Health

Burning Tires: Illinois' "Renewable Energy"?

by Anne Landman — March 22, 2010 - 11:58am

A Democratic Illinois state representative quietly slipped five words into the definition of renewable energy in a bill that would clear the way for a power company to burn tires as a way to reap green energy credits. Representative David Miller, who is running for state Comptroller, inserted the words "incineration of burning tires" into the definition of renewable energy in a measure that was intended to promote wind and solar energy.

Main Source:

Chicago Tribune, March 21, 2010

Corporations Spend Millions to Sway Democrats

by Anne Landman — March 15, 2010 - 2:17pm

As the year-long fight over health care reform draws to a close, corporations are once again pouring big money into influencing the debate. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has already spent $11 million just this month to try and get 27 Democrats who supported the health care bill last year to oppose it. Pharmaceutical companies have bought $12 million worth of advertising to try and defeat the measure.

Main Source:

New York Times, March 15, 2010

Philip Morris Pushing Smoking Hard in Foreign Countries

by Anne Landman — March 8, 2010 - 4:16pm

Topics: Health, International, Tobacco

In the 1950s, more than half the U.S. population smoked. Now that number is down to just 21 percent of adults. As the domestic cigarette market shrinks, tobacco companies are taking their business to the developing world, where they don't have to deal with pesky things like advocacy groups that oppose industry activity, smoking bans, or a populace that is aware of the health hazards of smoking.

Now Philip Morris (PM) is playing hardball in lesser-developed countries to try and preserve their ability to market cigarettes however they want. On February 19, PM filed a lawsuit against Uruguay to try and force that country to withdraw a new law requiring 80 percent of each side of cigarette packs show graphic images depicting the health effects of smoking.

Groups Ramp Up Health Care Lobbying, Except AARP

by Anne Landman — March 8, 2010 - 1:17pm

As President Obama moves ahead with health care reform, interest groups on both sides of the issue are again ramping up their lobbying efforts. Robert Zirkelbach of America's Health Insurance Plans, the insurance industry's top lobbying group, said his industry is making "a big effort" to counteract attacks from Obama and other Democrats, who have pointed to hefty premium increases to show why health care reform is needed.

Main Source:

Washington Post, February 28, 2010

Study Debunks Insurers' Explanation for Exorbitant Rate Hikes

by Anne Landman — March 3, 2010 - 3:56pm

The pro-health care reform group Health Care for America Now has released a study (pdf) that contradicts insurance companies' claims that their recent, exorbitant rate hikes were driven by increases in the cost of medical care.

Main Source:

Health Care for America Now

CMD's Wendell Potter to Appear on Bill Moyers' Journal

by Anne Landman — March 3, 2010 - 11:43am

Topics: Corporations, Health, Media

The Center for Media and Democracy's own Wendell Potter, former head Corporate Communications for CIGNA, and now the Center for Media and Democracy's Senior Fellow on Health Care, is going to New York Cit

The Reconciliation Myth

by Anne Landman — February 26, 2010 - 2:08pm

By writing the health care reform bill as a budget bill, Senate Democrats could advance the measure using a procedure called "reconciliation," which would avoid a Republican attempt to stall the measure by filibustering it.

Main Source:

National Public Radio, February 24, 2010

CMD's Wendell Potter Speaks at Introduction of House Bill

by Anne Landman — February 24, 2010 - 12:44pm

CMD's Senior Fellow on Health Care, Wendell PotterThe House of Representatives today introduced legislation to repeal an exemption to federal anti-trust laws that the insurance industry, including health insurers, has enjoyed since 1945.

Main Source:

PR Newswire, February 23, 2010

Soda Industry Using Tobacco Industry PR Strategies

by Anne Landman — February 19, 2010 - 1:45pm

Manufacturers of sugar-laden drinks are adopting Big Tobacco's public relations strategies in response to government proposals to tax soda and sugary drinks.

Main Source:

New York Times, February 12, 2010

WellPoint's Heart-Stopping Rate Increase

by Wendell Potter — February 17, 2010 - 11:44am

Topics: Corporations, Ethics, Health

A congressional hearing next week into the proposed 39 percent rate increase in California by health insurance giant WellPoint could breathe new life into health care reform efforts on Capitol Hill, especially if lawmakers broaden their investigation into the outrageous rate increases other insurers are also demanding from coast to coast.

WellPoint found itself in Congressional investigators' crosshairs after the California Department of Insurance challenged the company's planned increase in the rates it charges its customers who cannot get coverage through the workplace, but have to go it alone in what is called the individual market.