Consumer Reports is throwing its hat in the health care reform ring, calling on Congress to pass legislation this year. For the first time ever, the organization is airing a TV ad to get across its message on behalf of consumers.

"We believe that so much attention has been focused on the politics of health care that we're losing sight of the core problems," said Jim Guest, president of Consumers Union and publisher of Consumer Reports. "Health costs are skyrocketing, which affects all of us, and if you get seriously sick, having insurance is no guarantee that you'll get the care you need."

CR is a decades-old magazine and has one of the 10 highest circulations in the country. Its mission is to fight for a fair marketplace for consumers. The TV ad will air in the D.C. metro area for the next two weeks.

"For 73 years, Consumer Reports has been a trusted source of information for consumers who want to make the best decisions," Guest says in the ad. "Today health care costs too much. Many Americans are one pink slip or one major illness away from losing their coverage. We at Consumers Union say this problem must be fixed this year for everyone's sake. Washington, the time for health care reform is now."

In a statement, Guest maintained CR's independence from any political party or group.

"We don't endorse candidates," he said. "And we don't care who gets the credit for fixing the problems with health care -- we just need them fixed."