This Week's Backside Of The Bell Curve Winner!

Dennis Hastert



 Ham(mer) Handed* Dennis Hastert

House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R Lesser Evil Than Tom DeLay) has helped insurance companies block legislation which would make them provide equal coverage for mental and physical illnesses (if policies include both).

Even pResident Bush (R Off Script That Day) endorsed the concept two years ago, for cryin' out loud!

Dastard Bastard Hastert has declined to schedule a House vote.


Shocker!


The jubilant insurance companies include:

BlueCross BlueShield Association

United Healthcare Corp.

and WellPoint Health Networks


And It only cost insurance companies $13 million in lobbying costs to win this important victory against helping people get well!


Karen Ignagni, chief executive of America's Health Insurance Plans, said employers worried that would drive up health care costs and might cause some to drop mental health coverage altogether. (Translation: If Congressional Do-Gooder Bleeding Heart Liberal Commies force us to treat all mental illnesses as bona fide medical conditions, we'll just put a stop to treating mental illness altogether and let these people loose on an unsuspecting public-at-large! So there!)

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the legislation would increase health insurance costs slightly less than 1 percent.


Mr. Speaker, have you no shame?


See you next week!