Another Koch brothers-backed group — the third so far — is attacking Begich
By Lisa Demer, Anchorage Daily News | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The latest ad is by the Koch brothers-connected
But it's not the first Koch brothers splash. They are inserting themselves in a big way into this year's
Democrats are pushing back hard. Senate Majority Leader
The newest television ad says "ObamaCare" means billions of dollars going to health insurance companies and that Begich, who voted for the law and now is supporting significant changes, received campaign contributions from insurance companies.
"
The female voice goes on to say: "Begich took thousands from the health insurance industry and he supported ObamaCare, which gave health insurance companies billions and a guaranteed bailout while Alaskan families suffer from cancelled plans and higher costs."
From 2007 through 2013, Begich received some
Begich's campaign responded with a 10-page critique of the new ad, earlier ads and the Koch brothers' involvement in
"If there's a story here -- it's that this group is trying to buy this election without telling Alaskans who they are, where their money comes from or if they even know anything about
Begich fought to help Alaskans keep their existing health insurance plans, the campaign noted, pointing to news stories from last year that quoted him on that point.
In
Begich highlights the flip side: An ACA requirement that insurers spend at least 80 percent of insurance premiums on health care.
"These issue ads aim to hold these lawmakers accountable by reminding constituents that they worked hand-in-hand with health insurance companies when crafting the president's health care law,"
But Begich noted that when the ACA was being written, he pushed to ensure that it required insurance carriers to cover pre-existing conditions, which became one of the law's most popular features.
The Koch brothers are involved in the campaign in other ways, too.
Last month in his first TV ad of his reelection campaign, Begich took on the Kochs' decision to close their
"Just running it into the ground," one man says in the ad. "Leaving a mess," says another.
Begich has said he's against a carbon tax. An earlier ad on that topic by a different Koch-brothers connected group, Americans for Prosperity, was determined to be mostly false by Politifact and FactCheck.org.
With the general election still seven months away, Outside groups, including the Koch-backed ones, already have spent more than
The
Begich's campaign says there is no reason to return the money received four years ago. He says he raised more than
Reach
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