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According to some media outlets, the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens are getting paid $130,000 to promote the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.
UPDATE: Other media outlets such as ProFootballTalk and the New York Post have confirmed this story. A statement from the Ravens organization has been released, or at least just found. It reads (from ProFootballTalk):
"We have a sponsorship/advertising agreement with the Maryland Health Connection, a Maryland state agency charged with creating a health insurance marketplace in Maryland. Under its agreement with the Ravens, Maryland Health Connection will have radio ads during our game broadcasts and other Ravens-related radio and television shows, plus have exposure on Raven digital media properties and some stadium signage for two games. The advertising package with the Maryland Heath Connection is comparable to many other sponsorship agreements the Ravens have sold, including ones with the Maryland Lottery and the Maryland National Guard, as well as corporations like Giant Foods and Verizon."
Also, Judicial Watch was not the people paying the Ravens. It is the Maryland Health Connection. The article below has been edited.
These reports say that the Baltimore Ravens are being paid $130,000 to promote Obamacare by the Maryland Health Connection. The money is rumored to come from taxpayers in Maryland.
The agreement between the Ravens and the Maryland Health Connection is said to have been made on September 9th, but has just now gone public.
Apparently, sources attempted to get both the National Football League (NFL) and National Basketball Association (NBA) to promote the Affordable Care Act, but both declined. The next offer came to the Ravens and they accepted.
The state of Maryland is a primarily democratic state, having a Democratic governor, both Democratic senators, and seven of eight Democratic representatives.
The Ravens are said to be promoting Obamacare in ads on WBAL-TV, the Ravens' Facebook page, the Ravens' Twitter, e-mail newsletters, and on the Ravens team website.
There is also reportedly a postseason option, where the Ravens will get paid an extra $7,500 each week they are in the postseason after the 2013-14 season.