Health Care Campaign counters Walberg’s threat to sue with increased ad buy and full page print ad

Sign carried by health care protester this summer. (photo: Andrea Gage at AFLCIO2008 via Flickr.com)

Health Care for America Now (HCAN) has responded to Congressman Tim Walberg’s threat to sue over a television ad by extending its television ad buy in Michigan (see below). And, far from backing down, HCAN is running a new print advertisement in the local weekly. HCAN, a national grassroots campaign for improved health care, is putting its hard-hitting ad -– “Fighter” — back on the air in Congressman Walberg’s district for three additional days and has taken out a full-page ad in the Tecumseh Herald asking “What Is Walberg Hiding?” (The ad can be viewed here in PDF format.)

The Walberg campaign issued a press release last week announcing intended unspecified legal action against Health Care for America Now for a television ad running in the congressman’s 7th district, based on the Walberg campaign’s contention that the ad is “untrue.” Walberg’s initial press release can be viewed here. It includes a point-by-point response to the ad’s charges. The main charge in the HCAN ad is the claim that Rep. Walberg sponsored legislation that would allow insurance companies to set their own rules, and warns that by setting their own rules, insurance companies could then deny coverage for preexisting conditions like cancer. This is why Walberg’s campaign feels the HCAN ad is wrong (from the press release.):

The bill cited in the TV ad gives consumers the option to purchase health insurance from other states. It has nothing to do with restricting health insurance for cancer victims; it simply lets consumers have more options when shopping for health insurance. [National Center for Policy Analysis, Congressman John Shaddegg, Congressional Research Service]

· The claim in the ad that the bill “would let insurance companies make the rules” is untrue.

HCAN stands by its claim that the ad accurately points out Walberg’s record on health care. Another release from the Walberg campaign demanded a retraction but HCAN refused.

“Congressman Walberg sponsored legislation that allows insurance companies to pick the state where they want to be regulated,” said John Freeman, Michigan Director of Health Care for America Now. “This would allow insurance companies to sell insurance from a different state to Michigan consumers with weaker benefits for fighting cancer and diabetes. If Congressman Walberg thinks he has done nothing wrong, then why is he working hard to hide his record from Michigan voters?”

HCAN sent both Rep. Walberg and Democratic opponent Mark Schauer a sign-on form asking, “Which Side Are You On?” (A PDF of the form is available for viewing here.)

Schauer returned HCAN’s form with a signature indicating he is committed to quality, affordable health care for all. According to HCAN, Walberg responded with a letter dated September 25, 2008, declining to sign the HCAN statement.

Looking at the signing statement, there are only two options given for signers. One is that you agree with and support all of the goals and ideals of HCAN. The other option is to sign a statement stating that you are on “this side” under a list of statements that, in short, is something akin to signing off on a statement that ‘You are an evil troll.’

From the Jackson Citizen Patriot, reporting on Walberg’s second released response to the HCAN ad:

Walberg’s campaign disseminated its attorney’s letter Thursday that calls on the group to retract or correct the ad, and threatens potential legal action.

The letter explains that under the legislation cited in the advertisement, insurance companies still would be regulated by state and federal law, and would not make the rules.

The legislation would also provide the option of buying health insurance across state lines.

The health care bill in question, co-sponsored by Walberg, the “Health Care Choice Act of 2007″ (H.R. 4460) had 63 co-sponsors in the House, all Republicans. Walberg’s voting record is also over 90% along standard, Republican party lines, according to Congressional voting records available at OpenCongress.org, as well as voting trends analysis. Schauer, his challenger, has no record to hold up to such scrutiny.

“Congressman Walberg’s lousy record on health care speaks for itself. Tim Walberg not only voted for a bill that would allow insurance companies to sell policies in Michigan without following Michigan laws, he also voted against expanding SCHIP health care coverage for children, and against allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices with drug companies to help seniors,” said Freeman. “Congressman Walberg can try and run from his own record, but Michigan voters have a right to know what side he’s on.”

Walberg did vote against the SCHIP legislation, as well as the Medicare initiative, but once again, he did so in keeping with the majority of the Republican Party. Allowing insurance companies to sell policies in Michigan without following state laws gets a little more complicated, as yes, insurance could be purchased under this plan in other states, with the provider following their home-state guidelines, but only if the coverage and issuer comply with the conditions of H.R. 4460. (The text of the bill — H.R.4460 — is available here.)

Congressman Walberg has supported important cancer-fighting legislation, and he accurately cites his voting record on this issue here. It includes support for research and the regulation of health care providers benefits for breast cancer, as well as free and low-cost breast and cervical cancer screening for low-income, minority, and uninsured women.

The citizens in Michigan’s 7th district will have to make the call on election day as to whether or not Congressman Walberg’s Republican Party values are in step with their own, and meeting the needs of themselves and their families.

HCAN’s website lists its organizational members as ACORN, American Federation of State, Children’s Defense Action Council, County and Municipal Employees, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America’s Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Campaign for Community Change, MoveOn.org, National Council of La Raza, National Education Association, National Women’s Law Center, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Service Employees International Union, United Food and Commercial Workers, and USAction.