Heritage Action for America, a public advocacy group connected to the conservative think-tank the Heritage Foundation, is launching a “Defund Obamacare” campaign.
As part of their effort, Heritage Action will spend $550,000 on online ads in 100 Republican-controlled districts urging those representatives to defund the president’s healthcare law before it fully goes into effect on January 1.
It’s part of an ongoing intra-party conflict between Republicans who are willing to force a government shutdown over Obamacare and those who aren’t.
The four Pennsylvania Reps. being targeted are Lou Barletta (R-Luzerne), Tim Murphy (R-Allegheny), Bill Shuster (R-Blair) and GT Thompson (R-Centre).
Heritage Action, the political arm of the conservative think tank, says those members are being targeted because they have yet to sign on to a letter saying they support the defund first approach.
“The American people may have been locked out of the legislative process that gave us Obamacare, but they will be the force behind stopping this unworkable, unaffordable law. Congress should seize the moment and defund the entire law,” said Heritage Action CEO Michael A. Needham.
How effective this campaign will be, however, remains to be seen. $550,000 spread over 100 districts only comes to $5,500 to each member, not an especially impressive sum.
And the effort seems to concede the votes of the Pa. members least likely to support Heritage’s position: eastern Pa. Reps. Charlie Dent, Jim Gerlach, Pat Meehan, and Mike Fitzpatrick.
Heritage Action is ultimately attempting a show of strength that they hope will allow defunding Obamacare to become a part of the negotiations slated to take place in the fall concerning funding the government and raising the debt ceiling.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, however, threw cold water on this plan earlier this month in an interview with the National Journal. Additionally, Senator McCain stated any effort to bring Obamacare into the fall showdown would be a “non-starter”.
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10 Responses
Wow, now the Heritage Foundation has turned on Bill Shuster too? I love it!
Can you see the hand writing on the wall, Bill?
Bill Shuster’s says “no” to no one at The Forgotten Taxpayers’ expense. http://www.taxpayer.net/library/weekly-wastebasket/article/saying-no-to-no-one The Water Resources Development Act
$13 Bbillion Water Resources Development Act is being navigated through Congress by Rep. Shuster himself. That is the same Bill Shuster who voted for $61 Bbillion dollar porked up Sandy Hurricane Relief bill. How does Bill Shuster know how best to spend infrastructure dollars? Pennsylvania agencies are not potted plants.
Shuster and Gibbs Announce Plans for Committee to Consider Water Resources Reform Legislation in September
AUG 2, 2013 http://transportation.house.gov/press-release/shuster-and-gibbs-announce-plans-committee-consider-water-resources-reform-legislation
Art Halvorson’s campaign is centered on Constitutional Limited Government Separation of Powers Checks and Balances and Economic Freedom and is the centrist alternative to Big Government Spender Bill Shuster.
Just a few quick thoughts on tying defunding Obamacare to the continuing resolution.
This is NOT a last chance to derail Obamacare. Pruitt or Halbig, now in the federal courts, may still provide judicial destruction.
Efforts by Dems to blame GOP for their shutdown of the Gov’t may be successful.
Defund as ransom effort carries risks and high expectation of victory should precede any attempt.
Defund can be attempted by general orders apart from the continuing resolution. There is no need to abandon it.
Alternative using passage of the REINS Act as ransom for continuing resolution may make more sense. While this would not be achieved only good could come of showcasing the REINS ACT for a month, as it represents a tool of disengagement from an overly oppressive central government and the message of freedom.
We are reminded us that competition is good. I think the competitive primary in US 9 will be good for Bill Shuster as he has to defend is big spending record inherited from his dad. The Shuster Dynasty has been in power since 1973 and some of us think we are not better off for it. Bill Shuster, himself, voted for 8 increases (in approximately 11 years in office) in Debt Ceiling ( and we will be interested to see what he will do in September 2013.
I’ll bet the same Republicans complaining that the clerk in Montgomery County issuing same-sex marriage licenses is “refusing to enforce the law” are just fine with the Heritage Foundation’s in-office stooges refusing to enforce Obamacare, Roe v Wade and countless election laws. The Heritage Foundation and ALEC are in the business of undermining the Constitution for profit.
Dear COS Gromis-Baker of the BRABENDER Administration: Free idea-Why don’t we just shut Pennsylvania down as a bargaining chip to defund OBAMACARE. Speaking of Healthcare: Is anyone in the BRABENDER administration financially benefiting from the PITTSBURGH INSURANCE WARS? Feeling conflicted today? http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/brian-oneill/upmc-highmark-in-
need-of-intervention-699313/
“$550,000 spread over 100 districts only comes to $5,500 to each member, not an especially impressive sum.”
and it’s online ads that they want to target by congressional district??? Yeah, good luck with that.
The Koch brothers need to be indicted.
As far as I know, Koch Brothers are primary funders of Americans for Prosperity and are significant contributors to CATO.
AFP does NOT support HeritageAction’s position on using the “must pass” Continuing Resolution as the vehicle to defund Obamacare.
CATO and Heritage have diametrically opposed positions on immigration and amnesty.
Koch Brothers are Libertarian; Heritage is more traditional.
Neither Koch Brothers nor Heritage are anarchists as Observer asserts with his statement that Koch Brothers wants government such down. No government means anarchy and that is not good for business or anyone else except anarchists.
Observer seems to misinformed but very confident.
The Koch Brothers (who own Heritage lock, stock, and wingnut) would like nothing more than to see the government closed down. They would have the Keystone XL pipeline open in a matter of weeks, spills, leaks and all. Of course, ads aimed at the dumbest of the dumb (i.e., any blue collar Republican) are likely to succeed. Go farther Right, Congreemen! We may turn your county Blue, too! Thanks!