American Morning
Lobbying for Your Health: 'War rooms' push for legislation
Editor's Note: Lobbyists have spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to influence the health care debate in this country. By some counts, there were six health care lobbyists for every member of Congress. In part two of the American Morning original series, "Lobbying for Your Health," Carol Costello is taking a look at a war room built to steer the debate in their favor.
By Bob Ruff and Carol Costello
What's the difference between a getting a president elected and getting a health care reform bill passed? If you're the Service Workers International Union, the SEIU, there isn't any difference.
"Health care has been our candidate," says SEIU's President Andy Stern, "and we've been trying to win the election and we're closer than ever before."
Stern has a "war room" set up in Washington to push health care reform legislation, by the president, now working its way through the Congress. Nationally, there are 400 full time employees making calls to voters, organizing field workers, dispatching lobbyists to congressional offices, and working the media.
On a frigid December morning we found SEIU members chanting outside the Brooklyn, NY field office of Democratic Congressman Michael McMahon, who voted against the House health care bill. For nearly an hour they chanted: "What do we want? Health care! When do we want it? Now!"
In Connecticut, scores of SEIU workers worked the phones urging people to challenge Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) to stop blocking health care reform. And in Pittsburgh, SEIU worker Georgeann Koehler, whose brother died without health insurance, went door-to-door urging residents to sign cards supporting health care reform. She's taking those cards "to Washington, DC and as far up on the ladder as I can get, because our congressmen have to know that people in this country need it."
Back in Washington, SEIU lobbyist Loretta Johnson is sitting down with Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA), urging him to change his mind about opposing the health care bill. How much access does Johnson have to the people in power?
"I've probably talked to at least half of the congressmen," she told us, "and about all of the senators."
And why do so many in Congress open the door when she knocks?
"Usually when I say I'm Loretta Johnson with SEIU they go, 'OOOHHHHH! Okay!'"
The union's access doesn't stop there. Stern himself, according to logs released by the administration, has visited the Obama White House 22 times through August 1, although there is no information about how many times he may have met with the president.
But here's the catch: Stern technically isn't a lobbyist, because unlike Loretta Johnson he's NOT a registered lobbyist. He de-registered in 2007.
That has upset organizations like Americans for Tax Reform and the Alliance for Worker Freedom, which say that Stern's access to the White House is a violation of the "Lobbying Disclosure Act." They've asked the U.S. Attorney to investigate Stern for illegal lobbying activities.
Carol Costello asked Stern about the charge. He says, "We're going to send them a letter and tell them the truth, which is we've complied with the law, and we assume whenever the investigation is done, it'll be fine."
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This is not rocket science. I'm all the politicians that are against single payer and a public option are only against it because they didn't come up with it and God forbid a bill go through that the Republicans can't take credit for. This whole say no to everything...is STUPID. The party of "NO" is acting like the obnoxious kid in Kindergarten that would just say he hated everything because he was a real wus and didn't want to admit he missed his mommy....
GROW UP PEOPLE...let's get the job done that all Americans know needs to get done.
Its getting rediculous the amount of bribery, politicians are getting to run for re-election using more then ten times the amount they will receive in income for their term and the lobbyist's money is paying for it...who do the voters think the politician is going to support, you with your pityfull little public pay or those who can give them millions towards their ticket to continue riding the gravy train.
When they 'RETIRE' they go any work for those same companies and get paid directly as none board members (aka paid to stay at home apart from when they need to know the skeletons in some other politicians closet to motive them to vote in their favor).
The politicians are going outright illegal to benefit those paying them or giving them such nice benefits as free work on their homes, employing their family on ultra high incomes comparred to their skills/education, they are getting vip insurance policies, vip mortgage and loan rates, sweeteners that nobody else can get but for some dumb reason people think they wil vote for their constituents, its no wonder less and less people vote each election, more people came out for obama as his 'ELECTION' promises were not new but he was so they hoped...well nice for the healthcare, we need that but not so nice that you keep the lobbying sweeteners to every political position.
You could make up something close to the size of the healthcare bill in pages just listing the politicians and amounts they have received in the last 10 years and how those 'CONTRIBUTIONS' have effected their decisions when they come to vote, or handle wording in law that they had an input.
Dodd letting AIG pay out billions in bonuses when he was TOLD no bonuses, others to relax the CDS regulation that caused the recession, Failure to collect tens of Billions in oil contracts or inforce the fines when they wernt paid, Failure to act against monopolies from Intel, Microsoft, etc.
