During last year's presidential election campaign, opinion polls indicated that the public's top concerns were the ending of the U.S.-led March 2003 invasion of Iraq and its six-year tumultuous, death-dealing occupancy, and the need for a U.S. health-care reform. Neither has been enacted as yet.

Just recently, an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll revealed that 76 percent of Americans support a change from the corporation‑for‑profit health care industry.

The Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks campaign contributions and lobbying expenditures, estimates that as much as $1.38 billion has been spent by the five industries that are primary in health care in lobbying lawmakers, since 2007. The five industries include insurance companies, drug companies, HMOs, hospital and nursing homes, and health-care professionals.

Mike McCabe, director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, is more specific in the amounts doled out in campaign contributions. He writes that Washington is paralyzed and reluctant to take the necessary action in establishing universal health care, as so many have accepted campaign funding for their support of the present health-care system. A cynic would call them political prostitutes.

McCabe writes that in 2008, federal candidates received $47 million from the insurance industry, $29 million from the drug companies, and the federal office seekers willingly accepted $23 million from hospitals and other health-care facilities. Still another $14 million went to the federal campaigners from the HMOs and other health service gatekeepers.

The final words of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign bulletin reads:

"That's a total of $113 million. One hundred and thirteen million reasons why Washington is not moved by the heart-wrenching stories of people suffering and even dying needlessly for lack of medical care, and the countless others who have driven to financial ruin because they had the misfortune of getting sick. One hundred and thirteen reasons why the richest nation on Earth turns a blind eye to pain and suffering and economic calamity, and why its leaders put the profits of the few ahead of the needs of many."

A sincere campaign funding act has been as difficult to pass as a health-care reform bill. Their intertwining relevance is clearly evident.

As someone who has the talent of suggesting simple answers to complex problems, I have wondered why there is not a mandated disclosure of campaign money contributions during debates, when there are serious political issues, using health-care reform as one example.

That mandate has as much possibility of passage as the health-care reform, I fear. Or as much possibility as the elected politician recusing themselves from voting on an issue for which they received payment.

Surely, that information should be as important to a citizen as asking why the candidate does not wear a flag pin in the coat lapel.

Blanche Murtagh is a longtime Portage resident and activist who has had many of her stories published.