Sen. Rockefeller accepts donations from health insurance companies
October 5, 2009 Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., received about $400,000 in donations between 2003 and 2009 from individuals and Political Action Committees associated with the health care and insurance industries while he was pushing for a "public option," a measure which failed in the Senate.[1]
Insurance companies
With the health insurance reform debate going on in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party disagree about whether the United States needs a government-run health care “public option.” However, both sides are in agreement about the need for reform and health professional and insurance industries give millions of dollars to representatives on both sides of the political spectrum.
The health professional industry donated at total of $95,185,139 in 2008 and the insurance industry, which includes health insurance companies, gave $46,832,136. With Democrats lining up behind a public option plan, one would be surprised which elected official representing West Virginia received the most money from these industries.
Rockefeller received $107,174 from the insurance industry between 2003 and 2008. Of that total, $32,950 came from individuals and $74,224 came from Political Action Committees (PAC). Rockefeller also received $258,950 from the health professionals industry, of which $133,050 came from individuals and $125,900 came from PAC donations.
The largest donor to Rockefeller between 2007 and 2009 was the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The organization donated $500, while $15,000 came from 17 lobbyists the group hired.
Other recipients
Of West Virginia’s three representatives, Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, received the most from insurance and health industries. Rep. Capito received $125,775 from the health professionals industry, $74,000 from the insurance industry, and $30,800 from the hospital/nursing home industry. The bulk of the donations came from the health professionals industry, $50,775 of which came from individuals and $75,000 came from PAC money.
Sen. Robert C. Byrd, the other, Democratic senator from West Virginia, came in third place for donations, receiving $56,200 from health professionals and $29,400 from hospitals/nursing homes between 2003 and 2008. Rep. Nick Rahall, a Democrat, received $16,250 from health professionals and $10,750 from hospitals/nursing Homes in 2008. In last place for West Virginia Congressmen was Rep. Alan Mollohan, a Democrat, receiving $12,100 in 2008 from health professionals.
External links
- Sen. Jay Rockefeller website
- Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America website
- Sen. Robert C. Byrd website
- Rep. Shelley Moore Capito website
- Nick Rahall website
- Alan Mollohan website
References
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