“Beat The Drum” Success Story!!

Fellow blogger and ireporter “CTLSS” wrote to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics because she was concerned about the members of congress that are helping draft new health care policy, that are heavily invested in the private insurance industry. Here is a copy of the letter she wrote on June 16th 2009.

To whom it may concern:

I am writing this because it has come to my attention that there are members of congress that are helping draft new health care policy, that are heavily invested in the private insurance industry. This is simply not an acceptable situation. These congressmen and women need to either get rid of the investments, or recuse themselves from serving on this committee. They simply cannot be trusted to make decisions based on what is best for the American people when their wallets may be affected.

“Almost 30 key lawmakers helping draft landmark health-care legislation have financial holdings in the industry, totaling nearly $11 million worth of personal investments in a sector that could be dramatically reshaped by this summer’s debate.

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), for instance, has at least $50,000 invested in a health-care index, and Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), a senior member of the health committee, has between $254,000 and $560,000 worth of stock holdings in major health-care companies, including Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck.

The family of Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee drafting that chamber’s legislation, held at least $3.2 million in more than 20 health-care companies at the end of last year.

While no congressional rules bar members from holding financial stakes in industries they regulate, some ethics experts suggest that it often creates the appearance of a conflict of interest, particularly if there is a chance that the legislation could result in a personal financial boost.

The first big congressional moment on health care comes Tuesday in the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which will consider a liberal-leaning proposal that includes the creation of a “public plan” meant to be a government-administered alternative to private health insurance.

On that 22-member panel, at least eight senators have financial interests in the health-care industry wortha minimum of $600,000 — and potentially worth as much as $1.9 million. The investors include Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), a senior member of the panel, who holds at least $165,000 in pharmaceutical and medical stocks, and freshman Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), who holds at least $180,000 in investments in more than 20 health-care companies.”  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/12/AR2009061204075.html

She received a response the very same day!!! Here it is.

“Dear Ms. Schmitt,

I am responding to your email sent to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) today regarding your concerns about conflicts of interest amongst members of Congress. Unfortunately, OGE does not have the authority to investigate individual instances of wrongdoing and has no jurisdiction over the legislative branch of the government. OGE was established by the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 as the office responsible for setting policies aimed at the prevention of conflicts of interest in the executive branch of the Federal Government. OGEassists executive branch departments and agencies in implementing ethics rules and policies that deal with conflict-of-interest laws, post-employment restrictions, the standards of ethical conduct, and the public and confidential financial disclosure systems.

You may be able to obtain more information regarding your concerns through the Senate Select Committee on Ethics or the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

Senate Select Committee on Ethics
202-224-2981
http://ethics.senate.gov/

House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
202-225-7103
http://ethics.house.gov/

I hope this information proves helpful for you.

Kim H. Kaplan
Government Ethics Specialist
U.S. Office of Government Ethics

Way to “beat the drum” Ctlss…you rock!

Our NO does count and and they need to know that we are not going to tolerate corruption.

It is not alright to have a vested interest in the companies they govern. That is insider trading…How can they govern us with ethics when it effects their pockets directly. None of us should be tolerating this behavior.

It is not alright to accept gratuities from these corporations or the lobbyist that represent them…that is where corruption starts

Thanks to CTLSS , we all know where to send in our concerns. Help us “beat the drum” and end corruption in congress…let your voices be heard…tell them what you think!

It is just a mouse click and typing on the keyboard for your voice to be heard. Links are provided. Also see and read Ctlss’ ireport http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-273775 on this subject.