Labor groups to spend big on health care

SPRINGFIELD - A coalition spearheaded by liberal-leaning organizations and labor unions gathered at the Capitol Tuesday to announce the start of a multimillion-dollar media blitz favoring affordable government health care.

Representatives for Health Care for America Now announced the coalition will spend $40 million on a nationwide campaign to raise public awareness and urge federal lawmakers to revamp America's health care system.

William McNary, an Illinois spokesman for the group, said the money reflects a "drop in the bucket" compared to what other special interest groups and companies have allocated toward thwarting any health care changes.

"We believe that we have a rich message, so we don't need as much money as they do, but it does take money if we're going to beat back the false advertising, the scare tactics of socialized medicine," McNary said.

While McNary said the organization won't endorse a presidential candidate, many of the coalition's members have Democratic ties and already endorsed Barack Obama. Also, Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Democratic presidential nominee John Edwards, will act as a national face for the group.

Joining the coalition at Tuesday's announcement was David Borris, 52, a Highland Park business owner. He expressed frustration about the rise in health care costs. Borris, who owns Hell's Kitchen Catering, said he didn't fret over health care when he began the company 23 years ago, but as his company has grown, so has the stress associated with providing health care. Today, he can only afford coverage for 14 of his 25 employees.

"In the past three years it's just been unbelievable," he said. "I suspect what's going to happen, we're going to force our employees to make these difficult choices now which they shouldn't have to make."