Link
http://biggovernment.com/mikeflynn/2...care-windfall/
Snippets:
Ever since the passage of ObamaCare, I’ve been perplexed by a lingering question: Why did AARP so aggressively lobby for passage of the law? After all, the plan was built on $500 billion in cuts to Medicare.
According to this blockbuster report, released today by the House Ways and Means Committee, AARP’s support of ObamaCare and, specifically, the Medicare cuts was entirely rational and self-serving. The Committee found, after an 18 month investigation, that AARP stands to reap an extra billion dollars in profits from ObamaCare. (Yes, that is billion with a B.) Worse, this extra profit is largely BECAUSE of the Medicare cuts.
I can’t say that AARP explicitly lobbied for these Medicare cuts, but you’d be hard-pressed to design Medicare cuts that rewarded AARP more handsomely. And considering the fact that AARP spends more lobbying than PhRMA, it does beg the question.
Link
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/Upload...DF_3_29_11.pdf
Snippets
THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES
CREATE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
FOR AARP, WHICH IS A POWERHOUSE, PERCEIVED AS THE
MOST IMPORTANT VOICE FOR OLDER PEOPLE. AARP WILL
NOT BE PERCEIVED AS A TRULY INDEPENDENT ADVOCATE
ON MEDICARE IF IT’S MAKING HEFTY PROFITS BY SELLING
INSURANCE PRODUCTS THAT PROVIDE MEDICARE COVERAGE.*
> MARILYN MOON, FORMER AARP EXECUTIVE
MAXIMIZING CORPORATE-RELATED INCOME AND
PROFITS POSES A SIGNIFICANT CONFLICT OF
INTEREST FOR AN ORGANIZATION TRYING TO
REPRESENT THE BEST INTEREST OF ITS MEMBERS.**
> PUBLIC CITIZEN, A LIBERAL NON-PROFIT
CONSUMER ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION
THERE’S AN INHERENT CONFLICT OF
INTEREST. [AARP IS] ENDING UP BECOMING
VERY DEPENDENT ON SOURCES OF INCOME.***
> JUDITH STEIN, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER
FOR MEDICARE ADVOCACY