Tom Carper’s Chief of Staff Now Lobbies for Wellpoint

You read that right — the nation’s largest insurer has hired Tom Carper’s ex-Chief of Staff as a lobbyist to campaign for their interests on the health care bill:

Senator Carper Tries to Disguise That He is Missing the Point

Sunday’s NJ gave us another one of those missives that seems to be designed to communicate that he is on top of the issues, but, if you look closely, is basically a whole lot of weak handwaving that tries to hide his real work. They key bit here is this:

Carper’s State-Based Public Option Gains Steam

Tom Carper’s hybrid state co-op/public option plan is gaining momentum in the Senate right now. If you want to know what to think about the plan look at who’s praising it.
A new proposal by Sen. Tom Carper would spell out how to boost competition in the private market by enacting government-run plans at the [...]

Carper’s Co-Op Compromise Plan

Tom Carper is reportedly floating a new/old compromise with Democratic leadership:
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) is quietly talking with the Senate Democratic leadership and Finance Committee members about an alternative to both the government insurance option and the nonprofit insurance cooperative.
In a one-page document he began circulating last week, Carper suggests giving states the option [...]

Breaking: Carper Votes Against Rockfeller Public Option –UPDATED

Via Steve Benen:
Updated — Carper votes against the Rockefeller Amendment and for the Schumer Amendment.

What Will Tom Carper Do to Protect Drug or Insurance Companies This Week?

This is Week 2 of the Finance Committee amending the Chairman’s Mark of the health insurance reform bill, and I wanted to start this week by reminding everyone of Carper’s rather complete abandonment of the voters in Delaware to clearly sit at the table negotiating for and protecting the drug companies and the insurance companies [...]

Guest Post: Kowalko’s Open Letter to Delaware’s Delegation

Dear Senators Carper, Kauffman and Congressman Castle,

As a Delaware State legislator whose focus and efforts are dedicated to the best interests of all Delawareans just as your efforts have always been focused, I am writing you to ask you to reconsider the consequences of your vote to cut-off “housing and community grant funding” to ACORN.

Carper Sells Out To Drug Companies

From a Booman Tribune post entitled, “For Shame, Tom Carper”, comes this gem (bold text added by me):
In any case, there are people who qualify for Medicaid because they have a low income. And there are people who qualify for Medicare because they are 65 years-old. Then there are people who qualify for both, and [...]

Tom Carper’s Office: Public Option is a Fall Back?

So what is Tom Carper’s position on Public Option Health Care? A friend of mine just called up Senator Carper’s office, and inquired whether Carper (who claims that he “doesn’t oppose” the public option, a weaselly double-negative) would support a public option plan that was “available on day one”. Why is this important? In the [...]

And Now a Word From Tom’s Sponsors…

Kilroy better take heed of my skilz!

Help Cast The DE Political Blogosphere Movie

Here is something we have not tried in a while. I guess the summer slowdown and talk of identity have put me the mood to put on my casting director’s hat.
Me > I’m hoping for Ron Livingston but will probably be played by Oliver Platt.
Mike Castle > Steve Buscemi
Tom Carper [...]

New Ad Targeting Tom Carper

Health Care for Americans Now is airing this ad in six states, targeted at Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.), a number of upstate New York members and Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.).

Progress on Delaware’s National Park?

That is what I thought I was going to get in this USN&WR blog post. But basically this tells us that Senator Tom Carper is now leading the charge on this thing now that Biden is VP. And that the stars seem to be aligned for us to finally get this park: