Big Insurance or “Big I” has been busy. They’ve already lobbied Washington with tons of money against health care reform. On March 4th, insurance agents will shake hands with members of Congress as part of a week long conference at our nation’s capital.

Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) booked Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.) for their annual “Big I” Day, where over a thousand members go to Capitol Hill to discuss issues at the “most effective insurance industry legislative event of its kind,” according to the associations press release.

Insurance companies are the leading contributor to Crowley’s campaign, making up $70,000 in 2009-2010, according to Opensecrets.org. Crowley sits on the Ways and Means Committee, so it’s not a surprise for insurance companies to try and court him. The committee is the chief tax-writing group of the House of Representatives, which also has some jurisdiction over social security, medicare and unemployment benefits.

But Crowley is still an advocate for health care reform. Back in August, while lobbyists contributed more $1.4 million to try and sway Congress from reform, Crowley started an interactive health care forum on his website. He recently voted for the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act, which repealed antitrust protections from the health insurance industry. It passed by a landslide vote – 406 to 19.

Even with these contributions, Crowley continues to vote for liberal causes. The National Journal ranks him as more liberal than 89 percent of his peers. So, maybe “Big I” donates to Crowley because they see him as a future investment…?