The hits just keep coming: Top Hillary Clinton Advisers and Fundraisers Lobbied Against Obamacare

[Nanjeanne]

Hillary Clinton is campaigning as a guardian of President Barack Obama’s progressive policy accomplishments. In recent weeks, she has called the Affordable Care Act “one of the greatest accomplishments of President Obama, of the Democratic Party, and of our country,” and promised that she is “going to defend Dodd-Frank” and “defend President Obama for taking on Wall Street.”

Meanwhile, however, Clinton’s campaign has been relying on a team of strategists and fundraisers, many of whom spent much of the last seven years as consultants or lobbyists for business interests working to obstruct Obama’s agenda in those two areas.

Consultants associated with the Dewey Square Group, a lobbying firm that has been retained by business interests to defeat a variety of progressive reforms, are playing a major role in the Clinton campaign. Charles Baker III, the co-founder of Dewey, is a senior strategist and the campaign’s chief administrative officer. Michael Whouley, another Dewey co-founder, played an early role in advising Clinton’s plan for the current campaign by convening some of the very first strategy sessions. Senior Dewey officials Jill Alper and Minyon Moore are also close advisers and fundraisers for Clinton, while at least four other Clinton officials have worked at Dewey within the last four years. In addition, disclosures show that Clinton’s Super PACs Priorities USA Action and Correct the Record have also paid Dewey Square Group for a variety of services in this election.

More (if you can stand it!): https://theintercept.com/2016/02/08/hrc-inner-circle-lobbyists/

[99th_Monkey]

1. They must have fought ACA, cuz they wanted Single Payer?

[orpupilofnature57]

4. Wait she'll say Bernie copied that !!!

[Hortensis]

24. Hillary: "Affordable health care is a basic human right."

The Intercept is a very biased publication. Even for people for whom this might be true, none of them lobbied against Obamacare while employed by Hillary.

BTW, Hillary's LONG LIST of intended healthcare reforms, building on Obama's healthcare revolution, is far, far too long to post here, so here's the link: https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/health-care/

[orpupilofnature57]

25. What did she do with Pharmaceuticals ? Platitudes & Poetry .

[Hortensis]

27. You're kidding? A LOT! Here you go.

https://www.hillaryclinton.com/briefing/factsheets/2015/09/21/hillary-clinton-plan-for-lowering-prescription-drug-costs/

Hillary believes we need to promote competition and leverage our nation’s bargaining power to lower drug costs on behalf of Americans. She plans to stop excessive profiteering and marketing costs and use the power of government to encourage innovation and new treatments.

INCLUDED:
* Allow Americans to import drugs from abroad.
* Allow Medicare to negotiate drug and biologic prices.
* Prohibit “pay for delay” arrangements that keep generic competition off the market.
* Higher rebates for prescription drugs in Medicare.
* Ensure American consumers are getting value for their drugs, particularly new drugs.
* Stop direct-to-consumer drug company advertising subsidies and reinvest funds in research.
* Require drug companies that benefit from taxpayers’ support to invest in research, not marketing or profits.
* Increase competition for specialty drugs including new “biologic” drugs – which are often the most expensive new treatments.

Please go read the whole thing. We all have a moral duty to know what we plan to vote against, not just what we believe we are voting for.

[Matt_in_STL]

28. That's what she proposes

What has she done? I'd love to see the links to bills she proposed that addressed these exact issues when she was in the Senate and could legislate them.

[Hortensis]

32. Hillary Clinton? You know, official birth mom

to healthcare reform?

I just provided you the other stuff, go check her Senate record in an era of gridlock for yourself.

This is from ontheissues.org:

Hillary Clinton on Health Care
Click here for 92 full quotes on Health Care OR 25 older headlines OR other candidates on Health Care OR background on Health Care.
The science is clear: vaccines work. (Feb 2015)
Ebola won't stay confined; put resources into Africa. (Oct 2014)
Don’t legitimize end-of-life decision, but ok to help decide. (Apr 2008)
Decrease generic drug costs for developing countries. (Apr 2008)
Taxpayers pay for drug R&D, not drug companies. (Jan 2008)
Need a health care system that manages chronic diseases. (Jan 2008)
Universal health care is a core Democratic principle. (Jan 2008)
Pledges to support $50B for AIDS relief in US and world. (Dec 2007)
Worked on education & welfare in Arkansas but not healthcare. (Oct 2007)
No parent should be told ‘no’ for healthcare for their kids. (Sep 2007)
Local smoking bans ok, but no national ban. (Sep 2007)
Outcry if AIDS were leading disease of young whites. (Jun 2007)
Electronic medical records save $120 billion in health care. (Jun 2007)
Insurers must fund prevention without preexisting conditions. (Mar 2007)
Require electronic medical record for all federal healthcare. (Mar 2007)
Increase America’s commitment against Global AIDS. (Nov 2006)
FDA should compare drug effectiveness--not just safety. (Oct 2006)
Supply more medical needs of families, & insure all children. (Jun 2006)
Healthcare system plagued with underuse, overuse, and abuse. (Oct 2005)
Fought for pediatric rule: new drugs tested for child safety. (Oct 2005)
Low-tech low-cost water treatment for developing world. (Nov 2003)
Millions uninsured is source of America's healthcare crisis. (Nov 2003)
Recommended "managed competition"; not single-payer system. (Nov 2003)
Fund teaching hospitals federally because market fails. (Sep 2000)
Regulate tobacco; fine of $3000 for every underage smoker. (Apr 2000)
Be prepared with defenses against infectious disease. (Oct 1999)
Medicare should be strengthened today. (Sep 1999)
GOP overwhelmed by her health reform knowledge. (Jun 1995)
$100B to get started on healthcare reform. (Jun 1994)
Smaller steps to progress on health care. (Jan 2000)
1990s HillaryCare

