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Watch “Dr Parker” Here
RICHMOND, Va. — Freedom Virginia, a nonpartisan 501(c)4 organization committed to building a Commonwealth where all Virginia families have the freedom to thrive, today released a digital ad holding Delegate Emily Brewer accountable for voting against Medicaid expansion.
The ad is backed by a five-figure digital and connected TV buy in the new Senate District 17.
Delegate Brewer voted against the state budget bill in 2018, which included expanding Medicaid in Virginia. The budget passed the General Assembly with strong bipartisan support, 67-33, and was signed into law. Since enrollment for Medicaid under the expanded criteria opened in 2019, more than 720,000 uninsured Virginians across the Commonwealth have been able to access health insurance, including 7,937 in Suffolk.
“The historic vote to expand Medicaid has empowered hundreds of thousands of our friends and community members to access quality, affordable health care,” said Rhena Hicks, executive director of Freedom Virginia. “Delegate Brewer stood in opposition to tens of thousands of people in the 17th Senate District getting health insurance. Voters in Hampton Roads and Southside Virginia deserve to know that. Voters in Senate District 17 deserve to know that Delegate Brewer worked to undermine access to health care, which is why we invested in this robust buy.”
If Delegate Brewer had been successful at blocking Medicaid expansion, Virginia’s Medicaid program would have remained “one of the least generous in the nation.” Prior to Medicaid expansion, the following categories of people were excluded from Medicaid eligibility:
- All able-bodied, childless adults, no matter how low their income
- People with disabilities making more than $9,992 a year
- A family of three making more than $7,068 a year
The transcript for the 30-second ad, which is narrated by Dr. Dennis Parker, is below and the ad is linked HERE. A shorter variation of the ad will run as well.
FREEDOM VIRGINIA — “Dr. Parker”
Dr. Parker: Medicaid expansion has saved lives and brought hope to countless patients.
Dr. Parker: Delegate Emily Brewer voted to deny health insurance for hundreds of thousands of Virginia patients.
Dr. Parker: I worry that Delegate Brewer and her allies can take us back to the days when so many Virginians didn’t have health insurance
Dr. Parker: It’s infuriating. No one who sees what I see every day would take away health care insurance for Virginians. |
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