Health Care for America Now Asks: Who’s Senator Ensign Working For?
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jacki Schechner 202-454-6196
Doug Gordon 202-822-5200
Embargoed to: October 5, 2009
Senator Ensign Took Money from Big Insurance; Voted Against Real Choice and Competition for Nevadans
***Watch the TV ad here: HealthCareforAmericaNow.org/Ensign ***
Washington, DC - Health Care for America Now (HCAN) - the nation's largest health care campaign - launched a new television ad in Nevada today aimed at Republican Senator John Ensign. Senator Ensign is a member of the Senate Finance Committee which is voting on health care reform legislation this week. The Senator has already voted down two amendments that would give everyone the choice of a strong national public health insurance option - proof he is siding with the private health insurance industry instead of the people of Nevada.
The ad titled "Worried" explains that while there has been controversy in the news about Senator Ensign, Nevada voters have something else to be worried about - the large amount of money their Senator has accepted from the health insurance industry.
"When Senator Ensign takes $874,000 from the private insurance industry and then does their bidding it makes you wonder whose side is he on, " said Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager, Health Care for America Now. "Nevadans need good health care we can afford with the choice of a strong national public health insurance option to inject some true competition into the marketplace, break the stranglehold of big insurance, and lower costs for consumers. Senator Ensign is showing where his priorities lie - with the Wall Street-driven profit motives of private insurers rather than with the health care needs of the people of Nevada he's supposed to represent."
HCAN is spending $110,000 to run the advertisement for one week on broadcast and cable television in Las Vegas and Reno.
"Senator Ensign continues to pander against meaningful reform, going to bat for the insurance industry and selling out his constituents," said Bob Fulkerson, State Director, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. "He cares more about protecting insurance profits than providing health care for Nevadans. We're glad this ad will call him out."
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"Worried" script:
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Video
Still from 6/16/09 press conference SUPER: Lately, there’s been a lot of controversy about John Ensign …
Change SUPER: But here’s what Nevadans should really be worried about.
White flash to still of Ensign in the Senate
SUPER: Taken over $874,000 dollars from the health insurance industry. Source: Public Campaign Action Fund, 2009
SUPER: Voted AGAINST lowering health care costs. Source: U.S. Senate Finance Committee, 9/29/09
Shot of middle class family
SUPER: Voted AGAINST a public health insurance option. Source: U.S. Senate Finance Committee, 9/29/09
Shot of Ensign.
SUPER: Why did John Ensign side with insurance companies instead of us?
Change SUPER: Follow the money. www.HealthCareForAmericaNow.org/Ensign |
Audio
Lately, there’s been a lot of controversy about John Ensign.
But here’s what Nevadans should really be worried about.
Ensign’s taken $874,000 dollars from the health insurance industry. $874,000 dollars!
Center for Responsive Politics, “John Ensign: Top Industries." Accessed at http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00006619&type=I
And Ensign’s voted with the big insurance companies against lowering health care costs.
Ryan Grim, "First Public Option Amendment Fails With Five Dem No Votes," September 29, 2009. Accessed at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/29/first-public-option-amend_n_303228.html.
And against giving us the choice of a public health insurance option.
Ryan Grim, "First Public Option Amendment Fails With Five Dem No Votes," September 29, 2009. Accessed at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/29/first-public-option-amend_n_303228.html.
Why did John Ensign side with the insurance companies instead of us?
Follow the money.
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