The list of contributions getting results against the voter is ever longer and the actions against those who took direct bribes is ineficient to say the least, Dodd got his nice mortgage rate and forgot to menion it was from AIG when he had wording removed to let them pay billions to their workers who should consider still having a job the biggest bonus..what happened t him...he decides to run because the voters would rather vote Bush back in then him...some punishment for hiding a bribe
As Mr. Rice stated the AARP is only interested in its bottom line. Case in point, they wanted me to renew my membership 5 months in advance.
As such I wrote a letter complaining about this plus their support of this so-call medical plan and I resigned from AARP. Contary to the AARP spokesman, many will not rejoin and that includes me!
Emerson
What's wrong with this picture? The largest American organization (supposedly) for old people wants to "trim the fat" in Medicare when the largest generation EVER is about to start truning 65!!! AARP = $$$$ for them. I still belong to AARP, however, I think less and less of them as I learn more and more. When I turned 50 I got my membership card in the mail. It was like being drafted. Well, there is no more draft, for good reason. And if AARP doesn't shape up, they may go the way of the draft. At least I don't have to go to Canada to get away from AARP.
@Fred Evil: The people are ignored because the people are often silent on the issues. For various reasons, very few citizens contact their Congress members. As I mentioned earlier, NewBallot.org allows you to vote on the legislation in Congress, and every week it automatically sends your votes to your Congress members. It's a very easy way to make your voice heard.
I for one am not looking forward to being forced to live in a bankrupt and socolist country for the sake of political correctness. ACORN and SEIU are the mindless attack dogs for Obama.
Ah see there the stimilus bill is working, it's creating jobs for SEIU union members. Stern's army is working the healthcare bill like a well oiled political campain. After the bill is passed, then the power of about 1/6 of our ecomony will be soaked up in mmm,mmm, good socialist gravy.
What good does this bill do for any adult with a pre existing condition if we have to wait until 2014 for coverage. Please explain whether or not I am correct on this point.
Why not give the insurance companies 6 months to comply and lower premiums or activate the public option so we get affordable insurance and not have to be tied to our jobs.
If we eliminate all the back room deals by the democrats, could we be close to paying for affordable health for all Americans?
Just so you think I am picking on the Democrats, what about the Republican ALL voting no for health reform. What does that say about their concern for Americans!!! TOO BAD TOO SAD for everyone.
Come on CNN!!! 150,000 members...is less than 1/2 of 1%!!! Report something that is significant!
Corporate lobbying should be outlawed. This is a country of the PEOPLE, for the PEOPLE, by the PEOPLE. Why are the people ignored, and the businesses given preference?
There is not one honest politician left in this country that is not in someone's back pocket!! This country has gone down the drain. News networks slant the new as they see it, bankers steal and cheat customers, the insurance industry loves this health bill as it will add millions to their bottom line, all this and the people of this country just sit back and take it!! Wake up America and grow some guts, Take this country back, legally or illegally as they have done!!!
This report is a glaring example of the overwhelming "corporate bias" of the corporate media and CNN.
The typical uneducated viewer might get the impression from this report that there is some sort of rough parity between union lobbying and corporate lobbying. This is false.
If CNN was serving the public instead of the corporations, it would tell us the numbers at the core of the issue. How much money is contributed to politicians by corporations compared to the money contributed by unions? How many corporate lobbyists are there compared to the number of union lobbyists? How much are these lobbyists paid?
Corporate influence over government compared to union influence is like a battle between Godzilla versus Bambi. Please tell us the numbers CNN.
Interesting how our opinions color how we view a story is being presented. I don't agree with the Pro reform lobbyist but they are working within the law.
Have to agree that Obama has conveniently ignored his promise regarding lobbyists....Chill Tom..it's just a story and I thought they were making the guy that stands against this brand of health care (after dropping his official lobbyist title) as the bad guy.
I have officially joined the "throw everbody out" crowd and will for the first time in my life be like one of those people in the story who canvass neighborhoods, make calls, etc.(you know, actually work) Might be some collateral damage- but as inherent in the term...it's a sacrifice that will have to be made.
Regarding the proposed health care reform...a 10 year old can see it is not reform
It was refreshing to hear your reporting on the lobbying by SEIU.
What I found interesting is that your reporter did not seem to slant this story to fit into the philosophy ofCNN. I would hope that you would continue to look into the activity of SEIU because they are deeply involved w/this administration and NOT for the good of this country.
