Independent health care group begins airing issue ads in Oregon

An independent group pushing congressional members to support the reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program has begun launching issue ads in Oregon that feature senators Ron Wyden (D-Portland) and Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton).

America’s Agenda: Health Care for Kids is airing the ads as part of its campaign to convince members of Congress to renew SCHIP, which they say was a bipartisan effort launched in Congress in 1997 that worked to help states rework their criteria for providing health insurance for kids who come from families with too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to buy private health care.

According to America’s Agenda website, Congress voted last year for a SCHIP reauthorization bill, but it was vetoed by President George W. Bush. So the group has taken it upon themselves to make sure that lawmakers keep the bill in mind.

“These are issue pieces and have nothing to do with candidacy,” America’s Agenda: Health Care for Kids spokeswoman Nicole Korkolis said.

According to their F.E.C. application, several other officials will appear in the ad, including U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.), and Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.)

Korkolis said the ads began airing in Oregon Sunday.