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Washington, D.C. - The attempt to influence the national debate on health care reform with false and misleading information is a "dishonest and manipulative attempt to derail needed reforms, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. said on Monday following the disclosure of evidence showing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce used biased information claiming job losses would result from the health reform plans in Congress.
The chamber paid an economist $50,000 to write a purported study saying jobs would be lost and the economy would be hurt if the reforms are enacted, according to the Washington Post. The manufactured criticisms would be used in advertisements, lobbying and a grass roots campaign.
"Everyone is entitled to a fair say in this debate but using manufactured reports is a dishonest and disreputable means of derailing reform," said Pallone, one of the chief architects of the reform bill approved by the House. "Last summer we withstood the slings of outrageous criticisms that had no relationship with the truth. This appears to be a more sophisticated way of doing the same thing."
Most objective studies show that reforming the nation's health care system would create jobs and be good for the economy.
Pallone said the chamber should "come clean and stay clean" during the rest of the health care debate, or risk losing its credibility on Capitol Hill.
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