National Center for Policy Analysis and Salem Radio Network Deliver Million-Plus Signature Petition Opposing Government Run Health Care

National Center for Policy Analysis and Salem Radio Network Deliver Million-Plus Signature Petition Opposing Government Run Health Care

More than 1.3 million Americans go on the record to protect 'choice, access, fairness and responsibility'

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leading opponents of government-run health care provided a massive demonstration of strength today, as the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) and Salem Radio Network delivered the more than 1.3 million signatures behind their joint "Free Our Health Care Now" petition to Congress at a rally held on Capitol Hill.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), House Republican Conference Chair Mike Pence (R-IN) and Republican Study Committee Chair Tom Price (R-GA) headed a large delegation of Members on hand to take delivery of the largest health policy petition ever delivered to Congress. The petitions will be presented to Congressional leadership.

The NCPA, a leader in public policy research for more than 25 years, provided the content and analysis on almost all facets of the debate, including educational guidance on the framing and substance of the petition itself.

"Today, more than a million Americans stood up and were counted in the debate over how best to repair a dysfunctional health care system," said NCPA President and Kellye Wright Fellow John C. Goodman. "To the naysayers who have dismissed the town hall protestors as unrepresentative of the American people as a whole, we present this petition as evidence the opposition is real, it is deep, and it extends to voters in all 50 states."

The petition was launched on May 25 by the Salem Radio Network team of nationally-syndicated talk show hosts. Mike Gallagher, Bill Bennett, Hugh Hewitt, Michael Medved, Dennis Prager and Janet Parshall reach millions of listeners each week and cover 90 percent of the United States.

"With the mainstream media as determined as ever to aid and abet the liberal Washington establishment, talk radio has once again proved to be the counterweight that can keep the debate alive and elevate the concerns of Americans across the country," said SRN president Greg Anderson. "That more than a million people took time out of their busy lives to sign this petition shows just how opposed our audience has become to a debate-free imposition of government-run health care."

Additional members of Congress at the event included: Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA), Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC), Rep. Steve King (R-IA), Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) and Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ).

The signatures for the "Free Our Health Care Now" petition filled more than 61,000 pages, which were delivered in boxes to Congress via ambulance and gurney.

The National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy research organization, established in 1983. The NCPA's goal is to develop and promote private alternatives to government regulation and control, solving problems by relying on the strength of the competitive, entrepreneurial private sector. Topics include reforms in health care, taxes, Social Security, welfare, criminal justice, education and environmental regulation. More than 25,000 documents are accessible for research at www.ncpa.org.

NCPA President and Kellye Wright Fellow John C. Goodman is credited by the Media Research Center as playing the pivotal role, along with former Sen. Phil Gramm and columnist Bill Kristol, in the defeat of "HillaryCare" -- the Clinton Administration's plan to overhaul the U.S. health care system. The Wall Street Journal has called Dr. Goodman "the father of health savings Accounts," and The National Journal declared him the "winner of the devolution derby" because his ideas on ways to transfer power from government to the people have had a significant impact on Capitol Hill.

Salem Radio Network is a division of Salem Communications a leading U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher targeting audiences interested in Christian and family-themed content and conservative values. Salem owns radio properties, the Dallas-based Salem Radio Network(R), which syndicates talk, news and music programming to approximately 2,000 affiliates; Salem Radio Representatives(TM), a national radio advertising sales force; Salem Web Network(TM), an Internet provider of Christian content and online streaming; and Salem Publishing(TM), a publisher of Christian-themed magazines. Upon the close of all announced transactions, the company will own 93 radio stations, including 58 stations in 22 of the top 25 markets. Additional information about Salem may be accessed at the company's website, www.salem.cc.

Source: National Center for Policy Analysis

CONTACT: Sean McCabe for National Center for Policy Analysis,
+1-703-969-7975, mccabe@pinkstongroup.com; or Catherine Daniell of National
Center for Policy Analysis, +1-817-991-1041, catherine.daniell@ncpa.org

Web Site: http://www.ncpa.org/
http://www.salem.cc/

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