Big Tobacco and the California Nurses Association: Happy Together

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

With Democratic legislators and the Governor on the verge of an agreement on the nation's most sweeping comprehensive health care reform plan, its political foes already are circling. Two of the strangest bedfellows certain to fight the plan will be Big Tobacco and the Nader-endorsing leadership of the California Nurses Association.

Big Tobacco began its lobbying campaign earlier this week, routing calls to legislative offices with anti-consumer messages. And today, CNA-backed single payer advocates began an email campaign to Capitol offices.

These actions promise to be a preview of what is expected to be an expensive campaign in November to approve the financial components of the health care plan. Blue Cross also is expected to dump millions into the battle.

All of this will make it very interesting for hear CNA's leadership explain to its rank-and-file members who want health care reform how climbing in bed with tobacco and insurance company interests will improve the quality of care for Californians.

Image courtesy Cosmodrome.