JLF’s Joe Coletti points out the irony of the request by 20 state legislators for a Roy Cooper investigation into Blue Cross Blue Shield. Just to shield themselves — poorly done, I might add — from the obvious political bullying they’re engaging in, the 20 acknowledge they want an investigation even if BCBS has done nothing wrong by speaking out about health care reform. Instead, the legislators write that they’re concerned about “bad public policy.”
Join the club. If that’s the standard for an investigation, then I’ll happily send in my list of programs and organizations that should be investigated for engaging in “bad public policy.”
They seem to be taking a cue from Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), who recently hinted at an IRS investigation of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops after the bishops dared to speak up for the rights of innocent children to be born, rather than eliminated with tax dollars as part of so-called “reform” in the House bill. Woolsey used a similarly lame and transparent tactic as the legislators:
The IRS is less restrictive about church involvement in efforts to influence legislation than it is about involvement in campaigns and elections.
Given the political behavior of USCCB in this case, maybe it shouldn’t be.
Pathetic. Just two more examples of the intoxicating power of government — a power too many elected officials embrace with gusto.
