Oh, And One Other Thing

(Editorial cartoon by Kevin Siers and published in the Charlotte Observer 3/14/13.  Click on image to enlarge and then please return.)

Open Secrets reminded me that appealing to the Tea Party faction was only one impetus for Congressman Ryan's budget plan.  In fact, a more substantial reason exists:

Over the course of Ryan's career in Congress, insurance has been the top industry (after retired people) contributing to his campaigns, with $895,928 in contributions since he first campaigned for his House seat, according to OpenSecrets.org data.The Health Professionals and Pharmaceutical industries follow close behind as his fourth and seventh most supportive industries, contributing $626,249 and $350,282, respectively, since 2000.   [Emphasis added]

If you noodle around the site a little bit, you'll see that Ryan isn't the only active politician on the payroll of these groups.  Lots of folks on both sides of the aisle have been recipients of the largesse of these groups.  Is it any wonder that Medicare is still on the chopping block and that members of Congress and the White House are willing to negotiate it away for the next generation?

Bought and paid for.