Subject: [big campaign] Report, release out on Ben Nelson's health and insurance industry ties
From: "David Donnelly" <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 12:58:46 -0400
List-Id: <bigcampaign.googlegroups.com>

All,

Here¹s a release Public Campaign Action Fund just sent out re: Sen. Ben
Nelson¹s ties to the insurance and health care industries, in light of his
recent public opposition to a public health insurance option.

Report here: http://www.campaignmoney.org/healthcare/nelson

Release below.

David

For immediate release            For more information
May 7, 2009            Rick Bielke, 202-293-0222
 
WATCHDOG GROUP RELEASES REPORT HIGHLIGHTING SEN. NELSON¹S TIES TO HEALTH AND
INSURANCE INDUSTRIES
 
Report released following Nelson¹s controversial statements that he will
oppose a public insurance option
 
Nelson has taken $2 million in contributions from health and insurance
industries
 
Washington, DC  Sen. Ben Nelson¹s (D-Neb.) ties to the health and insurance
industries raises serious questions for Nebraska residents about their
Senator¹s views on health care reform, according to a new report issued
today by the nonpartisan campaign finance watchdog group Public Campaign
Action Fund.
 
The report shows that Sen. Nelson, over his three Senate campaigns, ranks
fourth in the Senate in lifetime contributions from insurance interests,
only trailing three Senators who have run for President. Nelson has received
nearly $1.2 million in campaign contributions from these insurance interests
alone, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
 
³Sen. Nelson¹s statement last week that he will oppose a public health plan
raises serious questions regarding who he represents in Washington 
insurance companies and their profits, or Nebraskans who want reform of our
wasteful and inefficient health care system,² commented David Donnelly,
Public Campaign Action Fund¹s national campaigns director.
 
³Congress has an image and trust problem that is hard to shake when
lawmakers like Sen. Nelson oppose comprehensive health reform while raising
money from insurance and health care interests,² Donnelly said. ³To counter
that, Sen. Nelson should add his name as a cosponsor of the Fair Elections
Now Act. In doing so, he would ensure that he truly believes that the voices
of all Nebraskans, not just the special interests, should be front and
center when discussing health care.²
 
The report details a revolving door between Nelson¹s staff and health
lobbying interests. Three former members of his staff now work for lobbying
firms and a former health care lobbyist works on Nelson¹s staff.
 
The report is at http://www.campaignmoney.org/healthcare/nelson.
 
The Fair Elections Now Act was introduced by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and
Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) on March 31, 2009. It would establish a system of
small dollar contributions and public financing for congressional campaigns
freeing candidates from taking special interest dollars and the expectations
that often accompany them.
 
Public Campaign Action Fund is a national nonprofit organization dedicated
to improving America¹s campaign finance laws and holding politicians
accountable for the favorable treatment they give to political donors.
 
###

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