AFSCME launches television ad campaign to stop health care cuts for seniors ;Television ad campaign part of month-long effort to defeat GOP budget cuts in february 1 House vote

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities (ECAP) launched a television ad campaign urging moderate GOP members of Congress to oppose cuts in the budget reconciliation bill that would gut health care for seniors.

Last month, Congress pushed through a vote to approve deep and harmful health care cuts that would limit seniors' access to nursing home care and other critical health services they need. But due to changes in the bill made by the Senate, the House will have a chance to stop these cuts in a vote on final passage scheduled for February 1.

"This budget vote is about whether members of Congress support ordinary Americans," said AFSCME President Gerald McEntee. "Is Congress going to protect health care for American seniors or give away tax breaks to the very rich?"

AFSCME's television ad campaign will begin airing in 11 House districts on January 18 and will run for seven days. Targeted members include Representatives Jim Nussle (IA-2), Jo Ann Emerson (MO-8), Sherwood Boehlert (NY-24), Mark Green (WI-8), Nancy Johnson (CT-5), Rob Simmons (CT-2), Chris Shays (CT-4), Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8), Jim Gerlach (PA-6), Fred Upton (MI-6), and Bob Beauprez (CO-7). To watch the ads online, go to

http://actnow.org/press/ .

The advertising campaign is part of a month-long effort by ECAP and its coalition partners in 35 states to defeat the budget bill in the House and stop cuts to health coverage, long-term care, student aid, and other critical public services to fund nearly $70 billion in tax breaks for the rich.

In addition to the television ads, AFSCME, and ECAP will be holding local events to educate seniors and others about the harm, which would be inflicted on countless Americans by the Draconian cuts included in the budget bill -- especially for seniors in the area of health care. The activities will include town hall meetings with members of Congress, press conferences, direct mail, print and radio advertising, email, phone calls, district meetings, a nationally coordinated lobbying effort and an innovative online protest that has drawn nearly 30,000 participants to http://www.actnow.org/.

Rep. Nussle Ad Back-Up Explanation

AFSCME and the Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities (ECAP) are running ads because Representative Nussle recently voted to approve a budget plan that calls for using budget cuts to pay for new tax breaks. The following table provides specific info on the ads' statements. Rep. Nussle has a history of voting for budget cuts and tax breaks in the past and may do so again. The House of Representatives' Republican leadership has scheduled a final vote on the budget plan for February 1.