At a rally Wednesday with seniors to oppose the legislation, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi noted that AARP chief executive William Novelli wrote the preface to a recent book on health care by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga.

Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota expressed their criticism in a letter to Novelli. They asked him "to dispel any perception of a possible conflict of interest" over AARP's relationship with insurers... and other companies that market to AARP members health and life insurance policies and mail-order pharmacy service.

Royalties from such arrangements — including deals with United HealthCare Insurance Co., Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and Advance PCS pharmacy benefit manager — accounted for more than a third of AARP's $636 million in revenues last year, according AARP's 2002 annual report. [Medicare Fight Heating Up]

And don't forget to write your Senators - they're mulling the bill as you read this.