Consumers Union targets two GOP senators on ObamaCare repeal

Two Republican senators seen as top targets by Democrats are the focus of new radio ads opposing the House-passed ObamaCare repeal legislation.

The ads, which are being run in Arizona and Nevada by the Consumers Union, urge listeners to tell GOP Sens. Jeff Flake (Ariz.) and Dean Heller (Nev.) to oppose the American Health Care Act. The ads say the bill will hurt consumers, jeopardize coverage and drastically raise prices. 

For instance, the bill lets insurers charge older adults five times more than younger people and would also allow insurers to charge higher premiums for people with pre-existing conditions. 

{mosads}The ads also note that the Congressional Budget Office estimated that 23 million people will lose insurance under in the next decade under the House-passed legislation.

Consumers Union is the advocacy arm of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Consumer Reports, which provides ratings and public health information. The organization has previously run ads in support of the Affordable Care Act. 

Consumers Union is not the first organization to run ads targeting Flake and Heller. AARP included the two Republicans in a seven-figure ad campaign that also targeted Sens. Cory Gardner (Colo.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), neither of whom are up for reelection next year, among others. 

The ad buy comes as Republican senators are working on an ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill that can get through the upper chamber. Draft legislation is expected to be available when senators return to Washington next week.