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August 20, 2009
Obama and House Dems Demand Records From Insurance Companies
Obama's Gangster Government Sends Warning Letters to Insurance Companies—Get On Board or Else
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House Dems Seek Records From Health Insurers
Requests for financial information issued at a time when Obama's health care proposal is under intense attack from Republicans and other critics, including the health insurance industry.
Democrats on a House committee are seeking detailed financial records from dozens of large insurance companies, officials disclosed Tuesday, part of an investigation into "executive compensation and other business practices" in an industry opposed to President Barack Obama's plan to overhaul health care.
The request included records relating to compensation of highly paid employees, documents relating to companies' premium income and claims payments, and information on expenses stemming from any event held outside company facilities in the past 2 1/2 years.
The requests were made in letters signed by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., who guided a portion of health care legislation through the House Energy and Commerce Committee last month as chairman, and Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., who heads the Energy and Commerce investigations and oversight subcommittee.
They wrote that the committee was "examining executive compensation and other business practices in the health insurance industry." The Associated Press obtained a copy.
The requests were issued at a time when Obama's health care proposal is under intense attack from Republicans and other critics, including the health insurance industry. Much of the opposition focuses on proposals for the government to sell insurance in competition with private carriers.
Obama and other supporters of a so-called government option argue it would help control costs and keep insurance companies honest by forcing them to grapple with competition.
Opponents say it gradually would undermine the present insurance structure, which is built around private insurers, and lead to a system controlled by the government.
The issue drew intense focus over the weekend, after Obama speculated aloud about the possibility that legislation might omit the government role in selling insurance.
The White House said there had been no change in position. But liberals, in particular, expressed dismay, giving rise to increased speculation that Senate Democrats could soon abandon all talk of bipartisanship and draft legislation tailored to their own rank and file. Any such measure would inevitably jettison many of the compromises crafted in weeks of bipartisan Senate talks, and it was unclear whether the talk was a ploy to persuade Senate Republicans to agree to a compromise.
A spokesman for the insurance industry declined to comment on the letter sent by Waxman and Stupak.
Nick Choate, a spokesman for Stupak, said 52 letters were sent late Monday to the nation's largest health insurers, those with $2 billion or more in annual premiums. He said letters were not sent to other industry groups, some of which have been airing television advertising in support of Obama's call for legislation.
The letter from Waxman and Stupak requested the information be provided by early September. While companies are not under legal obligation to comply, the committee could respond to a refusal by voting to subpoena the information at a later date.
Among the documents requested were records relating to compensation paid to any company executive earning more than $500,000 in any year from 2003 to 2008.
Waxman and Stupak also sought documents relating to premiums paid by policy holders, claims payments, sales expenses, administrative expenses and profits, broken down by categories such as employer-provided coverage; individual coverage, Medicare and Medicaid.
Wild Thing's comment.......
Health insurance companies are the new Tobaccoo. this is tyranny and intimidation plain and simple. Not to mention an unconstitutional abuse of power! This is an abuse of power purely to gain political support to pass a unpopular measure. Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals” again.
I wish they would tell Congress to go straight to hell.
It is unbelievable the invasion of EVERY Private sector from the Obama and democrat thugs! They know they are going against the will of the people and they don't care,........they want total contrlol.
Posted by Wild Thing at August 20, 2009 06:48 AM
Comments
Rotten fat-cat Liberal-progressive bastards. They all say they want US in the single payer plan they do not mention where their health care will come from.
Fat-ass Michale Moore made his movie 'sicko', if the Cuban system is so friggin great why aren't these AH's flocking to Havanna for treatment. Because they know it sux. In one segment of a documentary on the 'Cuban Health' care, they were using Wheel barrows to take a patient to a hospital. At the rate this moronic occupant of the white house is going we will be there quicker than we think.
The way I see this. They want to get rid of the Elderly and almost Elderly, the codgers, me, That way there won't be anyone left who can remember what freedom and Liberty was or was like. They can then brain wash the youth into their new Socialist agenda and as these robots age they can be programmed to look forward to the great beyond. And if brainwashed enough they will even volunteer.
With Abortion and Euthanasia they can develop the pre-ordained New progressive Master Race. The country will be turned into a bunch of pants wetting, dumb-down progressive pussies turned into hand maidens for the Mullahs who will take over the country because the got rid of all the real men.
Posted by: Mark at August 20, 2009 12:04 PM
I agree Mark, it's all part of the plan. This ordeal for the insurance companies is just the latest example of tyrannical behavior by the democrats. What do we have now, 15 months before the next election cycle? Democrats be afraid, be very afraid.
Posted by: Jim at August 20, 2009 12:11 PM
One other question comes to mind. If you have your guns insured, how long will it be before those records will be subpoenaed?
Posted by: Jim at August 20, 2009 12:13 PM
obama and the Democrats are trying to take over all of America's free economy. They want ultimate control over all of America's businesses. The insurance industry is gigantic and I am sure obama is looking at all the financial holdings of the insurance industry incuding pension funds. This is Marxism in action.
Posted by: TomR at August 20, 2009 03:34 PM
I thought there was a document called the Constitution of the United States which prevented government from accessing private property and records without a court order? I hope the insurance companies fight this until a court order is issued.
Posted by: BobF at August 20, 2009 06:52 PM
Mark, I agree!! I think they are really
freaking out about the baby boomers,
tons of Veterans in this group.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 20, 2009 11:24 PM
Jim, good question. I bet the guns
are on their to do list once they
get the health care and cap and trade
done.
My only hope is that a lot of democrats
have guns and might fight anyone taking
them away.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 20, 2009 11:29 PM
Tom, this is so scary.
Since like you said the insurance
companies are gigantic, I wonder if
they could ban togetehr and fight
Obama. But maybe they won't.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 20, 2009 11:34 PM
BobF, yes there used to be, the Consitution
sure is being ignored and trashed with
these people.
I agree Bob, I hope the insurance companies
fight back.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 20, 2009 11:36 PM
