cavuto’s suggested response:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,541226,00.html
Of course they’ll be afraid not to “comply”, otherwise they’ll have crushing audits every second and a gov’t with 10 trillion dollars behind it to pay for it.
Just loving compassion, do what I say and typical nothing new tyranny.
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