Special Interests Got a Copy of the Baucus Plan Before the White House Did

By Amanda Terkel, Think Progress
Posted on September 9, 2009, Printed on September 14, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/bloggers/http://www.thinkprogress.org//142514/

In today's press briefing, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs admitted that the Obama administration has not yet seen a copy of Sen. Max Baucus' (D-MT) newestdraft of health care legislation. "[W]e've seen what we've read in the paper, but I do not believe that we've seen paper on the plan," said Gibbs. However, he added that he believes special interests on K Street have already received a copy:

GIBBS: I was told that — that K Street had a copy of the Baucus plan, meaning, not surprisingly, the special interests have gotten a copy of the plan that I understand was given to committee members today.

Baucus has received hefty financial contributions from the health care industry. Igor Volskycompares the Baucus proposal to other pieces of existing legislation.

Transcript after the jump: 

QUESTION: The Finance Committee — well, actually, Senator Baucus's draft has been, now, bouncing around for a few days on Capitol Hill.

First, has the president seen it (inaudible) his outline?

GIBBS: I don't — I don't believe — I don't believe anybody here has — I'm — we've seen what we've read in the paper, but I do not believe that we've seen paper on the plan.

QUESTION: I understand it's bouncing around K Street.

GIBBS: Not surprisingly, but I have not seen it here.

QUESTION: And has there been any direct consultations between anyone at the White House and Senator Baucus or anyone in the group of six, since this outline began being floated on Sunday?

GIBBS: I don't — I don't know how far back that would go. We're — we continue to talk to all the players involved. Obviously, you know Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid will be here momentarily. So he's going to continue to talk to all of those involved.

QUESTION: What did you just mean…

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: I'm sorry. What did you just mean by it's bouncing around K Street ?

GIBBS: I was told that — that K Street had a copy of the Baucus plan, meaning, not surprisingly, the special interests have gotten a copy of the plan that I understand was given to committee members today.

QUESTION: And…

GIBBS: It wasn't cryptic. It's who…

QUESTION: I mean, who is that a…

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: Are you impugning somebody here? I mean, it sounded like you were impugning, like, well, K Street has it. I mean, what…

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: Is that…

(CROSSTALK)

GIBBS: K Street is normally where associations and lobbyists have their offices. I'm simply making the point to you, Chuck, that those people…

(LAUGHTER)

… have gotten a copy of health care reform.

QUESTION: And why is that?

QUESTION: And you haven't?

QUESTION: Max Baucus gave it to them?

Is is the other members of the committee gave it to them?

What are you saying here?

GIBBS: Call some of your lobbyist friends. I don't know how. I don't — we haven't seen what was, I think, dispersed today, or what I'm told was dispersed today.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: … if K Street got it, you guys have it?

GIBBS: Not — not surprisingly, yes.

Amanda Terkel is Deputy Research Director at the Center for American Progress and serves as Deputy Editor for The Progress Report and ThinkProgress.org at the Center for American Progress.

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