Health Care

National Republicans mark ‘unhappy’ ObamaCare anniversary

Senate Republicans are marking the second year of ObamaCare exchanges with a fresh attack against Democrats who have endorsed the law. 

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is set to release a video on Wednesday, shared first with The Hill, condemning President Obama and his Democratic allies for “repeated lies” promoting the healthcare law.

{mosads}The two-minute video shows President Obama – as well as 10 vulnerable Democrats – pledging that Americans will not lose their current health plan or doctor under ObamaCare.

The targets include Democratic incumbents locked in some of the nation’s tightest races, including Sens. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.) Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and Mark Udall (D-Col.).

“Over the past six years Barack Obama and Washington Democrats have proven that they not only don’t have the right solutions to get America growing again, but they lack the credibility to be trusted to keep their promises,” said NRSC Press Secretary Brook Hougesen. 

Democrats have faced flak for their “keep your plan” promise after some employers began changing or canceling plans to comply with the new law. The political phrase was dubbed “lie of the year” in 2013 by the independent fact-checking website, Politifact.

“Democrats lied about it then, and they’re lying about it now,” the ad reads.

In their most recent vote on ObamaCare, House Republicans passed a bill in mid-September that would have allowed employers to continue offering some group health plans even if they didn’t comply with the law. The bill will not move past the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The NRSC’s ad revives criticism surrounding President Obama’s landmark healthcare law. While it’s still remained an issue in several top races, foreign policy and other national security concerns have become top issues in races as well.

Approval for ObamaCare remains low, with 47 percent of people who said they dislike the law. Still, a majority of people who signed up for healthcare plans say they are satisfied with their coverage.

At least 7.3 million people signed up for the law over the last year, federal officials have said. The second year of enrollment will begin Nov. 15.

The Republican National Committee also released an ad attacking the healthcare law on Wednesday, featuring a man pretending to be “ObamaCare,” stomping on Democratic campaigns.

“You know they’re ruining your chances of keeping the Senate,” one character says.

“If you like your Senate, you can keep your Senate,” the ObamaCare man replies.

This post was updated at 9:37 a.m. and 10:59 a.m.