Senator Baucus shuts out single-payer health care

Got to hand it Max Baucus, the Montana Democrat.

He knows how to follow orders.

He’s in charge of health care reform in the Senate.

And he’s following the precise orders of the health insurance industry.

The health insurance industry says – keep single payer off the table.

And Max snaps to and keeps single payer off the table.

On Tuesday, for example, Max will host a roundtable discussion on Capitol Hill titled “Expanding Health Care Coverage.”

Max has invited 15 people to testify.

Who has Max invited to be around the table?

Blue Cross Blue Shield.

America’s Health Insurance Plans – the private health insurance industry lobby.

The Business Roundtable.

The Heritage Foundation.

The Chamber of Commerce.

And then some anti-single payer inside the beltway corporate liberals like Ron Pollack, Andy Stern, Len Nichols, and AARP.

Again, the insurance industry is not the primary problem in this health care fight.

Health insurance corporations are fighting for their corporate lives.

Single payer health insurance would put them out of business.

It’s the corporate liberals like Baucus, Pollack and Stern that are the primary problem.

They say they are standing with the people.

But in fact they are working hand in glove with the health insurance industry to keep single payer off the table.

According to recent polls, the majority of the American people want single payer.

So do the majority of doctors, nurses and health economists.

And Max Baucus can’t give one out of 15 seats at the table to a single payer advocate?

What kind of corruption is that?

Russell Mokhiber is editor of Corporate Crime Reporter and founder of singlepayeraction.org