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Mark Schauer, left, Rick Snyder, right.
(MLive File Photos)
LANSING, MI -- The Republican Governors Association released what it called a "new attack ad" on Wednesday, criticizing Michigan Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer for a 2002 state House vote that imposed a new per-bed fee on nursing homes.
The only problem?
The "Medicaid Quality Assurance Assessment Program" was backed by Republican Gov. John Engler, won bipartisan support in the state Legislature and was later extended by Gov. Rick Snyder, who Schauer is challenging.
The program was designed to win federal match dollars and then return them to nursing homes that participate in Michigan's Medicaid program.
"By continuing the assessment, the state receives more in federal matching Medicaid funds than what is paid out by nursing homes," according to a 2011 press release from Snyder's office. "These funds are then directed to nursing homes in Michigan that provide Medicaid services."
The RGA ad notes that Schauer voted for the original legislation. It features a puzzled young woman questioning the fee and suggests that Michigan is "coming back without more fees on nursing home beds."
It's the fourth in a series of RGA ads painting Schauer as a "politician who has made wrong, expensive choices" in the state Legislature and Congress. The new commercial suggests that some of his past votes, including the nursing home fee, "defy logic."
The Schauer campaign wasted little time firing back, noting that several prominent Michigan Republicans also voted for the nursing home assessment program in 2002, including then-state Reps. Randy Richardville and Ruth Johnson, before Republican governors signed off.
"Chris Christie's RGA has hit a new low by attacking Mark Schauer for a bill that was signed and extended by Rick Snyder," said communications director Zack Pohl."This is the height of hypocrisy, and Rick Snyder should be ashamed. It's clear this governor will say anything to distract voters from his job-killing tax on seniors' retirement."
An RGA press secretary was not available by phone and did not immediately responded to an email request for comment.
Snyder campaign spokesperson Emily Benavides referred questions to Washington D.C., noting "we have no input on the tone or content" of RGA ads. She also questioned whether the Schauer campaign was trying to change the subject after rolling out an education proposal earlier in the day that she criticized for a lack of specifics.
The RGA has been running Michigan television ads for several weeks now in Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids markets. The state is expected to see significant political spending from outside groups in 2014.
See the latest ad below.
Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.