ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced last week a five-figure ad buy targeting fourteen House Republicans who voted in committee in favor of the American Health Care Act (AHCA).
The fourteen Republicans singled out by the DCCC includes Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN), who is on the House Ways and Means Committee, and Rep. Jason Lewis (R-MN), who is on the House Budget Committee.
In a press release last week, DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján said it is “critical” that constituents know how their representative voted on the issue.
“Republicans knowingly voted for a bill to raise premiums and deductibles, slap an age tax on older folks, and rip insurance away from 24 million hardworking Americans. It’s critical that voters know where their representative stood on this legislation,” said Luján.
For many Minnesotans, Paulsen and Lewis’ stance on the AHCA will not come as a surprise. As Alpha News previously reported, both representatives publicly voiced support of the bill.
“After many years and countless stories of patients facing skyrocketing premiums, losing their health care plan, and not being able to see their doctor, we are replacing Obamacare with a plan that will lower costs and give patients immediate relief,” Paulsen said in a statement.
Prior to the scheduled vote on March 24th, Lewis took to the House floor in attempt to rally support for the AHCA, referring to Minnesota’s skyrocketing deductibles and rising premiums. “That’s what you are trying to preserve?” Lewis questioned his fellow lawmakers.
Ultimately, Lewis and other Republicans couldn’t gather enough support for the bill, and the vote was cancelled. President Donald Trump has alluded to putting the repeal of the Affordable Care Act on the back burner following the failure of the AHCA. It is unclear if Republicans will try to resurrect the AHCA in the near future.
The DCCC calls the representatives who vocally supported the AHCA “vulnerable” and wants to hold them accountable through Election Day.
“This targeted ad campaign makes clear that every House Republican who voted in committee for this devastating Republican repeal bill will be held accountable from now through Election Day,” Luján said.
The ads will be geo-targeted and featured on social media sites including Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The ads will be aimed at people 35 years and older, grassroots activists in the representatives’ districts, and people who have engaged in discussion involving health care on social media.
The ads targeting Paulsen and Lewis can be found here and here.
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