For Immediate Release
Monday, August 17, 2009
HCAN and AFSCME Launch Ads Against Republicans Opposing Health Insurance Reform
New TV Spots Show Members Guaranteed Good Coverage, Take Millions in Contributions, Say No To Quality, Affordable Care for All
Washington, DC —*** Watch the TV ads here ***
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?”
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.
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.
