The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is sending out letters to multiple cable networks warning them not to air television ads that criticize Republican Party votes for Rep. Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan. According to one letter sent to station WMUR in New Hampshire, the NRCC has succeeded in keeping ads from airing in multiple stations across the country. The ads in question (seen to the left) accuse Republicans of trying to “END Medicare” with their most recent vote on Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan (R-WI). In the letter the NRCC claims that the ad is blatantly false, and at least implies legal action if the cable networks air the ad.
A full copy of the letter to broadcast station WMUR can be seen here. In the letter the NRCC strongly condemns the ad which is airing against Rep. Charlie Bass (R-NH). Bass voted for Paul Ryan’s budget plan last month. The NRCC claims that it is “completely false” that Bass voted to “END Medicare” by voting for the Ryan plan. The letter goes on to say that “This is NOT an issue of interpretation.” The NRCC claims that a vote for the Ryan plan actually saves Medicare, “It is plainly false to say that Charlie Bass “voted to end Medicare.” In fact, the opposite is true and proven by fact – a vote in favor of the Budget Resolution was a vote to protect Medicare for future seniors, and a vote to leave Medicare unchanged for current seniors.”
In the letter the NRCC also makes various reference to possible legal action. After citing two court precedents the NRCC warns WMUR.
“your network is not obligated to air any advertisements from third parties, such as the Progressive Change, as third parties have no guaranteed right of access to air their advertisements on your network. Thus, broadcasting stations are not protected from legal liability for airing a false and misleading advertisement sponsored by the Progressive Change.”
Broadcast licensees have a legal responsibility to review and to eliminate any false, misleading, or deceptive materials contained in advertising. We urge you to recognize the Progressive Change’s blatant disregard for the truth and we respectfully demand that your network refuse to air this false and misleading Advertisement. We further request that you reject any attempts by the Progressive Change to purchase time for the future airing of this Advertisement because of its material misstatements of fact and blatant disregard for the truth of the matter.”
Many do believe that there is a legitimate argument as to whether Bass voted for a plan to “END Medicare.” Under the Ryan plan, seniors would start receiving a voucher in 2021 to purchase private insurance rather than the current system which guarantees a basic level of insurance coverage. If the voucher did not cover the cost of premiums, then seniors would have to make up the difference or go without coverage. The amount of the voucher would increase by the rate of inflation, not the rate of health care inflation which historically has been much higher. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found that the Ryan plan would force seniors to either pay more for their coverage, or go with less benefits. To Democrats, those systematic changes would effectively “end Medicare.”
More concerning to some may be the Republicans attempt, and apparent success, at suppressing free speech. In 2012 corporations were allowed to donate huge sums of money to run ads against Democrats for their health care reform votes, but now Republicans are demanding that progressives not be allowed to run ads against Republicans for their votes on the Ryan plan.
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