New Health Care Reform Ads To Run During Congressional Recess

Interest and health care advocacy groups are planning to use Congress' Memorial Day recess to ramp up "their role in the debate over health care reform with new television ads and media campaigns in several states," The Washington Times reports.

Groups including the Service Employees International Union, Business Roundtable, the AARP and the National Federation of Independent Business have been working on these health care campaigns for nearly two years, the Times reports.

One set of ads target Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and his proposal to tax employer-provided health benefits. "The ads, sponsored by groups headed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, discourage other Democrats from signing on to Mr. Wyden's proposal. Mr. Wyden argues that the plan would cost Americans less. But employers and unions don't like losing the tax break," according to the Times.

Many of the groups are hosting public forums and events this week. Many of the ads - including ones from Faith in Public Life urging meaningful reform - will air in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri and Nebraska.

"Other groups working on health care campaigns include Health Care for America Now, a broad group of liberal advocacy groups and unions; Conservatives for Patients' Rights, a group fronted by former hospital chief executive officer Rick Scott that advocates patient-doctor relationships; and Healthy Economy Now, a group that includes the pharmaceutical lobby, Families USA, AARP, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and the American Medical Association," according to the Times (Haberkorn, 5/25).