For most in the progressive community, it’s enough to lay claim to one significant accomplishment. However, John Freeman is not most people, and certainly no flash-in-the-pan progressive. With a laundry list of career accomplishments that could span the lifetimes of several community organizers, Freeman has perhaps embarked on his toughest challenge yet; working to reform health care with newly-conceived organization Health Care for America Now.

Progress Michigan is pleased to be a part of the movement that's helping Michigan move forward with our innovative strategies and technologies. Using this website and a winning combination of online outreach combined with a proven method of workign with traditional media, we seen many successes, despite having only been around for less than a year.

Michigan's progressive blogosphere plays no small role in making sure that our state's residents are informed and activated. It's no secret that Michigan is one of the leading states nationally when it comes to the size and strength of the people-powered netroots. It's also one of the reasons we're proud to feature feeds from two of the state's largest blogs just to your right on this website. If you haven't started tuning in to the blogs, there's no time like the present! Both Blogging for Michigan and Michigan Liberal are easy to read and participate in, and we encourage you to start getting involved with them as well the numerous other progressive blogs around this state. 

Last week you read right here how the Healthcare for Michigan Campaign is rolling full steam ahead in the fight for healthcare coverage for every Michigan citizen. Progress Michigan was pleased to play a small role in assisting the Campaign take part in a live-blog at MichiganLiberal. Shortly thereafter, it spurred Walt Sorg, host of AM Lansing to talk to us about it, and more importantly how the Internet is truly changing the face of politics. You can listen to the full interview here. 

There is not a single person in this state who doesn't need healthcare. That's why SEIU Healthcare Michigan is supporting the Healthcare Security Campaign - a ballot measure to require Legislators fix our state's broken healthcare system.

The measure would amend Michigan's constitution and require that state's leaders craft a Health Care Security Plan that:

• Ensures that people who have health insurance now won't lose it;

• Provides health insurance coverage for those without it;

• Controls and reduces health care costs to provide Michigan businesses relief from the skyrocketing costs of health care.

For so many years, legislators have been content to talk about healthcare instead of providing it. While they've been at a stalemate on the issue, people are becoming sicker, losing their homes and their businesses and the economy is suffering because of it.

As an officer of a healthcare union, I see firsthand the impact of people being uninsured and under-insured and I know this is an issue that can't be pushed aside any longer.

As an RN, a mother and a grandmother, I feel that everyone has a basic right to healthcare. It's far time we brought this issue to the forefront of conversation in this state.

We provide our legislators with some of the best health insurance available and I, with the Health Care Security Campaign, pledge to fight for the same type of quality healthcare for the members of our union and the citizens of our state.

Marge Faville, RN
Secretary-Treasurer
SEIU Healthcare Michigan

(Important Action Alert for You Below)

Corporate raiders are turning their profiteers' gaze on our nation's nursing homes - and Michigan families should be very worried.

Recently, the investment giant Carlyle Group set its sights on buying HCR Manor Care Inc., which owns 28 nursing homes with 3,300 nursing beds in Michigan.

Carlyle is worth $75 billion and, as one of the world's most powerful private equity firms, has a diverse portfolio that includes interests in the military-industrial complex as well as holdings in Dunkin' Donuts and Hertz Rental Cars.

Now Carlyle wants to add Michigan's nursing homes to its portfolio of assets to maximize its profits - without making any commitment to improving health care.

SEIU Healthcare Michigan is partnering with citizens, healthcare providers, elected officials, businesses and countless others to ensure that our seniors aren't put at risk while private equity firms like Carlyle rake in massive profits - much of it public Medicare and Medicaid dollars - while ignoring patient needs.

If the national trend is any indication, we all have good reason to be alarmed.

In a stunning front-page expose on Sept. 23, 2007, a New York Times investigation found that large private equity firms that bought nursing homes across the country between 2000 and 2006 slashed the number of registered nurses far below levels required by law, experienced higher numbers of patient care violations and more deaths. In comparison, during the same period, homes that were not owned by such firms maintained or even expanded staffing levels and had better track records.

The NYT report also showed that private equity firms buy homes and strip them quickly for profit. At the same time, these firms insulate their new acquisitions behind complex layers of corporate ownership to thwart families from holding them accountable for the death or injury of a loved one.

The bottom line for these equity firms is that Michigan's nursing homes are acquisitions, to be bought and sold for maximum profit. The care and well-being of the elderly and often ailing men and women who live there is just collateral.

The horror stories are heart-breaking, as evidenced in the NYT report...