Groups Lobby Over Health Care

Saying they're proud of North Dakota Congressman Earl Pomeroy for voting for the health care bill...  More »

Saying they're proud of North Dakota Congressman Earl Pomeroy for voting for the health care bill in the House, members of a liberal lobbying group are pushing North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad to do likewise. But a conservative lobbying group is running an ad taking Congressman Pomeroy to task for his vote. Jim Olson reports on the pressure being put on the state's congressional delegation over health care reform. (Rep. Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker) "The bill is passed." MoveOn.org thinks Earl Pomeroy did the right thing in voting for the health care legislation that narrowly passed the House on Saturday night. But the 60-Plus Association disagrees. (TV Ad) "Earl Pomeroy voted for this bill." 60-Plus began running this ad across North Dakota this week. (TV Ad) "I don't want the government choosing my doctor. Or telling me I can't have the tests I need. North Dakotans won't forget." But the liberal group MoveOn.org is also flooding the TV airwaves with ads. The group is happy with the House vote and is trying to pressure North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad to vote for the plan in the US Senate. (TV Ad) "Senator Conrad, support the public health insurance option. Make health insurance more affordable for the rest of us." The ad focuses on a North Dakota farm owner who says she has dropped health insurance because the premiums were too expensive. (TV Ad) "It's scary to think we're just one accident or illness away from losing everything." MoveOn.org also delivered letters to Senator Conrad's offices in Fargo and Minot, signed by 31 people the group calls community leaders in the state. The letters ask the senator to support what's known as the public option - government-run insurance that supporters say will compete with private insurers and drive down costs. (Theresa Mogard, MoveOn.org) "His constituents here in North Dakota really want the public option. We really feel it is the only way to drive down healthcare costs and bring about real reform." The bill that passed the US House has now been scheduled for debate in the Senate next week. But before a Senate vote is taken, you can be sure you'll see lots of these ads on television, hoping to influence the outcome. Jim Olson, KX News. MoveOn.org was formed when Congress was considering the impeachment of President Clinton, encouraging people to "move on" from that event. The 60-Plus Association calls itself a conservative lobbying group formed to oppose the more-liberal AARP.  « Less