From Media Matters:

Jason Mattera falsely claims health care bill contained "$7 billion to fund jungle gyms"

Jason Mattera, a conservative media activist,  confronted Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) last weekend and posted the following video of the incident on YouTube:



Mattera: "Why is that the job of the federal government to create an army of monkey bars?" In a March 29 blog post on BigGovernment.com, Mattera posted a video in which he confronted Sen. Al Franken and asked him about the health care bill. From the video:

MATTERA: Which portions of the health care bill lower costs? Is it the provision giving $7 billion to fund jungle gyms or the provision mandating that employers provide time off for breastfeeding?

FRANKEN: Uh, Give me --

MATTERA: You should know.

FRANKEN: Give me the jungle gyms.

MATTERA: Right here, the jungle gyms --

FRANKEN: yeah

MATTERA: -- is on 1184.

FRANKEN: Yeah, show it to me right now.

MATTERA: Okay, 1184, to provide physical activity opportunities to promote healthy lifestyles. So why is that the job of the federal government?

FRANKEN: Okay, now. Let me --

MATTERA: Why is that the job of the federal government --

FRAKEN: If you won't let me answer --

MATTERA: -- to create an army of monkey bars? Go ahead, answer it.
In fact, there is no provision "giving $7 billion to fund jungle gyms"

The provision Mattera himself reads refers to giving grants to "provide physical activity opportunities" in order to reduce chronic disease. After falsely claiming that the bill contains a provision "giving $7 billion to fund jungle gyms," Mattera reads the provision he's referring to, which contains no mentions of "jungle gyms."

In the "Creating Healthier Communities" portion of the Senate version of the bill, under the section "Community Transformation Grants," entities receiving grants may use them toward activities such as "creating healthier school environments, including increasing healthy food options, physical activity opportunities, promotion of healthy lifestyle, emotional wellness, and prevention curricula, and activities to prevent chronic diseases." From the bill [emphasis added]:

To read other false claims of Mattera click here.