AARP: Reform advocate and insurance salesman

The nation's preeminent seniors group, AARP, says many of the healthcare proposals under consideration will lower costs and increase the quality of care for older Americans. But not advertised in the lobbying campaign have been the group's substantial earnings from insurance royalties and the potential benefits that could come its way from many of the reform proposals, according to the Washington Post. The group's dual role as an insurance reformer and a broker has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks from congressional Republicans, who accuse it of having a conflict of interest in taking sides in the fierce debate over health insurance, the Post reports.