Insurance lobbyists schedule fundraisers for Roy Blunt

As we move into what might be the last throes of the great healthcare battle of the Obama Administration, my Congressman, Roy Blunt, a candidate for U. S. Senate in Missouri, is also making his allegiances clear.
While Democrats and Republicans are getting together Thursday, with only an outside chance of hammering out meaningful heath care and insurance reform, Roy Blunt, the newly-minted Tea Party conservative, the-government-is the-source-of-all-evil Republican, will be playing politics as usual- and playing footsy with insurance lobbyists.

During a nine-day period beginning Wednesday, March 10, insurance lobbyists will be throwing fancy soirees to pick up big bucks for the Congressman, a continuation of the K Street magic that has been a hallmark of Blunt’s time in Washington.
On March 10, the lobbying firm D. C. Navigators will hold a reception for Blunt, according to Open Secrets. The firm numbers among its clients the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, as well as a number of pharmaceutical companies.

The suggested donation, according to the website, is $5,000 PAC Host; $2,500 PAC Sponsor; $2,400 Individual Host; $1,500 Individual Sponsor; $1,500 PAC; $1,000 Individual

For those unfortunate special interests that cannot make it to that event, don’t lose any sleep over it. On the very next day, at an undisclosed private residence, (people who need to know will be told where it is) an old associate of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and two former governors, now both heading lobbying firms, will keep the money flowing into the Blunt campaign.

The hosts include Glenn LeMunyon, head of LeMunyon Group LLC, a lobbying firm that represents just about everyone except insurance interests, including Verizon, Union Pacific, Lockheed Martin, and Fannie Mae. LeMunyon, at one time was Tom DeLay’s policy assistant. But don’t worry about the insurance interests not being represented. Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, now president and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers will be a host as well as Kristen Chadwick of Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock, whose clients include the American Insurance Association, and a number of health care and pharmaceutical interests.

Former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves, now president and CEO of the American Trucking Association, will also be a host.
Finally, on Thursday, March 18, the action moves into the Capitol Building when former Blunt aide Sam Geduldig, now a lobbyist for numerous interests, including Prudential, Fidelity, All-State, American Insurance Association, and just for good measure the American Bankers Association and the Financial Services Roundtable, will be one of the hosts for a reception. Other hosts including Keating.

Suggested donations- $5,000 PAC Host; $2,500 PAC Sponsor; $2,400 Individual Host; $1,500 Individual Sponsor; $1,500 PAC; $1,000 Individual

With these special interests bankrolling Roy Blunt, and when most of his family including his campaign manager son, daughter, and wife are lobbyists, it is hard for anyone, whether on the left or the right, to take serious Blunt’s claim that he speaks for the average Missourian.