BACHMANN BANKROLLED BY SPECIAL INTERESTS

08/23/2006

And on the wrong side of making affordable health care a reality for the middle class

ST. PAUL (8/22/06) – Michele Bachmann is holding yet another Washington-superstar fundraiser today. She’s hosted Vice President Cheney, Speaker Hastert, Karl Rove. Today she trumps them all with a visit from President Bush himself.

It isn’t just wealthy Washingtonians who support Michele Bachmann’s campaign. She also has an impressive list of donors from the pharmaceutical and tobacco industries.

“Skyrocketing health-care premiums and prescription-drug prices are crippling Minnesota’s middle class,” said DFL Chair Brian Melendez. “We literally can’t afford to send another Republican in the pharmaceutical industry’s pocket to Washington.

“Nothing in her voting record suggests that Michele Bachmann is willing to work for improved health care for the middle class. She voted against allowing small business to buy health care through the MinnesotaCare system, she voted against the prescription-drug discount program, she voted against rural pharmacy planning and she voted against the cervical-cancer prevention plan. In 2003, she was one of eight legislators who opposed revenue bonds for nursing homes and hospitals.

“Michele Bachmann is bankrolled by special interests like the pharmaceutical, insurance and tobacco industries. Patty Wetterling is running on a platform of health care for all Minnesotans and her message of hope and opportunity for the middle class is resonating with 6th-district voters. The choice is clear.”

Bachmann Received The Maximum Campaign Contribution From The CEO Of A Minnesota Pharmaceutical Company.  Bachmann received $4,200 in campaign contributions from Kenneth Evenstad, CEO of Smith Laboratories in Maple Grove. [Federal Election Commission]

Bachmann Received A Campaign Contribution From A Tobacco Company And Thousands From Individuals In The Insurance Industry.  Bachmann received a $500 contribution from the Lorillard Tobacco Company Public Affairs Committee on May 15, 2006.  She also received $14,000 in campaign contributions from individuals in the insurance industry.  [Federal Election Commission]

2005: Bachmann Opposed Small Businesses Buying Healthcare through MinnesotaCare System. In 2005, Bachmann voted for an amendment to delete the provisions allowing for small businesses to purchase state healthcare through the MinnesotaCare system. [SF2278, 5/4/05; failed 29-35]

2005: Bachmann Voted Against Rural Pharmacy Planning and Transition Grant Program. In 2005, Bachmann voted against a bill requiring and providing for the Commissioner of Health to establish a rural pharmacy planning and transition grant program to preserve access to prescription medications and pharmacist skills. [SF2278, 5/4/05; passed 38-29]

2005: Bachmann Voted Against Postpartum Depression Education for Women. In 2005, Bachmann voted against a bill requiring and providing for the commissioner to establish a postpartum depression education and information program for use by health care professionals providing prenatal care to women. [SF2278, 5/4/05; passed 38-29]

2005: Bachmann Voted Against Cervical Cancer Prevention Plan. In 2005, Bachmann voted against a bill requiring and providing for the commissioner to develop a statewide integrated and comprehensive cervical cancer prevention plan. [SF2278, 5/4/05; passed 38-29]

2003: Bachmann Voted Against Allowing State Reimbursement of Hospitals’ Charity Care Costs. In 2003, Bachmann voted to delete a provision which provides that a county containing a qualifying hospital that provides charity care to residents of the metropolitan area is eligible for state reimbursement of the charity care amount in the amount that exceeds the statewide average for hospitals. [SF1505, 5/5/03; failed 31-36]

2003: Bachmann Among Eight to Oppose $20 Million in Revenue Bonds for Nursing Homes and Hospitals. In 2003, Bachmann voted against authorizing the state agriculture society to issue up to $20 million in revenue bonds, allowing counties to issue bonds to pay for certain functions like nursing homes, hospitals and computer hardward. [SF1505, 5/5/03; passed 58-8]

2005: Bachmann Opposed Increased Funding for Health and Human Services Departments. In 2005, Bachmann voted against the 2005 Health and Human Services Omnibus Spending Bill for spends an additional $75,525,000 in 2006 and $138,198,000 in 2007 for the department of human services, spends an additional $6,271,000 in 2006 and $13,198,000 in 2007 for the department of health, and spends an additional $2,317,000 in 2006 and $2,006,000 in 2007 for other state health related boards.  [SF2278, 5/4/05; passed 38-29]

2005: Bachmann Voted Against Prescription Drug Discount Program. In 2005, Bachmann voted against the 2005 Health and Human Services Omnibus Spending Bill that reinstates the Prescription Drug Discount Program (which expired upon the effective date of an expanded prescription drug benefit under Medicare) and makes changes to the program by making participation in the program voluntary on the part of manufacturers, eliminating the income limit on eligibility, making individuals who are enrolled in Medicare ineligible [SF2278, 5/4/05; passed 38-29]