As we approach the two-year anniversary of Senator Collins’ vote for the GOP tax bill, Maine Democrats will highlight how Senator Collins put corporate special interests ahead of hardworking Mainers in a series we’re calling the “12 Days of Corporate Tax Giveaways” ☃️
Just six days after her vote on final passage for the 2017 GOP tax bill, Senator Collins received a donation from Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Corporate PAC. It’s no surprise that the health insurance giant was grateful to Collins; the tax bill that she helped passed netted them at least $2.3 billion in savings.
Blue Cross Blue Shield is among Collins’ top five all-time contributors. Now, thanks to Senator Collins’ help, Blue Cross Blue Shield is positioned to benefit from the tax bill for years to come.
While the GOP tax bill has been good for health insurance companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield, it stuck Mainers with four-figure health care premium increases and laid the foundation for a lawsuit that now threatens coverage protections for the nearly 600,000 Mainers who have a pre-existing conditions.
“We don’t need a Senator who works to line the pockets of giant health insurance corporations while threatening health care for Mainers,” said Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Lisa Roberts. “That’s why Maine Democrats are focused on defeating Senator Collins in 2020 and electing a Senator who will fight for affordable health care for every Mainer.”
Blue Cross & Blue Shield’s Corporate PAC Contributed $1,000 To Collins during tax bill debate and then received $2.3 billion in savings from the cuts
Blue Cross Blue Shield Corporate PAC donated $1,000 to Collins days after her vote for the tax bill – she has taken more than $1 million from the insurance industry
12/26/17: Corporate Blue Cross & Blue Shield Assn. PAC Contributed $1,000 To Collins For Senator. [FEC, Collins for Senator Itemized Receipts, 12/26/17]
1996-Present: Blue Cross Blue Shield Has Donated $112,000 To Collins’ Reelection Campaigns. [FEC, accessed 12/4/19]
1996-Present: Collins Has Accepted $1.01 Million From The Insurance Industry. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 12/5/19]
Blue Cross Blue Shield got a $2.3 billion tax break from the Collins-backed tax bill
HEADLINE: “BlueCross BlueShield Nets $2.3B In Savings From 2017 Tax Cuts.” [Health Payer Intelligence, 6/18/18]
HEADLINE: “Blues Plans Reap Cash From Tax Law, Lighter Medical Claims.” [Axios, 8/22/18]
2017: Blue Cross & Blue Shield Companies “Saw A Total Tax Savings Of $2.3 Billion” After Passage Of Tax Cuts And Jobs Act. “Blue Cross Blue Shield companies saw a total tax savings of $2.3 billion after passage of last year’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), according to a new creditor’s briefing from AM Best.” [Health Payer Intelligence, 6/18/18]
Axios: Republican Tax Cuts “Will Be A Boon For Them For Years To Come.” “Between the lines: These data suggest the Blues have raised premiums well beyond what they thought they'd ultimately pay to providers, and the tax law will be a boon for them for years to come.” [Axios, 8/22/18]
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