Gingrich's dirty little fingers in the healthcare pie

[tpsbmam]

(snips)


Despite Running A Health Industry ‘Trade Association,’ Gingrich Says He Will Not Register As A Lobbyist

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has founded several businesses, including a for-profit health care firm called the “Center for Health Transformation” (CHT) and a communications firm called the “Gingrich Group.” CHT serves approximately 94 health industry corporations and lobby groups, including health insurance (BlueCross BlueShield Association, WellPoint, AHIP, UnitedHealth), health IT (L-3 Enterprise, Microsoft, IBM), and pharmaceutical companies — with each paying up to $200,000 annually. And although CHT has no registered lobbyists or lobbyists on retainer, Gingrich has used his CHT business to promote his clients’ interests in Congress:

– Gingrich Meets With Lawmakers To Help Craft Specific Policy, Legislation:

- Gingrich Helps Clients Obtain Specific Financial Opportunities From Legislation


– Gingrich Advises Lawmakers On Legislative Strategy

– Gingrich Coordinates Meetings Between Corporate Clients, Public Officials

At a CHT press conference on Monday promoting tort reform (CHT clients include medical malpractice consulting firms for doctors), Gingrich attacked President Obama’s health proposals for lacking a supposed “rhythm of transparency.” In the spirit of this transparency, ThinkProgress asked Gingrich why he has not registered as a lobbyist to provide greater clarity on who exactly is paying him to lobby on legislative issues, especially given the influence of his ideas. Gingrich dodged and explained that he is not a lobbyist because when he lobbies Congress, he does so at the request of lawmakers every time. According to lobbying guidelines, lobbying members of Congress counts as lobbying regardless if it necessarily benefits each client. Nevertheless, Gingrich defended his actions by stating that his lobbying is not technically lobbying because it “benefits the country at large.”

As ThinkProgress reported, Gingrich has been working closely with the oil industry through another project he leads. In his ubiquitous punditry, Gingrich touts himself as an author, a “futurist,” a conservative thinker — anything but a lobbyist. But as the evidence shows, he has positioned himself as a nexus between corporate clients and mostly Republican lawmakers. For the sake of transparency, Gingrich should register as a lobbyist pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act.

Much more at link: http://thinkprogress.org/2010/02/27/newt-gingrich-lobbyist/

[annabanana]

1. Let me get this straight.... Lobbyists can CHOOSE whether or not

to register as lobbyists?

He's allowed to say "Nope. I just don't feel like it".?

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. and then he gets to be on tv all the time, getting free coverage

of his "opinion".
That is a conflict of interest, surely.

Oh....hahahaha....for a minute there, I forgot there are no rules anymore.
Silly me.

[annabanana]

4. No rules for *them*, you mean.

The rest of us have plenty of them.

[samplegirl]

3. No wonder he and rich buddies don't care

about health care and the economy. They have theirs so they can say no to everyone who is not as fortunate as them.