New TV Ads: Health Care Reform Deserves Debate
HCAN Urges Arkansas and Nebraska Senators to Stand Up to Special Interests and Help Process Move Forward
***See the Ads: HealthCareforAmericaNow.org/AllowDebate***
Washington, DC – Health Care for America Now (HCAN) – the nation’s largest health care campaign – released two new television ads today – one in Arkansas and one in Nebraska – asking Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Ben Nelson (D-NE), and Mike Johanns (R-NE) to vote in favor of allowing health care reform to reach the Senate floor and then allowing a vote on the bill.
The ads customized for each state and titled “Debate” will run for one week starting today in Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and Little Rock, Arkansas and in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska. The total advertising buy is approximately $310,000. The spot explains that while the nation has been discussing health care reform for months, it’s now time for the full Senate to begin its official debate. And because the health insurance industry and other specials interest groups intent on killing meaningful reform are spending millions to try and derail the process, Arkansans and Nebraskans need their Senators to stand strong and vote in favor of the motion to proceed.
“Clearly, we want Senators to vote for a bill that guarantees good, affordable health care for our families and businesses, but before we can even get to that step, we need at least 60 Senators to vote to start debate,” said Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager, Health Care for America Now. “Regardless of where individual Senate members stand on various aspects of the legislation, it is vital that what has been called the ‘world’s greatest deliberative body’ actually be allowed to deliberate.”
Arkansans and Nebraskans can no longer wait for health care reform. In Arkansas, for example, health insurance premiums for working families skyrocketed 66 percent from 2000 to 2007 – 5.5 times faster than wages. In Nebraska, premiums rose more than 3 times faster than wages during that timeframe, and left unchecked, premiums will be $22,976 in 2016, fully 58 percent of projected family income. Read the full reports here.
“Debate” Script:
VIDEO:
Multiple stills. People talking in line at a grocery store. Town hall meeting. Conversation between a doctor and patient. Family around kitchen table.
Add SUPER: IT’S TIME FOR THE DEBATE TO TAKE PLACE IN THE U.S. SENATE
Cut to still of insurance company skyscrapers.
Add SUPER: The insurance industry is trying to stop a vote from ever happening
SUPER over black board: That’s just not right.
Capitol in background with stills of Senators.
SUPER: Tell Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor to stand up to the special interests.
Change SUPER: We deserve a debate and a vote on health insurance reform. 1-877-264-4226
AUDIO and DOCUMENTATION:
In our cities and towns.
From our kitchen tables to where we work.
We’ve been debating health care reform for months.
Now it’s time for the debate to take place in the U.S. Senate.
But the insurance industry is spending millions trying to stop a vote from ever happening.
“Insurance and HMO Industries Spend Nearly $700,000 Per Day to Kill Health Care Reform Measures,” Public Campaign Action Fund. Accessed at http://www.campaignmoney.org/HMO_insurance_spend_to_kill_reform; and “Largest 13 Health Insurers and Trade Association Spent More Than $2.7 Million Per Month Lobbying During 3rd Quarter,” Public Campaign Action Fund. Accessed at http://www.campaignmoney.org/pressroom/2009/11/02/largest-13-health-insurers-and-trade-association-spent-more-than-2-7-million-per-month-lobbying-during-3rd-
That’s just not right.
Tell Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor to stand up to the special interests.
We deserve a debate and a vote on health insurance reform.
