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$40 Mill Health Care Reform Campaign Launches
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ShareJuly 08, 2008 7:02 PM
ABC News' Molly Hunter Reports: Health Care For America NOW, a new grassroots movement working to bring affordable healthcare to Americans, announced its launch at the National Press Club in Washington Tuesday.
The $40 million campaign will spend $1.5 million on their first round of national TV, print and online advertising and an additional $25 million in paid media over the next five months.
"We are here today to announce the beginning of a new movement in the United States," Campaign Director Richard Kirsch said in an announcement made simultaneously in 52 U.S. cities.
The first TV ad which airs on cable and illustrates the organization's strong opposition to the current health care system.
"We can't trust insurance companies to fix the healthcare mess," states the ad.
Health Care For America NOW is a coalition of over 100 organizations and unions. Many leaders of high profile organizations and unions including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, SEIU, AFL-CIO, United Food and Commercial Workers, Campaign for America's Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, MoveOn.org and Planned Parenthood Federation of America were present in DC to speak at the launch.
Together with these organizations Health Care For America NOW "will mobilize millions of Americans to demand that the first order of business of the next President and Congress is to enact quality, affordable health care for all in 2009," Kirsch said. The campaign does not plan to endorse either presidential candidate or a specific health care plan.
Sen. John McCain's, R-Ariz., health care plan provides tax credits of $5,000 for families in order to buy health insurance, and Sen. Barack Obama's, D-Ill., plan mandates coverage for children and requires that employers share the cost of their employees' health coverage.
Kirsch challenges each American to make a choice.
"We will be asking Members of Congress this year to tell us if they are on our side or the side of the health insurance industry," he said.
Health Care for America NOW suggests three options to achieve universal health coverage. Individuals can stay with the private insurance they already have, join a new private insurance plan or choose a public health insurance plan.
"We are looking for a uniquely American solution," Kirsch said. "In our vision of healthcare reform, the government works for us."
The campaign aims to find a solution that is affordable for both people and businesses alike. USAction Executive Director, Jeff Blum, called the campaign, "the human rights movement of our time."
Leaders of the organizations echoed Kirsch and Blum's sentiments, calling for urgent and forceful healthcare reform.
Gerald McEntee, the International President of AFSCME, stated: "Today, we say enough is enough! No more needless delays. No more idle discussion. No more political posturing. We've talked long enough, we need action!"
Roger Hickey, co-Director of the Campaign for America's Future opted out of his prepared statement, instead saying, "Enough has been said, we are proud to be part of this coalition and we think we need to get on with the agenda. Let's move it!"
July 8, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred, Veepstakes | Permalink | User Comments (40)
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lets get off to a good start with this one---start by putting an end to the ambulance chasing lawyers---we pay for everything in the end.---next investigate insurance companys---as they are also out of line-----next dont you think 20.00 for an aspirin is a little out of line----the least desirable but nontheless option set guidelines as to cost for servise-----now go for it.
Posted by: rodney | Jul 8, 2008 7:12:52 PM
Why don't they use that 50 million to build a hospital or clinic instead of wasting it on tv ads.
Posted by: Mack | Jul 8, 2008 7:17:02 PM
Not sure if health care is the big issue this election. It's getting scary, but gas prices and everyday expenses are much more dominant to voters. It's short sighted, but that's the atmosphere.
Posted by: matt | Jul 8, 2008 7:27:13 PM
What Plan?
I hear a lot of talk, but don't see any specifics.
Posted by: Thinking | Jul 8, 2008 7:27:50 PM
Someone just lined their pockets with a wad of cash.
Posted by: Mack | Jul 8, 2008 7:31:53 PM
This is exactly what this country needs. Head to Capitol Hill and make them listen to us. This has been along time coming..We're taking our country back
Posted by: linda n carolina | Jul 8, 2008 7:32:33 PM
linda
big business has such a grip on our country i cannot see how we can change it----it truly is us against them but they basicly own the government.
Posted by: rodney | Jul 8, 2008 7:41:40 PM
"The $40 million campaign will spend $1.5 million on their first round of national TV, print and online advertising and an additional $25 million in paid media over the next five months."
So thats 26.5 million on ads and 13.5 million for administrative costs.
Posted by: Mack | Jul 8, 2008 7:42:18 PM
Rodney: I hear you but I'm hoping this time someone will listen.
Posted by: linda n carolina | Jul 8, 2008 7:45:16 PM
Not sure what good they are going to do if they don't support a specific plan, but the more attention on this topic, the better
Posted by: ChrisFS | Jul 8, 2008 7:47:02 PM
Nothing will change. Soon, the only people to have insurance will be upper middle income. and above. Everyone else will buy healthcare services like they buy laundry detergent; at Target or Walmart. Sorry to break the bad news!
Posted by: Don | Jul 8, 2008 7:53:05 PM
We have to begin now-someone's listening. Let's give it a try.
Posted by: my opinion48 | Jul 8, 2008 8:02:19 PM
What a waste! Forty million would buy a lot of healthcare, instead they are using it to pay into the big corporations wallets by purchasing TV ad spots! This insane logic is why we will never have a better system!
Posted by: common sense | Jul 8, 2008 8:03:40 PM
This is just another socialist program that everyone must pay for, even those who can not afford to pay for more freebies for irresponsible people. When is it going to stop??????? Drunk people on the roads causing thousands in health care and everybody pays except the irresponsible person. Or unmarried women having more babies when they can't afford to feed themselves. GET REAL.
Posted by: Mary | Jul 8, 2008 8:08:36 PM
It really has nothing to do with lawyers... Insurance companies are the masterminds of it all, collecting premiums and paying as little as possible in claims. They give a doctor $15 for an office visit. It's an outrage... and right behind them are the pharmaceutical companies with little old ladies being charged $500 a month for prescription drugs.
Posted by: Josh | Jul 8, 2008 8:11:51 PM
Mary, thanks, my sentiment exactly!
If Obama has 30 million to give away to Hillary, then he can probably buy us health care, like the drinks all around in a bar. That's the only time that I don't mind it happening. Otherwise, stay off my pocket where my hard-earned money is.
Obama wants to give hand-out, but he wants half of the people to give to the other half of the people. Nah, not very appealing to this giving half. The receiving half should have sense of shame, shouldn't they?
Posted by: Jen | Jul 8, 2008 8:16:15 PM
I too believe the 40 million is a waste. But I don't believe healthcare will only be the upper crust of society. Instead I see Americans going outside the US for medical treatment. The northern states will go to Canada. The southern states will go to Mexico or similar. The offshore exodus of American will not end with jobs. Only then will the health systems wake up and try to grab the industry back. It will be an interesting ride if nothing else.
Posted by: brux | Jul 8, 2008 8:22:59 PM
Forget about money. Get people on treadmills. If Iran invaded us 60% of our adult population would be to fat to get off the couch to fight.
Posted by: James | Jul 8, 2008 8:25:39 PM
I hope the leaders of this movement look at other countries' health programs. They will see that the successful plans are non-profit and require everyone to participate. Public health is a key national security component and an economic factor that touches everyone of us rich and poor. It is far more than people having children they can't afford. It is safe food, prevention of epidemics, healthy school children able to learn, elder care with dignity and "my" sore tooth filled when it's needed, not when I can finally save the money from a minimum wage job, by which time it has to be pulled!
Posted by: Spence | Jul 8, 2008 8:29:46 PM
If all the unions are for it, then that should tell ya all you need to know. This plan will definitely hurt America.
Posted by: pity | Jul 8, 2008 8:38:04 PM
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