In my opinion, we need to have the media looking out for all of us and not just try to promote any agenda, but most especially the Liberal thinking.
CNN should have a balanced coverage of the health care reform issue. There are plenty of lobbyists working both for and against health care reform. This story covers one that is for it. What about the ones that are against it and want to preserve the status quo because they have profitted tremendously from America's dreadful health system? A balanced coverage would feature a lobbyist against health care reform as well. Or don't you think that your viewers should learn that the AMA, the pharmaceutical companies and the insurance companies have lobbyists in Washington fighting health care reform?
It should be illegal for lobbyists to push for their version of health care. It should also be illegal for lobbyists to lobby on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry. These lobbyists represent special interest groups who have absolutely no concern for what is best for America. They only want what is most profitable for the groups they represent. Until we remove all lobbying for the health care and pharmaceutical industry, we will never have a decent health care program in our country and we will remain 35th in health care compared to other countries.
Asbury H. Williams, M. D.
Surfside Beach, S. C.
"our agenda for america" thats the reason we should be concerned. this guy is a socialist radical, using the employees of seiu to promote his and obama's agenda' NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S AGENDA. but then again the majority of the voting people were duped into voting for an inexperienced man that didnt want to be president' he just wanted the presidancy.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY ADULT LIFE I'M TRUELY SCARED FOR MY COUNTRY
Science can develop a vaccine for H1N1. Why can't they develop one for lobbyists. Does that tell my opinion? They are a plague upon our political system.
I am starting to feel I voted for the wrong man, assuming of course there was a "right" one.
Why go after the union and AARP lobbyist? They are the few protecting the middle class. Big business lobbyist outnumber them 10 to 1. Could this be CNN doing the dirty of their big business corporate bosses?
Six lobbyists to every single Congress member! This is why I've started NewBallot.org - to let the voters lobby for themselves with ease. Vote on legislation and every weekend your legislators are notified of your vote.
Are you people at CNN nuts. Out of all the lobbyists corrupting Washington you guys stand out a union member representing working people!! How absurd. You all should be investigating the lobbyists that visited Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson and then get some campaign contribution information on the rest of the Senate. When I saw American Morning this morning cover this it made me sick to my stomach to see just how misguided you guys are on the issues.
Why is it that bribery is legal?...you simply keep throwing money at politicians to get their vote, they either go with the highest amount thrown at them or appear neutral until they have fleeced as much money as they can then vote the way they were going to anyway...if you dont see a problem with this you must be blind.
Politics has become an 'all you can eat gravy train' where true beliefs are only the options on the menu of bribes, bribes that are only legal because the people receiving them say they are...how do the voters get a say with lobbyists paying out 'multi millions' to negate what the voters want.
'This is taxation without representation', if the voter only chooses which person gets to spend 4 years receiving bribes what is their vote worth?, they may as well have invited England back to take over, at least then youd know you wern't getting a say in things rather then the smoke and mirrors of the lobbyist system.
Obama said when running he'd stop the lobbying, he knew it was unfair to the common voter but since entering office hes done the exact opposite, lobbying (especially with the heathcare question passing through the senate and house) has jumped massivly ($400M Worth of jump).
Corporations paying money to politicians to get hem to kill tax increases and guess what, the tax increases are killed, others paying to have legistation removed from the bill, guess what, its removed, at no point were the voters taken into consideration, 'True taxation without representation'.
I ask that every politician be made to sign a declaration of representation that they will never receive mopney or benefite while in office for their assistance or vote, that they shall inform the people of any benefite their immediate family receive from a lobby group, that should they receive anything they immediatly revoke their standing as a representative of the people, as they are now representing a group and not asking as a respresentative of all the voters who put them in their position.
They should immediatly resign or be fired and should pay back all the money to the public purse and give the fullest information as to who paid them and what they expected in return and then assist in the prosecution of then for attempting to bribe a government official.
Lobbying or attempting to lobby via gifts, benefits or contrubutions to a sitting politician would be made illegal as the voters know this negates their rights of representation and all sides, be they the bribers, bribee's or 'go betweens' shall receiver a minimum 2 year sentance of regular jail, no country club jail and a maximum fine of 10 times the bribe offered or minimum $500,000 fine.
Let's see if that motivates the politicians to vote for their constituents and the lobby groups to do the right things and just call people and not try to bribe them