Health Overhaul Political Ads Total $445 Million
A report released by Kantar Media CMAG found that spending on negative ads related to the overhaul outpaced spending for positive ones 15 to 1. In other political news, two Senate Republicans are calling for a delay in the confirmation of Sylvia Mathews Burwell to head the Department of Health and Human Services until the Obama administration provides more information about the health law's implementation.
The Associated Press: Study: Political TV Ads On Health Law Total $445M
The report, released Friday by nonpartisan analysts Kantar Media CMAG, estimates that $445 million was spent on political TV ads mentioning the law since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Spending on negative ads outpaced positive ones by more than 15 to 1 (5/16).
The Fiscal Times: Republicans Target Burwell In Obamacare War
When President Obama nominated Sylvia Mathews Burwell to succeed former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, many assumed the former budget director would breeze through her Senate confirmation. But now two Senate Republicans are looking to shake things up and turn Burwell’s confirmation process into yet another fight over the president’s health care law … shocker! Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, the Tea Party darlings who orchestrated last fall’s government shutdown, sent a letter to the HHS secretary on Friday -- calling to delay Burwell’s confirmation until the administration provides more information about Obamacare enrollment numbers and the law’s implementation (Ehley, 5/19).
Also in the news, ads from the campaign trail dealing with the health law and the Minnesota exchange --
MinnPost: In Bid To Unseat Kline, Democrat Obermueller Embraces Obamacare
President Obama’s approval ratings have dipped in Minnesota. The public remains divided on the health care law nicknamed after him. But Democratic congressional candidate Mike Obermueller said he doesn’t think it’s time to play defense on Obamacare. Obermueller released an ad Friday hitting his opponent, Republican U.S. Rep. John Kline, for voting to repeal law, and promising to “work to fix Obamacare” if he’s elected to Congress (Kenry, 5/16).
Minnesota Public Radio: PoliGraph: Several GOP Gov. Hopefuls Want To End Mnsure
A political group called Compete! Minnesota’s first ad this week in support of potential Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Honour … has a lot of nice things to say about Honour’s personality and business background. Compete! Minnesota has personal ties to Honour. But the part that stuck out to PoliGraph was this statement about Honour’s stance on the state’s health insurance exchange, MNsure, as it compares to what the other GOP gubernatorial hopefuls are saying (Richert, 5/16).