Health Care For America Now

New TV Spots Show Members Guaranteed Good Coverage, Take Millions in Contributions, Say No To Quality, Affordable Care for All

***Watch the ads here: HealthcareforAmericaNow.org/Shoes***

Washington, DC – As President Obama and Democrats in Congress continue to speak to the country about achieving comprehensive health insurance reform, Health Care for America Now (HCAN) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) have launched a new $650,000 television advertising campaign targeting Republican leadership in the House and Senate and seven additional Republican members of Congress. The ad points out that while they have a guarantee of good health care as members of Congress, the Republicans oppose legislation that would lower costs for America’s families and business and stop insurance company abuses. At the same time, they have taken millions of dollars in campaign contributions from the health care industry.

“Shoes” airs for five days nationally and in North Carolina and six Congressional districts represented by Republican House members who have voted or spoken out against health care reform. A national version of “Shoes” targets House Republican Leader John Boehner, House Republican Whip Eric Cantor, Senate Minority Leader Mitchell McConnell, and Senate Republican Whip John Kyl. State and district versions of the ad target Republican Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and Representatives Dave Camp (MI-04), Mark Kirk (IL-10), Patrick Tiberi (OH-12), Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11), Dave Reichert (WA-08), and John Boehner (OH-08). The Boehner ad is paid for by HCAN and HCAN Steering Committee member United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).

“These Republicans on Capitol Hill are working for the insurance industry, not the American people,” said AFSCME International President Gerald W. McEntee. “They are putting profits ahead of people, and the voters need to know it. Congress has to make real reform happen – Americans can’t wait for reform that guarantees quality, affordable health care for all.”

“It’s shameful that elected officials who don’t have to worry about being able to see a doctor when they get sick would stand in the way of making sure every family and every business in our country has the same guarantee of quality, affordable care,” said Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager, Health Care for America Now. “Is their opposition to health insurance reform motivated by the millions of dollars in campaign contributions they’ve taken from the health care industry?”

HCAN is the nation's largest health care campaign and has been mobilized nationwide since July 8, 2008 to win a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for all in 2009. 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.

AFSCME has launched an unprecedented $6 million Make America Happen campaign which includes a The Highway to Health Care Reform RV tour crisscrossing the nation to mobilize voters, ads, canvassing, phone calls, online activities and the deployment of dozens of campaign field organizers to key states in support of President Obama’s efforts to win real health care reform this year.

***Watch the ads here: HealthcareforAmericaNow.org/Shoes***

Ad Script:

VISUAL:

GFX: Photos of Boehner, Kyl, Cantor, McConnell superimposed over Capitol

TEXT: They have good health care guaranteed

TEXT: We pay more and get less.

TEXT: 11.2 Million from the health care industry

TEXT: Tell Congress -- to side with us, not the insurance company lobbyists.

Call 1-888-743-4399

TITLE:

HCAN Logo and AFSCME Logo

Paid for by Health Care for America Now and Health Care for America Education Fund and American Federation of State County Municipal Employees (AFSCME) http://www.healthcareforamericanow.org

VO and DOCUMENTATION:

VO: Why do Republican leaders in Congress say health care reform can wait? Maybe they are too comfortable.

VO: They have good, affordable health insurance. Guaranteed.

As USA Today reports, “Members of Congress…participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program or FEHB…Participants choose from about a dozen fee-for-service plans, plus several hundred HMO plans and, more recently, health savings accounts paired with high-deductible health plans. The government pays an average 72% of premiums.”

Associated Press, “Lawmakers far outpace most Americans in benefits,” USA Today, 4/19/2006. Accessed at http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-04-19-congressbenefits_x.htm.

VO: Better than most middle class families, who pay more for their health insurance and get less.

As USA Today reports, “Members of Congress…participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program or FEHB…Participants choose from about a dozen fee-for-service plans, plus several hundred HMO plans and, more recently, health savings accounts paired with high-deductible health plans. The government pays an average 72% of premiums.”

Associated Press, “Lawmakers far outpace most Americans in benefits,” USA Today, 4/19/2006. Accessed at

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-04-19-congressbenefits_x.htm
VO: Or because they’ve taken 11.2 million dollars from the health care industry.

Sen. Mitch McConnell has received $4,307,924 total from the health care industry, including through his leadership PAC.

Rep. Eric Cantor has received $3,328,563 total from the health care industry, including through his leadership PAC.

Sen. Jon Kyl has received $2,941,952 total from the health care industry, including through his leadership PAC.

Rep. John Boehner has received $3,674,522 total from the health care industry, including through his leadership PAC.

Center for Responsive Politics.

VO: Is that why they’re blocking reforms that would lower costs for families and businesses and end insurance company abuses?

“Boehner Statement on Democrats’ Small Business Tax and Government Takeover of Health Care,” Office of House Republican Leader John Boehner, July 14, 2009. Accessed at http://gopleader.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=137080.

“Kyl on Health-Care Reform Proposals,” Office of Sen. Jon Kyl, June 16, 2009. Accessed at http://kyl.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=314533.

On July 17, 2009, Rep. Eric Cantor voted “NO” on HR 3200, the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act. HR 3200 has provisions that would lower costs and end insurance company abuses. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3200ih.txt.pdf

Sen. Mitch McConnell, "Sen. Mitch McConnell on Health-Care Reform," June 10, 2009. Accessed at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/10/AR2009061001802.html

VO: Tell Congress -- to side with us, not the insurance company lobbyists.