Fort Collins Rep. Betsy Markey is surveying constituents about the House health care reform bill. Regular citizens in her district should weigh in and counteract the lobbyists and campaign funds from both sides of the health care debate. Markey has tallied at least $7,000 in campaign contributions from health care organizations since the November elections.
The American Medical Association and American Optometric Association each gave $2,500 to the Markey campaign in late November through their political action committees. To be fair, the money may have come in before Election Day but not tabulated until Nov. 17. To be sure, several March and April contributions were sent after the election. The American Hospital Association PAC, the National Community Pharmacists Association PAC and the optometrists group each gave $1,000 this year.
All the groups will be impacted by health care reform, if it passes. Health care reform is likely to become the defining issue of the current Congressional session. If Markey and her fellow Democrats fail to pass meaningful health care reform this year, Markey better be prepared for plenty of jeers, jabs and questions on the campaign trail next year. Most Americans agree on the need for some kind of health care reform, but opinions differ widely on the right prescription. The differences will likely be reflected in the poll results on Markey’s site.
The Coloradoan covered fundraising in the fourth Congressional District in a story on Sunday. It was an interesting comparison between the sources of money for incumbent Democrats vs. Republican challengers.
Finally, for anyone who thinks campaign fundraising is all about influencing elections, not buying political influence, consider Jared Polis. The liberal Boulder rep is now as safe as Mark Udall was in the same seat. He doesn’t really need to campaign. Yet he keeps getting campaign funds.
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