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Report: Insurers gave US Chamber $100 million to fight healthcare reform
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06/13/12 01:38 PM ET
Insurance companies gave the U.S. Chamber of Commerce more than $100 million to fight Democrats' healthcare reform effort, according to a report in National Journal.
America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the insurance industry's leading trade group, did not directly launch an offensive against healthcare reform during the year-long legislative debate over healthcare. But AHIP quietly diverted millions of dollars to the Chamber, which aggressively attacked the healthcare bill and Democrats who supported it.
The transfers do not have to be disclosed as lobbying or political contributions and are discernible only from a close review of tax records.
Bloomberg initially broke the news that AHIP had transferred roughly $88 million to the Chamber during 2009. National Journal's report says AHIP gave the Chamber another $16 million in 2010, bringing the total to more than $102 million.
America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the insurance industry's leading trade group, did not directly launch an offensive against healthcare reform during the year-long legislative debate over healthcare. But AHIP quietly diverted millions of dollars to the Chamber, which aggressively attacked the healthcare bill and Democrats who supported it.
The transfers do not have to be disclosed as lobbying or political contributions and are discernible only from a close review of tax records.
