The Way Washington Works, Cuban-Style

By Ken Silverstein

From the Miami Herald:

A Maryland prosthetics company pushing a new federal bill that would broaden insurance coverage for its products — and boost its bottom line — has enlisted significant political support from two of South Florida’s most prominent members of Congress. Congressmen Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart are among the bill’s key backers. At the same time, the company is backing their reelection bids.

Hanger Orthopedic Group’s political action committee and its executives provided more than $10,000 in campaign contributions to the brothers in the weeks before they co-sponsored the prosthetics parity bill on March 13. The company’s lobbyists, paid $130,000 to push the issue since last summer, went further: They helped raise campaign money for several bill sponsors, including the Republican Diaz-Balarts in March and April as they face Democratic challengers.