Information in a story by Daniel Lee in the Indianapolis Star suggests that the Bayh family is too conflicted from ties to the for-profit health industry for Evan Bayh to make an unbiased vote on the health care issue.
[F]or Bayh, health care isn’t just the latest high-stakes political fight in Congress. It’s also a substantial part of his family’s income.
As the debate over health-care reform intensifies, Bayh’s wife is receiving lucrative payouts from some of the companies that could be most affected by that legislation.
Susan Bayh’s rise to corporate boards was timely – starting just before Evan was elected to the Senate (but when his election was clearly going to happen.) Her board memberships and the compensation:
[Susan] Bayh’s compensation during those years:
• WellPoint $976,000: Indianapolis-based health insurer, includes Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
• Dendreon $370,391: Seattle-based biotech company focused on cancer treatments.
• MDRNA* $388,169: Bothell, Wash., biotech company developing therapeutics to treat liver diseases.
• Curis $184,001: Cambridge, Mass., drug-development company focused on cancer treatments.
• Dyax $221,692: Cambridge, Mass., biopharmaceuticals company developing treatments for use in oncology and inflammation.
Total $2,140,253
Adding to the perception of conflict is Evan Bayh’s non-committal approach to health care. Whatever his real reasons, a refusal to bite the hand that feeds him (and I’m not talking about his constituents) will lead to a perception of impropriety. To avoid being characterized as the Senator from Wellpoint, I suggest that Bayh should come out and say that he’ll support a cloture vote so a health care bill can get an up or down vote but otherwise will abstain on the issue.
Seriously, how would Bayh abstaining on the health insurance reform benefit any except those opposed? Those supporting reform are predominately Democrats, excluding the so-called blue dogs that can by themselves stop reform (single payer or at least a public option). IMO, Bayh (& company) needs to get the hell off his agnostic perch and start actively working to secure affordable health care insurance for everyone.
Too, I’m not at all concerned about how Susan Bayh’s career may influence Evan’s vote but I’m definitely questioning just how much insider information she’s able to supply her employers thanks to circle of influence she and Evan enjoy.