Healthcare Executives Back John Kitzhaber
The Oregon healthcare industry is putting the weight of sizeable political donations behind Democrat John Kitzhaber
Mark Ganz, president of The Regence Group, gave $10,500 to Dudley. Ganz also donated $500 to Kitzhaber’s campaign, according to the latest campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State’s office.
The Oregon Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes and assisted living facilities, gave a whopping $50,000 to each campaign, accounting for Kitzhaber’s largest contribution and Dudley’s third largest.
All told, Dudley has raised nearly $1 million more than Kitzhaber. Dudley accepted $2.74 million to Kitzhaber’s $1.77 million at the end of July, although Dudley only reported slightly more cash on hand – around $300,000 – than his opponent. The fundraising advantage has allowed Dudley to post more advertising spots earlier than Kitzhaber, who came out with his first television ad last week.
With unions still largely out of the fundraising picture, it’s the healthcare industry that has accounted for Kitzhaber’s top four donors. Along with the Oregon Health Care Association, Dentists of Oregon PAC gave $30,000 and Doctors for Healthy Communities and Douglas County Physicians PAC each gave him $25,000.The list of individual healthcare donors to the Kitzhaber campaign covers every aspect of the statewide system including top executives at insurance companies, hospitals and state agencies.
Notable healthcare executives who personally gave to Kitzhaber include Dr. Bruce Goldberg, director of the Department of Human Services and acting director of the Oregon Health Authority; Jack Friedman, CEO of Providence Health Plans; Russ Danielson, former CEO of Providence Health and Services; Andrew McCulloch, president of Kaiser Permanente NW and Andy Davidson, CEO of the Association of Oregon Hospitals and Health Systems.
“(John) is one of the foremost thinkers in the nation on healthcare and has been actively contributing to this field for many years,” said Larry Mullins, president of Samaritan Health Services, who also gave a personal contribution to Kitzhaber’s campaign. “He has demonstrated the ability to build consensus and achieve significant outcomes. During this critical period of healthcare reform, I believe he’ll serve our state well.”
In 2006, Kitzhaber created the Archimedes Movement to push for national healthcare reform, which allowed him to ingratiate himself into Oregon’s healthcare industry.
A separate analysis by The Oregonian found that Dudley earned a “quarter of his donations…from people who can be identified as chief executives, corporate presidents, board chairmen or business owners.”
The paper also calculated that Dudley received $320,000 from the financial industry, and that most of his contributions are fueled by anger over the passage of tax measures 66 and 67.
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Today the first provisions ordered by the new health care act kick in. I also see where Blue Cross of Oregon is meeting this requirement by raising rates up to 20%. This is an example of the cycle of tax and spend that fuels the Taxed Enough Already (Party). Political egos should be set aside and the health and welfare of our overworked and over taxed families given prime consideration. Government exists to spend money and invent new ways to do so. More administrations, bureaus, committees, burn up revenue so much so that it seems they (eventually) only exist to invent ways to perpetuate themselves.
Politicians say: "If we don't increase taxes we can't provide for you and you will lose your programs". Fewer people believe them any longer. Calling it anger is inaccurate. The electorate is becoming more educated to the dangers presented by a ponderous government. That's why the dissatisfaction with all government is bipartisan and states across the country are predicted to "slash" between 400,000 and 900,000 jobs in the attempt to pay for old failed bureaucracies. They are on the right track.
Bill
Chris Dudley comes to us from an industry (professional sports) where there is always plenty of excessive amounts of funds (millions per player per year) and no real consequences for failure to perform (still had a job even when they do not win games and championships). Does this, in any way, resemble Oregon's situation and needs??
I think he is a very nice man, but all he was ever asked to do was go out and try everyday and that is not going to cut it right now with the problems we need solutions to.
No one in any demographic category can be more out of touch with the challenges facing Oregonians than a person who has been abundantly wealthy his whole adult life. Chris Dudley has no idea what you and I are up against every day, nor small businesses, nor large corporations. He has never had to worry about meeting a budget, being laid off, or looking for a job. We cannot seriously expect him to understand us or represent our interests in Salem.
I submit that your last paragraph equally describes John Kitzhaber as well. We assume because he is a physician he would be the logical choice to provide solutions to the healthcare problem. He sees it from a physicians perspective in which they are most concerned about decreasing reimbursements and their own bottom line. The fact that he has garnered more contributions from the health care industry is because they want to buy influence for the status quo not necessarily for the good of Oregon as a whole.
Sorry--simply cannot vote for a Republican. They are a "holdup" in Congress and in state legilatures all over the country. Republicans are far too reluctant to deal with the realities of this recession and the subsequent need for the government to work towards a valid decision.
Mr. Dudley may call himself a moderate. But what happens when he is elected and in office? The conservative Republicans will hound him into positions which are far too far to the right. Can't imagine living in a state or country where the level of dedication and compassion are near zero.
The article's final two paragraphs don't seem to fit the rest - and make it appear biased toward Mr. Kitzhaber. That is bad enough, but I would also point out that there's no valid way The Oregonian or any other publication can "calculate" that "most of [Mr. Dudley's] contributions are fueled by anger over the passage of tax measures 66 and 67" when anyone can recognize that there are, in fact, a host of reasons why people might donate to Mr. Dudley's campaign, preferring a new direction for Oregon to the dubious record of former Gov. Kitzhaber.
Many would say that Mr. Kitzhaber is a large part of why Oregon is stuck where it is today. While Mr. Kitzhaber may have had some successes in health care coverage we need more than a one-issue governor. Perhaps he should check back in with President Obama to see if the administration needs any health care billets filled. Barring that, we Oregonians should give the former governor his gold watch and thank him to retire into other endeavors.