Hillary appointed 8 days after inauguration to health cmte. (Oct 2007)
A plan is necessary; but consensus is more necessary. (Sep 2007)
1993:Ambitious role plagued from start by secrecy complaints. (Jun 2007)
1990s plan failed after big pharma & insurance worked on it. (Apr 2007)
1990s healthcare reforms laid groundwork for today’s reforms. (Mar 2007)
Still scarred from 1990s reform, but now doing it better. (Feb 2007)
1997: Helped found State Children’s Health Insurance Program. (Dec 2006)
More people read my health plan abroad than in the US. (Nov 2005)
1993 health plan initially praised as moderate & workable. (Jun 2004)
1990s reform called “secretive” but had 600 in working group. (Nov 2003)
When last Republican backed out, HillaryCare died. (Nov 2003)
Despite failure, glad she tried system-wide reform. (Nov 2003)
1994 "Harry & Louise" ads exploited consumer fears. (Nov 2003)
1990s plan based on employer mandate. (Feb 2003)
Learned lessons on health care; but hasn’t given up goal. (Aug 2000)
1979: Developed program to deliver rural healthcare. (Aug 1999)
OpEd: 1993 debate was highest level ever reached. (Jun 1997)
1994: can't fix just part of problem; it's all or nothing. (Jan 1997)
2008 HillaryCare

2006: If I can't do universal coverage, why run? (Aug 2009)
AdWatch: Got health insurance for six million kids. (Mar 2008)
Include everyone, to avoid cherry-picking and its hidden tax. (Feb 2008)
Healthcare without mandate is like voluntary Social Security. (Feb 2008)
Many uninsured are young & don’t think they need coverage. (Feb 2008)
Make it illegal to discriminate against sick people. (Feb 2008)
Tired of health insurance companies deciding who live or die. (Feb 2008)
Universal health care will not work if it is voluntary. (Feb 2008)
Mandate insurance AND make it affordable for all. (Jan 2008)
Health care tax credit ensures affordability. (Nov 2007)
Insurance companies cannot deny people coverage. (Oct 2007)
Condemns insurers as motivated by greed. (Oct 2007)
American Health Choices Plan: keep yours or pick Congress’. (Sep 2007)
Pay for health plan by $52B tax repeal & $77B efficiencies. (Sep 2007)
Mandated responsibility by individuals, industry & employers. (Sep 2007)
Since 1993, new consensus developed on need for healthcare. (Sep 2007)
Include insurance industry in discussions, but rein them in. (Sep 2007)
Universal health care coverage by the end of my second term. (Feb 2007)
I have the expertise to achieve universal healthcare for all. (Feb 2007)
We need a uniquely American solution to health care. (Oct 2006)
ObamaCare

Non-employer system better; but don't turn back ObamaCare. (Mar 2014)
2007: recast 1990s disaster as experience to make it happen. (Jan 2010)
We need a movement to get healthcare done this time. (Aug 2009)
Voting Record

Health care initiatives are her first priority in Senate. (Feb 2001)
Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare. (Jul 2008)
Voted NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium. (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Apr 2007)
Voted NO on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000. (May 2006)
Voted YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D. (Feb 2006)
Voted YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics. (Nov 2005)
Voted YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug. (Mar 2005)
Voted NO on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Jun 2003)
Voted YES on allowing reimportation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002)
Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)
Voted NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001)
Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care. (Aug 2000)
Invest funds to alleviate the nursing shortage. (Apr 2001)
Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations. (May 2003)
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)
End government propaganda on Medicare bill. (Mar 2004)
Sponsored bill for mental health service for older Americans. (May 2005)
Improve services for people with autism & their families. (Apr 2007)
Establish a national childhood cancer database. (Mar 2007)
Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn. (Apr 2008)

You know, we all need to know what we are voting against, not just what we're voting for. How will you feel if the GOP repeals Obamacare and goes on to reverse every other advance we made through Obama? Fine because, as far as you are concerned, anything's better than her?

