In Light of Ryan Pick, SuperPAC Calls on Rep. Lungren to Defend Both His Vote Against Medicare and Ties to the Insurance Lobby
Washington, D.C.— Today, Friends of Democracy, a SuperPAC working to fight political corruption and advance citizen-led elections, is calling on Rep. Dan Lungren to defend his support of new vice presidential pick Paul Ryan’s budget. Rep. Lungren voted for the Ryan budget in 2011, including the plan’s proposal to end Medicare, while taking in at least $180,564 in campaign contributions from the insurance industry and $5,000 from Congressman Paul Ryan’s leadership PAC.
“Paul Ryan and the insurance industry have placed their bets on Rep. Dan Lungren and he has voted their way,” said David Donnelly, Co-Director of Friends of Democracy. “He has taken more than $180,000 combined between Paul Ryan and the insurance industry and voted for policies that are a windfall for them at the expense of everyday voters.”
“Rep. Lungren’s race is ground zero in the fight for Medicare because he is part of a growing epidemic of members of Congress raking in millions from the insurance lobby while voting to end Medicare. With political corruption second on list of voter’s concern, this is a concern Rep. Lungren needs to answer to,” said Ilyse Hogue, Co-Director of Friends of Democracy.
Bloomberg News reported that the Ryan budget would benefit private insurers, a large source of campaign cash for members of Congress. Rep. Lungren has received $180,564 in campaign contributions from HMOs and insurance industry donors, according to an analysis of data coded by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. He has also received $5,000 from Prosperity PAC, Congressman Ryan’s leadership PAC.
Lungren’s vote for the Ryan budget indicates he would end Medicare as we know it by turning it into a system of vouchers to help seniors buy private insurance coverage. In addition to not providing guarantees for coverage, this system would be a boon to the insurance industry.
Friends of Democracy is currently advertising on television and the web throughout the congressional district with advertising that criticizes Rep. Lungren for putting the interests of Wall Street donors ahead of middle class families in the district. The television ad can be seen at: http://www.friendsofdemocracypac.org/lungren.
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Friends of Democracy is working to fight political corruption and advance citizen-led elections, and will educate voters in approximately one dozen House races this election cycle. For more information, visit friendsofdemocracypac.org.