Health Care Security Campaign Launches Statewide
Healthcare for Michigan Ballot Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 8th, 2008
Contact: Dan Farough
(517) 999-3646
Health Care Security Campaign Launches Statewide
Ballot measure to require Legislators fix broken health care system
LANSING – Saying that political leaders in Washington and Lansing have failed to deal with a broken health care system that is crushing Michigan business and hurting Michigan families, a new coalition launched a statewide campaign today to place health care reform on the November 4, 2008 ballot. The ballot proposal would require the Michigan legislature to develop a ‘Health Care Security’ plan that would protect Michigan citizens and business from a spiraling health care crisis.
“Far too many people are one serious accident or a pink slip away from bankruptcy and losing their health care, and that’s wrong,” said John Freeman, Chair of the Healthcare for Michigan Ballot Committee. “No one that works hard and plays by the rules should have their families or business cast into financial ruin because they don’t have access to affordable health care.”
The measure would amend Michigan’s constitution and require that state leaders craft a ‘Health Care Security Plan’ that:
– Ensures that people that currently have health insurance won’t lose it;– Provides health insurance coverage for those without it;
– Controls and reduces health care costs to provide Michigan business relief from the skyrocketing costs of health care.
Mr. Freeman says “This campaign is necessary, as politicians in both Lansing and Washington have failed for years to address the health care crisis. Michigan must take the initiative because too many families and businesses are suffering and we cannot wait any longer for Washington to act.” If the measure passes, voters would make crafting a solution a requirement of the State Legislature. Elected officials would then be charged with developing a Michigan specific plan that meets the constitutional requirement that everyone in Michigan have access to affordable health care and that costs to businesses are contained.
“Michigan taxpayers provide our legislators with some of the best health care anywhere. Legislators need to focus on how to contain the sky rocketing premiums that business and consumers are paying and how to provide health care for the 1.1 million uninsured in Michigan,” said Marjorie Mitchell, President of MichUHCAN and a member of the coalition. “This proposal will force legislators to work together and do what they are elected to do, and develop a reasonable and affordable plan to provide health care security for all Michigan.”
The coalition is currently made up of over two dozen organization from labor, faith based, medical, civil rights and health care organizations. In order to place the measure on the ballot the campaign must collect over 380,000 signatures by July 1st.
Another member of the coalition, Ron Beford, Executive Director of the Interfaith Health and Hope Coalition says that, “Having health care is a fundamental moral right. We must reform healthcare and this campaign provides a roadmap on how we can improve the quality of life for all Michiganders.”
“This initiative is good for the health of our citizens and the health of our job providers in Michigan,” said Mr. Freeman. “Passing this measure will send a signal to businesses that spiraling health care costs will no longer stand in the way of creating jobs and moving our economy into the 21st century. It will send a signal to hard working families that no one gets left behind just because they don’t have access to the health care they need.”
The campaign’s website can be found at: www.healthcareformichigan.org.
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