American Medical Association

Big business is fighting back hard as the House health care  bill  heads for a vote this weekend. An initial ad buy estimated to cost about $10 million is underway in 19 states and 46 media markets, aimed at blocking passage of the House health care reform bill.

The business coalition, led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, includes such big groups as the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and the National Retail Federation, reports the National Journal, a publication that examines the lobbying industry.

In response perhaps, the AARP and the American Medical Association came out today in support of the House bill. Earlier in the week, the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network also endorsed the bill.

AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said that the group saw the House Democratic bill as the most promising proposal. "We can say with confidence that it meets our priorities for protecting Medicare, providing more affordable insurance for 50- to 64-year-olds and reforming our healthcare system." 

-- Rita Hibbard

The Los Angeles Times' beautiful story about the imprisonment of comic Billi Gordon by his own 700-lb body illustrates how obesity, a U.S. health epidemic, can take over someone's life.

The American Medical Association has found that obesity is the top preventable cause of death in this country.  They write:

U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, MD called it the greatest threat to public health today. It kills more Americans every year than AIDS, all cancers and all accidents combined. And it's causing problems in children that were unthinkable 20 years ago.

-- Kristen Millares Young