Source: The New York Times

I quote:

lobbyists, employed by Genentech and by two Washington law firms, were remarkably successful in getting the statements printed in the Congressional Record under the names of different members of Congress.

Genentech, a subsidiary of the Swiss drug giant Roche, estimates that 42 House members picked up some of its talking points — 22 Republicans and 20 Democrats, an unusual bipartisan coup for lobbyists.

In an interview, Representative Bill Pascrell Jr., Democrat of New Jersey, said: “I regret that the language was the same. I did not know it was.” He said he got his statement from his staff and “did not know where they got the information from.”

Comment: Apparently Pascrell thinks it is OK to present the work of his staff as his own, without attribution to the true author, but is not happy with the discovery that he was in fact mouthing the words of lobbyists. I wonder whether he is more unhappy with his un-attributed words not his own or with the discovery and publication of the fact?

One also wonders about the quality of understanding of the issues of the health care bill among the Congressmen who will be voting on this important issue and of their devotion to the welfare of their constituents and the nation rather than the welfrare of their campaign coffers. JAD