The New York Times reports that there are three Democratic senators who are viewed as holdouts on a procedural vote to go forward with debate on the final Senate health care reform bill. The senators are most conservative members of the Democratic caucus and represent states that largely voted for Republicans in both the 2004 and 2008 presidential races. They also are all top recipients of campaign contributions from the health insurance industry and have former staffers working for the industry.
From 2005 to 2009, Sen. Blanche Lincoln has received $139,149 from the health insurers and HMOs. The majority of that money comes from Blue Cross Blue Shield, the health insurance provider that holds a 75 percent market share in the senator’s home state of Arkansas. Blue Cross Blue Shield has contributed over $80,ooo to Sen. Lincoln since the 2006 election cycle.
Elizabeth Barnett, Sen. Lincoln’s former health advisor, left the senator’s office in 2007 to work as Blue Cross Blue Shield’s top Democratic lobbyist. Earlier this year, Barnett left Blue Cross to work for Avenue Solutions, where she retains Blue Cross Blue Shield as a client. Avenue Solutions’ profile of Barnett notes that she “had primary responsibility for representing [Blue Cross Blue Shield] and its 39 member plans before the Senate Finance Committee, Senate Democratic Leadership, and other key Senate committees and offices.” Barnett also represents the two other major health insurers UnitedHealth Group and Aetna.
