Report: Non-profit Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan spends almost a half million dollars on lobbying state government

March 26, 2009

The Michigan Campaign Finance network has reported that Blue Cross Blue Shields of Michigan spent $434,045 to lobby the state government in 2008. Of the single special interest group’s spending money in Lansing last year, – only tobacco giant Reynolds American spent more than the Blues.

The news concerning the Blues lobbying money comes just on the heels of a similar report detailing millions of dollars in corporate bonuses for top executives, despite claims by the Blues that they lost more then $200 million last year. Both reports seem to contradict a January 16, 2009, press release put out by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan where they stated that the company was “facing large and uncontrollable financial losses” that would require the Blues to increase rates, cut up to 1000 jobs, freeze wages, cut lobbying and other expenses.