(BISMARCK, ND) – Today rules were finalized to expand skimpy, short-term health plans – the kind that don’t protect coverage for pre-existing conditions like asthma, diabetes, or depression and that the CBO has estimated would cause premiums to rise. These plans have been criticized by health advocacy groups and insurance companies because they have “the potential to harm consumers, both by making comprehensive coverage more expensive and by leaving some consumers unaware of the risks of these policies.”

It’s a reminder that Kevin Cramer pushed for a hyper-partisan health care agenda that could have harmed those with pre-existing conditions by increasing the cost of their care, imposed an age tax on older North Dakotans, and spiked health care costs.

Last week, the Dem-NPL launched Google search ads to remind North Dakotans about Cramer’s dangerous health care agenda and how, if it had passed, they would be paying the price. Read more here.

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(BISMARCK, ND) – Access to rural areas is critical to rural economic development. But apparently, that’s not a concept Congressman Cramer understands. If Cramer had his way, the Essential Air Service (EAS) Program – which provides critical funding to small community airports in North Dakota cities from Dickinson to Devils Lake – would be on the chopping block. Cuts to EAS would create a “real risk of these communities losing commercial service,”according to the Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional airport director, and would threaten job creation and economic growth in these communities.

While Devils Lake Airport, Dickinson Airport, and Jamestown Airport all receive funding from this program, Cramer supported cuts to EAS funding that was included in the president’s budget proposal. In fact, Cramer has gone so far as to suggest that he would be willing to support “eliminating” the service.

“North Dakotans know how vital the Essential Air Service Program is to providing the access rural North Dakota towns need to build strong economies, grow jobs, and to keep our communities strong and safe,” said Scott McNeil, Executive Director of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL. “Unfortunately, Congressman Cramer’s repeated willingness to cut this critical program is just one in a heap of examples of him valuing Washington party bosses ahead of what’s best for North Dakota.”

Additional Background: 

Essential Air Service Gives $11 Million To North Dakota’s Airports, Including $4.2 Million To Dickinson Airport, $4 Million To Devils Lake Airport, And $2.8 Million To Jamestown Airport. [The Bismarck Tribune, 3/25/17]

Cramer Expressed An Openness To Cutting The Essential Air Services Program, Which Provides Subsidies To Small Community Airports. [The Dickinson Press, 12/6/17]

Heitkamp Joins Push To Save EA. [The Bismarck Tribune, 4/12/17]

Trump’s Budget Proposal Cuts Funding For Devils Lake Airport. [Devils Lake Journal, 4/3/17]

(BISMARCK, ND) – Kevin Cramer is getting desperate. After his record of disrespecting veterans was put in the spotlight, Cramer went into damage control mode – and apparently the best he could come up with was using a California stock photo of a veteran in a paid social ad.

See Cramer’s ad and the stock photo on Getty Images side-by-side:

This isn’t the first time Cramer has used stock photos or North Dakotans’ images without permission in his campaign ads.

• In April, Cramer used photos of North Dakotans in prominent campaign material without their permission and was admonished for doing so.
• During his 2014 campaign, Cramer was criticized for using footage of a VA cemetery in an ad without seeking permission from the VA or the fallen service members’ families. Cramer refused to take the ad off YouTube, and actually doubled down – encouraging folks to watch the ad on that platform despite the criticism – and drawing condemnation from veterans across North Dakota.

“It’s unfortunate that Cramer had to resort to a stock photo to demonstrate his support from veterans – but it’s no surprise given his disrespectful comments about their service and his reluctance to adequately fund their pay,” said Courtney Rice, Press Secretary for the North Dakota Democratic-NPL. “

(BISMARCK, ND) – On the 53rd anniversary of Medicare, here’s a non-comprehensive list of the times Cramer has jeopardized Medicare – from calling for “means testing” to suggesting that Congress had to “get after”Medicare in order to balance the budget after voting for a budget-busting tax cut for the wealthy.

“Congressman Cramer can’t fool North Dakota’s seniors with his election year pandering – they’ve heard his repeated signals that call for cuts to Medicare and know he’d get rid of their hard-earned benefits to pay for his massive tax cut to the wealthy. Come November, they’ll hold Cramer accountable.”

