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house Bill H.R. 537

Should Every ACA Ad Have A Reminder That Taxpayers Foot The Bill?

Argument in favor

Taxpayers have to pay for Obamacare advertisements, whether or not they support the program. Including the cost to taxpayers is more than fair: it replaces propaganda with reality.

BTSundra's Opinion
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03/16/2016
Anything that the taxpayers fund should have a reminder that you payed for it.
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Debra's Opinion
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06/19/2016
Absolutely! Good honest information leads to better choices!
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Muzical's Opinion
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03/16/2016
Bet voting patterns change if this happens...
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Argument opposed

Of course taxpayers have to pay for these advertisements, the same way their money goes to other federal communications. This bill aims to use heavily biased language to intentionally diminish the integrity of the the Affordable Care Act.

John's Opinion
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03/16/2015
Surely people must understand that there is nothing free. This is just another attempt to reduce public support for the ACA. Few people really understand what is in the bill anyway.
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Richard's Opinion
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04/02/2015
Only if you put the same message on every federal communication advertisement.
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Steven's Opinion
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03/15/2016
I foot the bill for a lot of things I don't like, corporate welfare comes to mind. I'm good with my tax dollars being spent on the (ACA) so no I don't need to be reminded of it. What kind of passive aggressive nonsense is this bill? The least productive congress in U.S. history and they wear it like a badge of honor. Disgusting!
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What is House Bill H.R. 537?

Not all Affordable Care Act (ACA) advertisements involve Buzzfeed and selfie-sticks; most are large-scale and funded with taxpayer dollars. As campaigns for the President's heath care law seek the eyes and ears of the widest possible audience —  this bill aims to make sure audiences know they are footing the bill. 


If passed, this bill would mandate that every  federally-funded advertisement that aims to educate the public on ACA programs and requirements include a statement clearly stating that the communication was produced and disseminated at taxpayer expense.

Impact

Taxpayers, people in the market for health insurance, people being paid for producing Affordable Care Act advertisements, healthcare providers who work within the ACA, and other federal communications.

Cost of House Bill H.R. 537

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

More Information

In Depth:

If passed, this bill would apply to advertisements and communications in print, audio, video, online, and over email. And not one of those fast talking or small printed notices. The bill specifies how the required messaging has to be conveyed for each medium. 


Media:

Sponsoring Rep. Steve Womack (R-AK) Press Release

The Arkansas Project

HealthCare.Gov Video Campaigns


Summary By Saranna Rotgard

(Photo Credit: Twitter user MomsRising)

AKA

Truth in Obamacare Advertising Act of 2015

Official Title

To require any communication using Federal funds to advertise or educate the public on certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Healthcare and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 to state that such communication was produced at taxpayer expense, and for other purposes.

bill Progress

  • Not enacted
    The President has not signed this bill
  • The senate has not voted
  • The house has not voted
      house Committees
      Committee on Education and Labor
      Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
      Health
      Health
      Committee on Energy and Commerce
      Committee on Ways and Means
    IntroducedJanuary 26th, 2015
    BTSundra's Opinion In Favor
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    03/16/2016
    Anything that the taxpayers fund should have a reminder that you payed for it.
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    John's Opinion Against
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    03/16/2015
    Surely people must understand that there is nothing free. This is just another attempt to reduce public support for the ACA. Few people really understand what is in the bill anyway.
    Like (16)
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    Richard's Opinion Against
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    04/02/2015
    Only if you put the same message on every federal communication advertisement.
    Like (10)
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    Steven's Opinion Against
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    03/15/2016
    I foot the bill for a lot of things I don't like, corporate welfare comes to mind. I'm good with my tax dollars being spent on the (ACA) so no I don't need to be reminded of it. What kind of passive aggressive nonsense is this bill? The least productive congress in U.S. history and they wear it like a badge of honor. Disgusting!
    Like (7)
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    daveyazizi's Opinion Against
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    03/16/2015
    We don't need a reminder—that's a waste of expensive advertising.
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    Dinnerandamurder's Opinion Against
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    03/16/2016
    What a waste of more time and money by the GOP! Are they ready to start doing this for every taxpayer funded advertisement including the companies we subsidize with taxpayer funds. So all sugar, gas,oil, corn and military ads need to state this if you pass this bill! Fair is fair!
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    Debra's Opinion In Favor
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    06/19/2016
    Absolutely! Good honest information leads to better choices!
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    Muzical's Opinion In Favor
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    03/16/2016
    Bet voting patterns change if this happens...
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    SouthernGal's Opinion Against
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    03/15/2016
    It's not necessary. We know this. I guess we are smarter than congress. (That doesn't surprise me).
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    MaggieTheVicious's Opinion Against
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    04/03/2015
    Because your pretty dumb if you didn't know this already.
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    jackson's Opinion In Favor
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    06/25/2015
    It wouldn't be an inconvenience to append the commercial with a brief reminder of who funded the advertisement. Whether it's "diminishing the reputation of the Affordable Care Act" is inconsequential. The government is accountable to we the people.
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    Stephen's Opinion In Favor
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    08/06/2015
    Absolutely. For that matter, all taxpayer funded advertising should. On a more personal note I am hugely offended by some of the advertising my tax dollars has been used for, particularly regarding the ACA.
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    Jared's Opinion Against
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    04/28/2015
    Reeks of partisan attempts to undercut the ACA and garner public support for something the vast majority if Americans both benefit from and approve of. Since they cannot get it repealed at the legislative level, they want to get public support to overthrow it in general elections.
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    Loraki's Opinion In Favor
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    06/19/2016
    entitle-ME-nt: Young people are being sold a real bill of goods today that makes them feel entitled. The socialists and humanists want them to believe that we can create a utopian society here on Earth, and it just AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN! Sure, we'd like everyone to have access to good medical care! But the answer isn't to burden everyone else with your own medical expenses! From the first day mankind chose to rebel against God, this was our Creator's response: “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread 'til you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” ‭‭(Genesis‬ ‭3:19‬ ‭NKJV) God meant that from then on, we would have to work for everything we needed. He wasn't going to just hand it all to us on a silver platter! If a person is too disabled to work and pay for medical care, that's one thing. But we don't owe free medical care to anyone else. Look at these examples from the Bible: “For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.” (‭‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.” (‭‭II Thessalonians‬ ‭3:7-9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) “After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.” ‭‭(Acts‬ ‭18:1-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) That's just a few godly examples. So yeah, I think every ACA ad SHOULD come with a reminder that taxpayers are having to foot the bill!
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    William's Opinion Against
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    04/19/2015
    Fuck off with this nonsense already. How about a bill reminding the taxpayers that every Benghazi commission is costing them money instead?
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    Christopher's Opinion Against
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    04/05/2015
    Just another attempt to influence the public to dislike the ACA.
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    RobertAllport's Opinion In Favor
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    03/16/2015
    it provides incentive that provokes change.
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    Kristine 's Opinion Against
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    08/21/2015
    Make sure to include how much taxpayers money Republicans have wasted trying to overturn Obamacare and shutting down the government
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    Mary's Opinion Against
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    02/09/2016
    Oh no how dare people have access to healthcare without being buried in debt. It's just awe full that my tax payer dollars go to providing for someone who cannot provide for their own health. Suck it up there are other people besides you out there.
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    Leslie's Opinion Against
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    01/12/2016
    If we to require that then I think we should do the same thing for any ad that the government runs including military recruiting
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