Kildee Chief of Staff Mitchell Rivard. (Photo: Twitter)
Private health insurance lobbyists looking to undercut a proposal to expand healthcare access via a single-payer system have been going to great lengths to woo centrist Democrats to maintain the status quo. Their latest reported stunt was to host a weekend spa retreat for congressional aides from both sides of the political aisle, where they were lectured by industry insiders on defeating Medicare for All. Several dozen were invited, including the chief of staff for Rep. Dan Kildee.
According to the Intercept, the spa retreat was put on by "Center Forward," a group linked to a coalition that advocates limiting social welfare spending, taxes on the wealthy and business regulations.
A guest list obtained by the Intercept includes Kildee chief of staff Mitchell Rivard. Notes next to his name tell why the lobbyists felt Rivard was a key invite: "Mr. Rivard will share his experience as chief of staff to an active House Ways and Means member." In addition to serving on the powerful Congressional committee, Kildee is also the House Chief Deputy Whip.
The Intercept reports the event itself is ethically questionable, regardless of subject matter:
The Ethics Committee rules bar registered lobbyists from arranging luxury travel for Congress. Although Center Forward’s board is made up almost entirely of registered corporate lobbyists, the event forms were signed by the group’s executive director, Cori Kramer, who is not a registered lobbyist — a technicality that helped elide the prohibition on lobbyist-funded travel. The forms show the group spent as much as $560 per congressional aide for transportation, food, and lodging.
“The host list speaks for itself,” said Wendell Potter, president of Business Initiative for Health Policy. “This event wasn’t about fixing the health care system. It was about protecting the health care industry, no matter the cost to patients, families, workers, or employers.”
