A new business coalition that's led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and includes 10 other K Street powerhouses has launched a multimillion dollar national cable and local advertising drive in 19 states and 46 media markets that's aimed at blocking passage of the House health care reform bill which is slated to be voted on this weekend.
The coalition, Employers for a Healthy Economy which also includes such big groups as the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and the National Retail Federation, intends to have the ads air through Sunday but might extend the buy if the vote on the House bill is delayed past this weekend.
National Journal is hearing that the initial ad buy will cost about $10 million but the exact numbers aren't public.
The ads argue that the House bill could lead to "millions of new lost jobs" and would mean tax increases and new mandates on business that would worsen the overall economy. The business community is especially worried about two parts of the House bill: its robust public option and a new "pay to play" mandate that would require companies to either provide insurance to employees or pay a penalty of 8 percent of their total payroll.
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