Citizen Action of New York has just released a new report on the campaign contributions flowing from the health insurance industry to members of the New York Senate, the Republican caucus in particular. The report concludes that this money is obstructing progress on regulating insurance rates and provides further evidence for the need to move to a Clean Elections model of full public financing for legislative elections.

Money from HMOs can be found in the campaign accounts of Republicans and Democrats, but the GOP seems to be collecting the lion's share.  And they're not too excited about Clean Elections policy either:

"Our report found that the state Senate Republicans are the major beneficiaries of health insurance industry campaign contributions," Jessica Wisneski, the group's campaigns director, said in a press release accompanying the report.

"This addiction to industry campaign dollars explains why the state Senate has failed to act on legislation to rein in the high health insurance rates, and to establish ... full public financing of elections," she said. "As a result of the cozy relationship of the Senate Republicans to corporate dollars, consumers are paying a high price in higher health insurance rates, inability to afford health insurance, and poorer health outcomes."

Is it any wonder the Senate has been reluctant to regulate the rates these health insurance companies charge for coverage?  It's hard to install the lock on the cookie jar when you've got your hand inside it. 

The full report is available in pdf format here.