By Mike Stephens
Retired CEO, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
If you want to understand why voters in the recent Massachusetts Senate election were so angry, here's your answer.
Just consider the following list of Democrats who exercised their leverage to secure perks for their home state in exchange for voting for a bill sponsored by their own party.
Now I can understand buying Republican votes to secure passage, but this is simply over the top. Here are just some of the perks that were given in exchange for votes as reported by the Associated Press:
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-NE
PERK - U.S. government picks up the full cost of the expansion of Medicaid in Nebraska. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska is exempted from the annual fee on insurers.
Sen. Max Baucus, D-MT
PERK - Puts in a provision to help 2,900 residents of Libby, Montana, many with asbestos-related illnesses.
Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-CT
PERK - Adds a provision for $100 million for construction of a hospital at a public university in Connecticut.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT
PERK - $600 million in additional Medicaid benefits for his state over ten years.
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-LA
PERK - To receive at least $100 million in Medicaid assistance for her state in 2011.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT
PERK - Angry over a government-run health plan being dropped from the reform bill, received millions more for community health centers.
It's not difficult to see why Americans have become disillusioned with the political process.
It's disturbing to see that certain lawmakers never miss an opportunity to carve out a piece of pork from a bill even when the goal is to improve lives!
Disgraceful!
