Congress, Politics, Society

Crying Fowler: Top Drafter of ObamaCare Returns From Whence She Came

250px-Max_S_Baucus300px-Revolving_DoorWe have previously discussed the obscene relationship between industry and Congress with staffers and members pushing through key legislation and then being given lucrative positions by industry. The pharmaceutical and telecommunication industries are particularly notoriously for such revolving door arrangements. Other members lobby for these industries after leaving office and current officeholders like President Obama have accepted money from lobbyists (despite his pledge not to). Now the top staffer to Democratic Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Max Baucus, who drafted Obamacare has reportedly accepted a prime position with Johnson & Johnson’s government affairs and policy group. Her name is Elizabeth Fowler and demonstrates that the Democrats are little better in this revolving door practice. Indeed, the ever revolving Fowler is an amazing example of how industry controls not just the drafting but much of the legislation in Congress.

As Glenn Greenwald reported, before joining Baucus’ office, Fowler was the Vice President for Public Policy and External Affairs at WellPoint, the nation’s largest health insurance provider. Before the stint at WellPoint, you guessed it, she worked as Baucus’ health care aide. So Fowler has not just used the revolving door, she has gone around and around. This did not appear to bother Baucus or the Democrats.

Despite decades of complaints about the revolving door, Fowler (shown below watching over her boss) is an example of how Congress has made sure that the practice would continue despite periodic protestations to the contrary.
fowler

Source: Glenn Greenwald

51 thoughts on “Crying Fowler: Top Drafter of ObamaCare Returns From Whence She Came”

  2. Pingback: The End of the World « Liberty In Exile

  4. Shano, You beat me to it! So here’s another one

    HSBC isn’t the only one.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/15/financial-fraud-prosecution_n_1095933.html

    excerpt:
    Public mistrust for banks may be at an all-time high, but federal prosecution for certain financial crimes is down to a 20-year low.

    The federal government is on track to file just 1,365 prosecutions for financial institution fraud in fiscal year 2011, according to a new report from a watchdog group. That would be the lowest number of such prosecutions in at least two decades.

    The report, from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University, comes at a time when the protest movement known as Occupy Wall Street has gained nationwide visibility — and no small degree of public support — by criticizing what its members see as a close relationship between big banks and the federal government.

    The falling number of fraud prosecutions is striking given what many claim is a strong pattern of financial-sector misconduct in recent years, culminating in a housing crisis characterized by alleged rampant mortgage fraud and improper foreclosure, as well as the weakening of the national and global economy.

  5. Talk about a two tiered justice system. I’m just waiting for Elizabeth Warren, whom I voted for, to stand up tall regarding HSBC banking travesty.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/12/hsbc-prosecution-fine-money-laundering

    Over the last year, federal investigators found that one of the world’s largest banks, HSBC, spent years committing serious crimes, involving money laundering for terrorists; “facilitat[ing] money laundering by Mexican drug cartels”; and “mov[ing] tainted money for Saudi banks tied to terrorist groups”. Those investigations uncovered substantial evidence “that senior bank officials were complicit in the illegal activity.” As but one example, “an HSBC executive at one point argued that the bank should continue working with the Saudi Al Rajhi bank, which has supported Al Qaeda.”

    No sweat. We can all hold our breath. Warren won’t let this travesty slide.

  9. Can we stop calling politicians Public Servants.

    I nominate that phrase as the Oxymoron of human civilization.
    However calling Priests Gods Servants may be equally as Oxymoronic.

  10. mespo727272 1, December 13, 2012 at 1:41 pm

    With all due respect to our outraged fellow bloggers, the only alternative to the revolving door is to pay government employees the equivalent wage that private industry offers for similar work.

    Anyone up for that cost?
    ====================================================
    If the alternative (service for the public good, i.e., sacrificial service in terms of remuneration) is no longer a reality in American government, then perhaps we have descended into a realm where other measures mentioned by “our outraged fellow bloggers” is appropriate.

    In either case, we seem to have agreed that lucre runs the world, and thus wherever the most of the lucre is happens to also be where the seat of government will be it would seem.

    Gives new meaning to “government purse strings” doesn’t it?

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