1. Cramer claimed Congress had to “get after entitlement reform” to deal with the debt and deficit – after he voted for a $2 trillion budget-busting tax cut for the wealthy [Dec. 19, 2017].
2. Cramer voted for a budget that would have begun the privatization of Medicare [March 25, 2015].
3. Cramer suggested implementing “means testing” so that some would “pay a little more of a premium for their Medicare” [July 19, 2018].
4. Cramer refused to fully protect Medicare that folks 50 to 55 have earned, saying they would either face “small” cuts with “policy changes today,” or face Medicare that is “cut dramatically” [July 19, 2018].
5. Cramer claimed he thought Medicare could use “some means testing” [February 14, 2018].
6. Cramer called for “little things like indexing, for example,” and “maybe a little means testing” for Medicare and Social Security [April 25, 2018].
7. Cramer claimed means testing for Social Security and Medicare could have “a huge impact” on balancing the federal budget [April 25, 2018].
8. Cramer claimed changes to Medicare were necessary [February 14, 15, 17, 2018].
9. Cramer clearly specified wanting to “do some things” with Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, suggesting “means testing”” and “changing age a little bit in the out years” [February 13, 2018].
10. Cramer claimed “entitlement” spending had to be dealt with [February 15, 2018].
11. Cramer wanted “entitlement reform” to come after passing his massive tax cut for the wealthy – in order to pay for the cut[September 7, 2017].
12. Cramer would not commit to protecting Social Security or Medicare from cuts in order to deal with the debt created by tax reform [December 20, 2017].

Welcome to Crooked Cramer’s Chronicles where, every Friday, we’ll break down the latest and greatest weekly hits about Cramer’s crooked, self-serving, extreme, and gaffe-prone behavior that puts himself and his partisan politics ahead of North Dakotans.

DEM-NPL LAUNCHES GOOGLE ADS ON CRAMER’S DANGEROUS HEALTH CARE AGENDA. As first reported by the National Journal, the Dem-NPL launched Google search ads to mark the one year anniversary of the failure of ‘skinny repeal’ and remind North Dakota voters that, if Cramer had his way, they would be worse off: facing spiked premiums and stripped coverage. The ads direct viewers to a landing page that breaks down Cramer’s dangerous health care agenda, including harming folks with pre-existing conditions, imposing an ‘age tax’ on older North Dakotans, and spiking health care costs. See the ad:

And don’t miss Cramer’s infamous assertion that folks with pre-existing conditions are trying to “game” and “abuse” the system.

CRAMER’S HEALTH CARE PLAN “WRONG SOLUTION” FOR FARMERS. On top of Cramer’s harmful health care agenda, a recent report finds that skimpy health plans, the kind Cramer supports, “would be inadequate and unaffordable” and “would do more harm than good” to farmers and farm workers. With two out of three farmers and ranchers reporting having a pre-existing condition, this type of agenda is the exact opposite of what is needed – but that doesn’t seem to bother Cramer.

CRAMER’S TRADE WAR “A SELF-INFLICTED WOUND.” That’s how a former Ag Secretary described the Cramer-endorsed trade war amid concerns that North Dakota’s farmers and businesses are in for “a prolonged” standoff. Don’t forget: Despite overwhelming evidence that the trade war is inflicting real damage in the state, Cramer called these concerns “hysteria.” And while other Republican members of Congress are standing up against the trade war, Cramer is nowhere to be found. He’s still fanning the flames.

HEADLINE: NORTH DAKOTA AGRIBUSINESSMAN TELLS PENCE HE CAN’T SELL ENOUGH GRAIN.

• “The thing that is at the forefront for anybody that is in production agriculture is getting rid of our crop this fall,” said Burgum, the governor’s first cousin. “It’s not just that the administration is going to throw $12 billion at the farmer, it’s moving the crop.”
• “I think we believe across the board that tariffs are bad policy,” Skunes [president of the Corn Board for the National Corn Growers Association] said. “Instead of imposing tariffs, we would like the administration to be out creating new trade agreements … and get back to the bargaining table and finish up the negotiations with China so we can take all these tariffs off.”

#STANDWITHND. Anytime the White House comes to visit, it’s an opportunity for us to talk about the issues important to North Dakotans – and the Dem-NPL did just that, holding a Day of Action where nearly 200 volunteers reached out to over 10,000 voters. From concerns about the trade war that’s crippling our farmers and businesses to providing affordable care for families, we heard North Dakotans’ concerns. And Congressman Cramer? He was too busy holding a high-dollar, closed-door fundraiser. The contrast couldn’t be clearer.

DID YOU SEE OUR AD IN THE GRAND FORKS HERALD? In case you missed it, the Dem-NPL called on Cramer to put politics aside and put North Dakotans first during the VP’s visit by standing up for farmers, ranchers, and businesses against the disastrous trade war; standing up for the nearly 300,000 North Dakotans who have a pre-existing condition and are at risk of losing their care; and standing up for North Dakota’s seniors by supporting Social Security and Medicare.

But, in typical Cramer fashion, that didn’t happen. Here’s what we heard from him on how he’ll #StandWithND:

CRAMER’S ANTI-SENIOR AGENDA. Cramer is continuing to mislead North Dakotans, telling them he’ll protect Social Security and Medicare, while simultaneously advocating for “means testing” and increasing Medicare premiums. No wonder he has a lifetime score of nine percent from the Alliance for Retired Americans. North Dakotans won’t be fooled by his phony ads – they want someone like Heidi who’s fought and will keep fighting to protect their hard-earned benefits. Read more here.

TWEET OF THE WEEK.