[Matt_in_STL]

33. I did check her Senate record

I see some healthcare items, but I see nothing on the regulation of the pharmaceutical industry as you posted. So, I will assume, based on your response, she neither presented nor passed any legislation covering what is listed here.

[VulgarPoet]

34. Aye, roll out her voting record.

[orpupilofnature57]

29. Thank You, Thus far she's facilitated them .

[Perogie]

30. can I just ask you

doesn't it bother you that she hired so many people that lobbied against the ACA or lobbied for the Keystone pipeline?

I'm not accusing her for being against ACA. I just find it odd that as a progressive she would hire people that lobbied against what she is fighting for.

Why doesn't that bother you?

[orpupilofnature57]

2. Usurping Credit for what she and others tried to kill ,Shameless is her Forte, Back to the phones .

[John Poet]

22. You'd think she could find staff and consultants to pay who didn't

try to kill the Obama program which she's been wrapping herself in now...

I suppose they thought no one would check.

[orpupilofnature57]

23. If You listen to her " Just Believe me " is a common thread .

[HerbChestnut]

3. But that's in the past

And if we've learned anything about this election it's that Hillary's past is off limits.

[orpupilofnature57]

5. That should be a big clue and with her entitled status with MSM , it won't be on the 6:00 news .

[azmom]

6. Jeebus, can she get any slimier?

Ugh!

[iAZZZo]

11. maybe?

"The newest hire for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign is a longtime strategist who played a key role in her 2008 primary defeat while working for then-Sen. Barack Obama.

He’s also a Washington lobbyist who lobbied the State Department -- led, at the time, by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- on behalf of the company seeking to build the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

Clinton's new consultant, Jeff Berman, has followed, in many respects, a well-worn path for those in Washington D.C. He spent a large chunk of his career in the public sector before a stint on K Street, and now he's back again. When Clinton hired Berman for his current role, it was seen as something of a coup, because he's known as a master of the mechanics of the primary process. Buzzfeed, which broke the news of Berman's hiring on Wednesday, described him as “a bit of a living legend in the small world that can speak fluently" about the strategic minutiae involved in winning an election."

more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/25/hillary-clinton-keystone_n_7663356.html

regarding obama's campaign: http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Number-Inside-Presidential-Nomination/dp/0984934014/

[frazzled]

7. Well, the editor of The Intercept lobbied in favor of Citizens United

Not to mention working for the "rights" of an infamous neo-Nazi.

Your sources for this ridiculous smear are hardly pristine. The hits on the hitters just keep coming.

[Nanjeanne]

8. Lee Fang wrote the article. You are confusing people

Lee Fang has written numerous articles in opposition to CU.

You really are either badly misinformed or deliberately trying to confuse issues. I assume you are talking about Glenn Greenwald who does advocate for 1st amendment rights.

if you are going to get all righteous indignation, you should at least have your facts correct.

[msongs]

9. oh dear there is nothing in this hit piece about clinton herself. must be sad making nt

[Nanjeanne]

10. You are right. Just the people who work for her

[MisterP]

12. tell Planned Parenthood one thing, tell The Family another

tell South Side North Side's got it out for them and tell the North Side what the South Side's saying
they think it'll double their audience ...

[Recursion]

13. Isn't that kind of like attacking a lawyer for representing a bad person?

Lobbyists lobby for whoever pays them to lobby.

[Nanjeanne]

16. Absolutly that's what lobbyists do - but you don't have to hire lobbyists who represent

things you are supposed to be against to work on your campaign.

Everyone makes their own judgement calls on who they want to hire. Hillary chose hers. The choice is hers. She could choose lobbyists who work on behalf of people - not corporations looking to work against the ACA.

Voters get to make their choices based on those things as well.

[Recursion]

17. Why not? If a big corporation hired them it's probably because they're good at what they do

Why isn't that the person you want running your PR?

[Nanjeanne]

18. I wouldn't but it's personal

If my goal was to support healthcare I wouldn't want the people who lobbied against it working for me. If I wanted to expand SS I wouldn't want the lobbyists who wanted to privatize it working for me.

But that's me. You obviously feel differently and that's what makes the world go round.

[Perogie]

31. because it sends the wrong message

even if they are the best at their job it sends a mixed message to the electorate.

I'm fighting for you, but I hired people who fought against you. That's a bad PR move for any candidate.

[Uncle Joe]

14. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Nanjeanne.

[WillyT]

15. K & R !!!

[senz]

19. Lee Fang is amazing. But the article is a painful read.

Heather Podesta is one of the most prolific fundraisers for the Clinton campaign, having personally raised at least $348,581, according to recently filed disclosures. In 2009 and 2010, Podesta worked as lobbyist for the health insurance company Cigna. While working for Cigna to influence the health reform bill, Cigna was one of several large health insurers to secretly provide over $86 million in secret payments used to air negative television and radio advertisements to defeat the law.

