Ads Airing in 9 States Say Support Health Care Reform Now
Tiffany Ricci 202-429-5047 AFSCME
Doug Gordon 202-822-5200 Fenton
Washington, DC – With health care reform bills moving in both the House and Senate, Health Care for America Now (HCAN) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) launched an $800,000 television advertising campaign that asks Members of Congress and Senators in nine states to support legislation that will lower costs, expand coverage, and keep the insurance companies honest. The ads support legislation that would allow people to keep the insurance they have now or choose from a range of plans, including a new public health insurance option.
HCAN is the nation's largest health care campaign. The 1.6 million member AFSCME, one of the leading members of HCAN, represents public service workers in hundreds of different occupations across the country.
The ad titled “What If” is running for five days starting today in Congressional districts represented by Bart Gordon (TN-06 ), Bart Stupak (MI-01), Mike Ross (AR-04), John Barrow (GA-12), Baron Hill (IN-09), Zachary Space (OH-18), and Charlie Melancon (LA-03). The ad is also on the air statewide in North Dakota starting Monday, and AFSCME is sponsoring a version of the same ad in California.
“We can’t be any clearer than this – Congress must act now,” said AFSCME International President Gerald W. McEntee. “Health care reform cannot wait. America’s families can’t wait. This is the moment to end the despair of millions of Americans who are unable to access the affordable healthcare they need.’’
The ad shows that President Obama’s health care plan will get rid of exorbitant corporate profits, bloated CEO compensation, endless denials, and skyrocketing costs while giving voters more choice and making private insurance companies behave better.
“Now is the time Members of Congress need to vote for legislation that will give everyone good health care they can afford,” said Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager of Health Care for America Now. “With the health industry lobby spending more than a million dollars a day in Washington, it’s important that Congress understand that America’s families and businesses cannot wait any longer for a solution to our health care crisis, and Congress needs to act now. ”
SAMPLE AD SCRIPT:
On Screen:
$13 Billion in Profits
$119 Million in CEO Pay
DENIED
President Obama’s Plan
Keep your doctor and current insurance
Or choose from a range of plans
Lower costs. Keep insurance companies honest.
Call Congressman Barrow
Your health. Your choice.
1-877-264-4226
Voiceover:
What if we stripped away the 13 billion dollar insurance company profits?
The 119 million dollar CEO pay?
The endless denials.
The soaring co-pays and premiums?
You’d have health care between you and your doctor – that’s the President’s plan. Keep the coverage you have now.
Or choose from a range of plans
Including a public health insurance option to lower costs and keep insurance companies honest
Tell Congressman Barrow support reform now. It’s your health. It should be your choice.
HCAN Logo
Paid for by Health Care for American Now and Health Care for America Education Fund.
