GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has a history of promiting clients of a think tank he founded in 2003, but without disclosing that they were clients, USA Today reported on Thursday.
In columns and speeches on ways to reform the health care system, the presidential candidate and former House speaker has celebrated clients of the Center for Health Transformation without noting the connection between the company, the think tank, and himself, USA Today reported.
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Gingrich has been under fire for failing to fully disclose $1.6 million to $1.8 million in consulting fees he received from mortgage giant Freddie Mac after he left Congress. He has denied that any of the consulting involved lobbying.
Here are a few examples of Gingrich's disclosure problem, as compiled by USA Today:
- A 2009 column for the Washington Post’s Healthcare Rx blog, in which Gingrich lauded Gundersen Lutheran Health System, then a client of the Center for Health Transformation.
- A 2008 column for the San Jose Mercury News, co-written by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., that mentioned Allscripts and Misys, two Center members. “The column promoted electronic prescription legislation by Kerry and then-Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., that would have helped both companies,” USA Today noted.
- A 2008 op-ed co-written with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., that touted Intermountain Healthcare, a Center client.
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