Do We Have Standards Anymore?

Timothy Giethner can be be treasury secretary and not pay his taxes.   Now, too, apparently Tom Daschle gets to be HHS Secretary even though he had to pay back taxes.

But hey, what Obama wants Obama gets right?  Forget standards.

Politico has more that makes this even scarier.  Not only is Daschle a tax-evader, look at how he pulled in over $5 million in income . . . by taking money from health care companies that stand to win or lose on his job.

Daschle, the former Senate Democratic leader who President Obama has tapped to overhaul the nation’s healthcare system, was paid $220,000 to give speeches to outfits that have a vested interest in the result the work he would do once confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Among the companies and groups paying thousands of dollars a pop to book Daschle were some that stand to gain or lose the most depending on the results of Obama’s efforts to enact universal health.

For instance, the Health Industry Distributors Association plunked down $14,000 to land the former Senate Democratic Leader in March 2008. The association, which represents medical products distributors, boasts on its website that Daschle met with it after he was nominated to discuss “the impact an Obama administration will have on the industry.”

This week, the group began openly lobbying him, sending him a letter urging him to rescind a rule requiring competitive bidding of Medicare contracts

Another organization, America’s Health Insurance Plans, paid $20,000 for a Daschle speaking appearance in February 2007. It represents health insurance companies, which under Obama’s plan would be barred from denying coverage on the basis of health or age.

There was a $12,000 talk to GE Healthcare in August, a $20,000 lecture in January to Premier, Inc., a health care consulting firm, and a pair of $18,000 speeches this year to different hospital systems, among other paid appearances before healthcare groups.

The speaking fees were detailed in a financial disclosure statement released Friday, which showed that Daschle pulled down a total of more than $500,000 from the speaking circuit in the last two years, and $5.3 million in overall income.

That includes more than $2 million in consulting fees from InterMedia Advisors, a private equity firm.

What happened to changing the Washington revolving door of government-private sector-lobbyist?  Looks like that door swings right into HHS.  Obama made a huge deal about stopping this, but he is putting in control of his health care program a man who has benefited signifigantly from taking money from groups and companies that he will now work with in government.  

Then there is this:

He also became an adviser to the law and lobbying firm Alston & Bird, which paid him $2.1 million in wages last year and also provided him a 401k and profit sharing plan worth between $100,000 and $250,000, according to the report.

In his three years at the firm, it’s earned more than $16 million lobbying on behalf of some of the health care industry’s most powerful interests before the department he’s in line to lead. Though Daschle, himself, did not register to lobby for the firm, he has advised the firm’s clients on health care issues, according to the firm’s website.

And think about how important HHS will be in an Obama Administration who is more than willing to spend money we don't have on massive amounts of pork "stimulus", imagine what he has in mind for health care!  If your going to spend money we don't have, can we at least get someone who hasn't been paid millions in the private sector by powerful interests he is now in charge of.  

John Ashcroft was almost not confirmed as Attorney General because he was too much of a Christian.  But here's Daschle, who has become a millionaire by the interests he now controls if made HHS, and probably people will just shrug and Obama pressures Congress to look past this for the sake of change.

Comments

[10kt]

Do We Have Standards Anymore?

No.

We have double standards along race class and gender lines. Those on the "right" side of these lines get to write their own ticket as is the case for Geithner and Daschle.

[Loudoun Insider]

Change!!!

This and other recent news shows it was simply a campaign slogan.

[Blackberry]

PRESS RELEASE
January/30/2009
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For Immediate Release
Contact:
Fairfax County Republican Committee
703-766-4467
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Voters Deserve Answers Now!
What is SEIU Buying with a $50,000 Contribution to Sharon Bulova?
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First
there were news reports about SEIU's involvement with disgraced former Illinois
Governor Blagojevich. Then there were
reports about the president of SEIU's Los Angeles local being fired for
allegedly funneling money to his relatives and friends. Now we find out that Sharon
Bulova just received [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=8mfnexcab.0.0.m8p86ncab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fvpap.org%2Fcandidates%2Fprofile%2Fhome%2F53278&id=preview]a
$50,000 contribution from SEIU - an
unprecedented amount in a local Fairfax election.
"I
think this contribution raises serious questions. Why did SEIU give her the
largest single contribution in the history of Fairfax County chairman
elections? What political promises were made when the SEIU contributed this
unprecedented amount to a local election? What policy changes did Bulova
promise to the SEIU? Voters have a right to know," said Anthony Bedell
Chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee.
The contribution continues a
troubling trend of contributions to Bulova from groups outside Fairfax
County and national union interests. The Teamsters, United Sheet
Metal Workers, the Laborers Mid-Atlantic Organizing Coalition and the public
service unions already operating in Fairfax all have contributed to Sharon
Bulova. SEIU's own press
release said it contributed to Bulova because she opposed the
crackdown on illegal immigration in Prince William County.
"The first order of business
for the winner of this race will be to address a $650 million shortfall in the
Fairfax County budget," said Bedell. "We've seen what the
unions have done to Detroit and the car industry. You would think currying favor
with labor
unions be the last thing on Sharon Bulova's mind. That is why we have a
right to know what strings are attached to such a large political contribution
from a controversial political labor union such as SEIU."
"Why did Supervisor Bulova
accept the donation? The answer is clear...
Bulova's message isn't resonating. In
desperation, she has turned to the SEIU and these other national labor
unions for help. Not only are they trying to buy the election for Bulova, they
also are busing in union members from outside Virginia to help Sharon Bulova.
It seems Sharon Bulova will stop at nothing, even selling out Fairfax County to
labor unions, to become Chairman," said Bedell.
"More than 90 percent
of Pat Herrity's political contributions and support come from inside
Fairfax County. Pat is clearly supported by the working men and
women and small business owners in Fairfax." Bedell
said. "If Fairfax County voters want an independent chairman who
knows and represents their interests there is no choice but to vote for
Pat Herrity on Feb. 3."
Bedell
concluded, "With so little time until Tuesday, the public deserves an answer
and the media needs to make sure the union bosses don't steal this election."
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Paid for and Authorized by the Fairfax County Republican Committee