Obama and Co puts a "gag order" on health insurance companies?

Senate Republican leadership today threatened to block HHS nominations until Sec. Sebelius lifts the "gag order" on health insurance company Humana.


The letter comes as Republicans are railing against CMS' investigation into a letter Humana sent to its enrollees about health care reform. CMS ordered the company to stop such mailings during the investigation.

"America’s seniors and the health plans that serve them deserve to have their free speech rights respected. Their rights should not be subject to the whims of any administration, and the health plans that serve them should not be threatened with punishment if they speak out on a matter of public concern simply because the administration disagrees with their position," they wrote in a letter. "Until your department rescinds its gag order and allows seniors to receive information about matters before Congress, we will not consent to time agreements on the confirmation of any nominees to your department or associated agencies."

The letter was signed by Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell, Jon Kyl, Lamar Alexander, John Thune, Lisa Murkowski, John Cornyn, Charles Grassley and Mike Enzi.

http://www.politico.com/livepulse/0909/Senate_Republicans_threaten_to_block_HHS_nominations_.html