Governors Up Pressure On Kids Health Bill

Support For SCHIP Comes From All Corners, But President Says Proposed $35B-50B Increase Is Too Much

(CBS/AP)  The two groups will spend about $1.3 million for an initial wave of television ads that will run nationwide. The groups also will use direct mailings to ask members to meet with lawmakers during the August recess.

"This is a substantial effort we're undertaking in order to get this legislation passed," Bill Novelli, the AARP's chief executive officer, said Friday.

Just a day earlier, the Partnership for Quality Care, an organization of labor unions and health providers, unveiled an ad in which children, parents and health care providers explain that an increased tobacco tax will not only help more children become insured, but would also decrease smoking.

The group was the first to use ads that clearly advocate for a way to pay for SCHIP's expansion.

Kate Navarro-McKay, spokeswoman for the partnership, said the ads would run in 13 congressional districts — eight Democratic districts and five Republican districts, over two weeks. The cost: $1.2 million.

The ads were not designed to pressure lawmakers so much as to appeal for bipartisan leadership on the issue. The 13 were chosen because of their potential to be leaders on the issue, she said.

"It's a message of optimism. We're appealing to their angel," Navarro-McKay said.

Health insurers will join the lobbying campaign for SCHIP by running ads that would support the Senate's call for a tobacco tax increase. They will pay for separate ads designed to dissuade viewers from the approach the House plans to pursue, which is to cut payments to insurers that administer managed care plans under Medicare. That particular program is called Medicare Advantage.

"If it's anywhere near the ($50 billion) number that we're hearing it is, it means the end of the Medicare Advantage program," said Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans. "That means Congress would be asked to vote on one of the largest Medicare cuts in history."

The television ads coming from Families USA and the trade associations it partnered with won't be partisan. They won't favor one legislative chamber's proposal over the others, but they could have political influence nonetheless.

"We're trying to influence members of Congress to do the right thing and support the expansion of the SCHIP program," said Families USA spokesman Dave Lemmon.

Also taking part in the alliance with Families USA and the drug manufacturers are trade associations representing doctors, hospitals and nursing homes.

The trade association representing drug manufacturers, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, has been running television ads for several weeks on cable news shows touting SCHIP. The ads ask viewers to tell Congress to support SCHIP but don't talk about the size of an expansion. Officials did not disclose the amount spent on the ads.

Another organization that has put big dollars into lobbying for the program but won't disclose how much is the Children's Defense Fund. The organization has paid for television ads on CNN and on local television in several states. The organization also has placed print ads in the New York Times and in states where presidential debates are occurring, as well as in move theaters.

The Children's Defense Fund has also set up its own Web site for a fictional presidential candidate, a young girl named Susie Flynn. The candidate asks people to sign her petition in support of health care for all children. As of Friday, about 20,000 people had signed it.

[snixchance]

There the *** goes again; continuing to waste our tax dollars on a useless war. This small amount asked for to fund health care for the indigent would not even fund one week of his beloved war. Why someoone has not tried to assisanate that *** is beyond me. He gives not one *** for his own Americans; only uselessly trying to bring our kind of fractured and unfair government to people who don't even want it. What Bush dies, my flag will definitely be at full mast!

[fizzal-2009]

go go New Jersey and get them children to walk for their health, handing out fliers for pizza delivery.

[hhkeller]

Bush's Daddy covered his medical bills till he was 35 years old. Ever notice how the stingy Repugs will rip their clients and country off as often as they can and then whine about kids getting wellness care. Its an odd behavior.

[psk123-2009]

afmca,
The saddest and probably the most disgusting part of your whole post is that is rings too true. What a shame.

[rushlimpdrug]

Go away kid, you're bothering me.
-and take the gov with ya.

[afmca]

Bush says - Children must die so my tax breaks to the wealthy survive.

Bush says - Don't murder a stem cell, I'll do it once they're born

Bush says - Why don't they become President, I have a great health care plan - they have to be at least as smart as I am

Bush says - If they were illegal, they could get all the free care they wanted in the emergency room

Bush says - If I have to take care of sick children, then Congress will make me take care of wounded soldiers

Priorities - one must have priorities!