PATIENTS’ RIGHTS GROUP WANTS GOV’T OUT OF THEIR HEALTH CARE DECISIONS; LAUNCHES NATIONAL AD TARGETING SENATORS

Patients First launches new ad in 12 states plus online petition to stop the government takeover of health care

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Government bureaucrats already run some of the nation’s banks, insurance and car companies, says a new ad targeting several senators nationally. “But do you trust Washington – with your life?” asks the ad, referring to the proposed government intrusion into health care that President Obama and liberal leaders in Congress support. See the ad here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tH-ireIQHA

The new ad urges concerned patients to call their senators and sign the Patients First petition asking legislators to “oppose any legislation that imposes greater government control over my health care that would mean fewer choices for me and my family and even deny treatments to those in need.” The petition is available here: http://joinpatientsfirst.com.

“Everything we’ve seen in the liberals’ bills so far involves more government. They are going in the wrong direction,” said Amy Menefee, policy adviser for Patients First. “It is time for patients to tell them to stop, turn around, and pursue real reforms that put patients first.”

The Patients First ad buy, at more than half a million dollars, targets senators for grassroots contact in these states: Virginia (Sen. Warner), Nebraska (Sen. Nelson), Indiana (Sen. Bayh), Louisiana (Sen. Landrieu), South Dakota (Sen. Johnson), Arkansas (Sen. Lincoln), Montana (Sen. Baucus), North Dakota (Sen. Conrad), Nevada (Sen. Reid), Alaska (Sen. Begich), Colorado (Sen. Bennet), and Missouri (Sen. McCaskill). It will air on both network and cable channels.

“These proposals would change everything about health care as we know it,” said Menefee. “We wouldn’t be able to keep our current plans, despite what the president keeps saying. The government would dictate what health insurance we have to have, how much it costs, and how it works. Instead of patients and doctors making decisions, it would be government bureaucrats. We would have no protection from the government deciding who does and doesn’t get care.”

Patients First will host several grassroots events in the month of July in Arkansas, Montana, Virginia and Nebraska.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 500,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 23 state chapters. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

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