Health Secretary’s Appeal Could Hurt Nonprofit’s Work for Obamacare

Potential donors to an advocacy group promoting the Affordable Care Act could become gun-shy about giving, following reports that the secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, sought to raise money for the organization, according to The New York Times.

Two congressional committees have begun investigating calls Ms. Sebelius made to nonprofit groups and health-care firms seeking private support for Enroll America, which encourages Americans to sign up for insurance as President Obama’s health-care law takes effect in the fall. The organization is led by former White House and Obama campaign officials.

A federal health official and a person involved in raising money for Enroll America told the Times that Republican criticism of the solicitations would likely make contributors skittish. Corporations and philanthropies “are risk-averse and do not want to be involved in anything controversial,” the fundraiser said.