For many weeks, both Sen. Kent Conrad and Rep. Earl Pomeroy have argued (and voted) against a robust public option in health care reform legislation, claiming that the proposed Medicare connection would unfairly disadvantage North Dakota. The problem with Medicare payment rates has been around for a long time. Now that the voters have installed Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress, they should finally be able to get that fixed - and stop using it as a smoke screen.

Many folks see a much simpler reason for both lawmakers' opposition to the same public option that gets vigorous condemnation from the for-profit insurance industry currently dominating so many of our lives. Money talks, and both men have taken lots of health insurance industry money.

According to the award-winning, nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Pomeroy received a motivating $1.47 million in health industry cash from 1989 through 2009. In fact, Pomeroy received more health industry money than any of the other 51 conservative House Democrats known as the Blue Dogs. And last month, Conrad made headlines all across the state for having received slightly more ($1.6 million) during the same period.

At that time, Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig stated the obvious: "Companies like the health care industry don't spend money on members of Congress because they think it's like ... throwing it away. They spend money on members of Congress because they believe it gets them results."

So let's see: Most Americans want the public option, yet Conrad and Pomeroy, both Democrats, are fighting against it. I'd say the insurance industry's money is, indeed, getting results.

Pomeroy and Conrad were elected by the people, not the private health care industry. It's time for them to get the reimbursement rate problem fixed - and do the people's will.