For Immediate Release – July 2, 2009
Contact: Jeff Crank, (719) 332-8644

Patients’ Rights Group Wants Government Out of Its Health Care Decisions; Launches National Ad Targeting Senator Bennet and Others

Patients First launches ad in 12 states, including Colorado, directing viewers to an online petition to stop the government takeover of health care

DENVER – Government bureaucrats already run some of the nation’s banks, insurance and car companies, says a new ad targeting several senators across the country, including Colorado Senator Michael Bennet. “But do you trust Washington – with your life?” asks the TV 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 Senator Bennet 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.

“Liberals in Congress as well as President Obama have demonstrated that they believe government should stand between patients and their medical decisions. They are going in the wrong direction,” said Jeff Crank State Director of Americans for Prosperity- Colorado. “It is time for patients to tell their legislators they don’t want government-centered health care, and they should be pursuing 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), Missouri (Sen. McCaskill), as well as Colorado (Sen. Bennet). It will air on both network and cable channels.

“Obama’s proposal would fundamentally change health care as we know it,” said Crank. “We wouldn’t be able to keep our current plans, despite what the president keeps saying. The government could dictate what health insurance we have to have, how much it costs, and how it works. Government bureaucrats would violate the crucial patient-doctor bond, providing patients with 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 including a July 28th event in Denver and a July 29th event in Colorado Springs. In addition, Patients First will host events in Arkansas, Montana, Virginia and Nebraska during July.

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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