Doesn't say if Heather Podesta is in any way related to Hillary's campaign chair, John Podesta.

Another item:

On financial reform, Clinton has similarly tied herself to Obama’s legacy. Speaking with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow last month, Clinton asserted that on Dodd-Frank, Obama’s financial reform legislation, she is one of the “many Democrats” who are “fighting to prevent it from being turned back.”

Clinton’s inner circle, however, has lobbied to help obstruct and roll back many of Dodd-Frank’s signature reforms.

And another:

Speaking to The Hill last year, Tony Podesta said that unlike President Obama, who instituted a ban on registered lobbyists in his administration, K Street will find a more welcome home in a Clinton White House.

“I think Hillary Clinton will be the next nominee and probably be the next president, but whomever the next president is will not maintain the lobbying ban,” he predicted. “It was a good applause line for Obama, but it didn’t seem to make much sense for policy.”

So they expect Clinton to allow registered lobbyists in her administration.

Also, this little mention:

There are other lobbyists on the Clinton campaign staff.

The words "dirty" and "corrupt" come to mind.

[TheBlackAdder]

20. Podesta, Podesta, where have I heard that name before? She has ties to fracking, KXL & BP Oil Spill.

.


Check out the link...



Hillary Clinton rakes in money from fossil fuel interests

Here’s just a partial list of the fossil fuel–friendly bundlers who raised money for Clinton from April through June:

http://grist.org/climate-energy/hillary-clinton-rakes-in-money-from-fossil-fuel-interests/

Heather Podesta and Tony Podesta have raised $31,150 and $74,575, respectively. The power ex-couple are big-shot Democratic lobbyists. Tony’s brother John is Clinton’s campaign chair and former White House chief of staff to Bill Clinton. Even though John Podesta is considered a climate hawk, Tony and his ex-wife Heather represent fossil fuel companies. Heather’s recent past clients include Marathon Oil and Bill Koch’s Oxbow Carbon, a coal giant, and from 2004 to 2006 she lobbied for Koch Industries. Tony lobbied for BP in the wake of its disastrous Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, and through last year he represented Golden Pass, a company co-owned by ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum that wants to export liquefied natural gas. To be fair, they also work on behalf of renewable fuel companies — Tony represents SolarReserve, a solar power company, and Heather lobbies for the ethanol industry. You might call the Podestas the very embodiment of the Obama/Clinton “all of the above” energy policy.

But the contrast between her and her opponents is clear, and it’s indicative of real policy differences. O’Malley has laid out a set of strong, detailed proposals to combat climate change. These include not just measures Obama has begun taking, like regulating carbon emissions under the Clean Air Act, but ones he hasn’t, like adopting zero-tolerance regulation for methane leaks from oil and gas wells and denying new offshore oil leasing permits. Clinton has not endorsed any stances beyond Obama’s except for charging more for coal leases.

“Hillary Clinton’s position is stuck in the past,” says Jamie Henn, a spokesperson for 350 Action. “We have the tools to transition away from fossil fuels. What about all the jobs lost because of climate impacts? We need a president who is willing to make tough decisions about how to transition our economy in the face of climate risk.”

.

[Betty Karlson]

21. Clinton cannnot be trusted. That's all. eom

[boston bean]

26. And what did Hillary do?

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/06/us/politics/hillary-clinton-lobbied-on-health-care-as-secretary-of-state-emails-show.html

Hillary Clinton Lobbied on Health Care as Secretary of State, Emails Show

WASHINGTON — On Christmas Eve in 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was awake before dawn to personally monitor a critical moment in the nation’s history.

But Mrs. Clinton, the country’s top diplomat, was not observing a covert operation in the Middle East or tracking pivotal negotiations with a foreign power. Her television was tuned to C-Span, and she was watching the Senate vote on President Obama’s landmark health care law.

Emails released last week by the State Department that were found on Mrs. Clinton’s private server show that she was keenly interested in the administration’s push to win passage of the health care law.

When an aide, Miguel Rodriguez, contacted her to let her know that the Senate had approved the bill by a 60-to-39 vote, Mrs. Clinton was way ahead of him.

“Thx — I got up to watch it,” she wrote back. “What did Reid say while voting that caused laughter?” (The majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, had inadvertently voted against his own bill, before quickly changing his vote.)

The email messages show that throughout the fall of 2009, as the health care push entered a decisive phase, Mrs. Clinton lobbied some members of Congress for votes and even debated sometimes-esoteric policy proposals with aides, some of whom had worked with her in the White House when she was first lady, after her own failed attempt to push a national health care overhaul.