Russian Trolls Tapped Into Health Law Rhetoric To Sow Discord, Pitting Sides Against Each Other
It's not just hot-button topics like vaccinations that are exploited by the Russian trolls. Substantive health policy issues have been hijacked as well. Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office says that if the House delays or repeals certain parts of the health law -- such as the employer mandate -- it would cost more than $50 billion.
The Wall Street Journal:
Nearly 600 Russia-Linked Accounts Tweeted About The Health Law
On the March 23 anniversary of the Affordable Care Act becoming law, Democrats attacked Republicans for trying to sabotage the health law and praised the embattled legislation. So did Russian trolls. “8 years ago today, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. Millions of Americans have gained access to health care. Thank you, Mr. President!” said a tweet linked to the Internet Research Agency, a Russian company engaged in an online influence campaign that typically seeks to pit one side against the other on controversial issues. (Armour and Overberg, 9/12)
The Hill:
CBO: House GOP Bill Delaying Key Parts Of ObamaCare Will Cost Over $50 Billion
House GOP legislation that would delay or repeal certain parts of ObamaCare will cost $51.6 billion over the next decade, according to a new government analysis. The report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released Tuesday comes as the House plans to vote on the legislation later this week. (Weixel, 9/11)
Former President Barack Obama's numbers are fact checked —
The Associated Press Fact Check:
Obama Doesn't Always Tell The Straight Story
Former President Barack Obama's recent denunciation of President Donald Trump's treatment of the press overlooks the aggressive steps the Justice Department took to keep information from the public during his administration. Obama also made a problematic claim that Republican "sabotage" has cost 3 million people their health insurance. With his return to the political donnybrook on behalf of Democrats in the November elections, Obama has brought a once-familiar style back into the discourse. It's measured, nuanced and distinct from the torrent of misstatements from Trump. That doesn't mean Obama always tells the story straight. (Woodward and Rugaber, 9/12)
An in the states —
Politico Pro:
Obamacare Lawsuit Boosts Democrats In State AG Races
Democrats believe they have their best chance in years to flip as many as five state attorneys general seats by capitalizing on the blue wave forecast for the midterms, as well as the mounting backlash to the latest lawsuit seeking to abolish Obamacare brought by 20 Republican state attorney generals. With the national landscape looking increasingly favorable for Democratic candidates for governor, Congress and state legislatures, the lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act has injected unexpected energy and cash into many of the 30-plus races across the country for state attorneys general. (Ollstein, 9/11)
Cronkite News:
Health Premiums Likely To Decrease In 2019
After several years of double- and triple-digit increases in health insurance premiums, Arizona could see premiums fall more than 4 percent in 2019, one of only 11 states looking at a drop, according to a new analysis. It’s a sharp turnaround for Arizona, a state where a premium increase of 116 percent in 2017 was cited by President Donald Trump as proof that the Affordable Care Act needed to be repealed. (Egeland, 9/11)
Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Ad Campaign Thrusts Health Care Into Governor's Race
A Democratic-leaning group has launched an ad campaign against Republican candidate for governor Jeff Johnson, accusing him of pushing policies that would take health care away from people who need it. In a statement, Johnson called the ads “blatant lies intended to cover up the fact that the DFL candidate for governor wants to eliminate private health insurance and force all Minnesotans onto one government program.” It’s in reference to U.S. Rep. Tim Walz’s stated aim to provide a government health plan to all Minnesotans, like seniors currently use under Medicare. (Coolican, 9/11)
