MichUHCAN Newsletter for September, 2000

U2K Growing

The health care crisis in America continues to deepen, affecting an ever-growing number of citizens. Each month nearly 100,000 individuals are added to the rolls of the uninsured.

As the crisis gets worse, support for the Universal Health Care 2000 Campaign (U2K) is gaining momentum. At the national level, there are 30 states with an organized, statewide campaign; an additional nine states have less-structured efforts.

Over 30 national organizations have become campaign supporters, including groups like the American Nurses Association, American Public Health Association, Service Employees International Union, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society. (The complete list can be reviewed at .)

In Michigan, we have seven state organizations and over 50 local organizations, churches, and unions who have formally joined the campaign; there are an additional 100 groups who are being contacted. Of even greater importance is that 24 state representatives and two state senators have taken the pledge to work for a health care system that is universal, comprehensive, accessible, affordable, and accountable.

At the Congressional level, three Michigan members of the House of Representatives have also taken the pledge. The U2K Michigan steering committee will be publishing a list of the organizations who have joined and the elected officials who have taken the pledge in the near future.

The campaign is designed to make the health care crisis a focus of the fall elections. The state campaign is working to have as many incumbents and candidates sign the pledge to work for universal health care as is possible. Activities for the fall include: marching in the Detroit Labor Day Parade; hosting a State Legislative Luncheon in September, and planning activities for the National Week of Action (October 13 - 22).

For more information, please contact Marjorie Mitchell, Chairperson of the state steering committee (248-477-7911).

See below for Michigan organizations who have endorsed U2K.

We're Nonpartisan

To date the MichUHCAN U2K Campaign has received about 30 pledges of support from both Republican and Democratic Michigan legislators. We want to praise these individuals as well as any presidential candidate or congressperson who has committed her/himself to support universal health care. They have all shown courage, sensitivity, and vision and MichUHCAN members look forward to working with each of them in the next year to pass a health care plan for Michigan or the nation that is universal, comprehensive, affordable, and accountable to the public.

This points out the need for our organization to remain nonpartisan. It is not our purpose to endorse candidates, but rather to influence them to endorse our goal.

As decided by nearly two to one at the July Detroit Chapter of MichUHCAN meeting, we know that if we are to be successful, we must continue to work in ways that are nonpartisan, unifying, and all inclusive.

-Marjorie Mitchell and Susan Steigerwalt

Detroit Chapter Mtg:

Thurs Sept 7, 7:30 pm

Update on campaigns and action

Place: First United Methodist Church of Berkley

12 Mile Road, two blocks west of Coolidge; park in the lot on the west side, enter from Kipling, east side

Statewide MichUHCAN meets the first Friday of every month at 10:00 AM, at the Livingston County Courthouse in Howell. Howell is located just north of I-96 between Lansing and Detroit, a bit closer to Lansing. For more information on these meetings, phone Margie Mitchell (248-477-7911).

U2K Endorsements from Michigan Organizations

Below are some of the over 50 Michigan organizations who have pledged to support U2K, the campaign to make universal health care part of the discussion for this fall's elections. More are endorsing every week! If you're a member of one of these groups, ask how you can help spread the word to other members.

Baldwin Avenue United Methodist Church, Pontiac

Church of the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, Ann Arbor

Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, Pontiac

Church Women United, Michigan

Citizens for Better Care

Democratic Socialists of America, Detroit Chapter

Friends Meeting, Birmingham

Friends of Oakland County Coalition of Welfare Rights

Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit

Gray Panthers of the Huron Valley

Green Party of Metro Detroit

House Call Physicians, P.C., Southfield

Hunger Action Coalition of Michigan

Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, Ann Arbor

Jewish Labor Committee-Metro Detroit

Metro-Detroit Alliance for Democracy

Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness

Michigan Fair Budget Action Coalition, Southeast Area

Michigan Senior Advocates Council

Michigan Universal Health Care Action Network

MichUHCAN, Detroit Chapter

MichUHCAN, Lansing Chapter

National Association of Social Workers, Michigan Chapter

National Welfare Rights Union

North Oakland County NAACP

Oakland County Chapter of the National Organization of Women

Older Women's League, Farmington Chapter

Older Women's League, Michigan

Our Lady of Fatima Church, Oak Park

Pax Christi Michigan

Peace Action of Michigan, Metro Detroit Chapter

Peace and National Priorities Center

People's Progressive Network of Washtenaw County

Physicians for Social Responsibility

St. Hilary Catholic Church, Redford

St. John United Methodist Church, Political Health, Pontiac

United Auto Workers Local 75

United Auto Workers Local 75, Retirees Chapter

United Auto Workers Local 157, Retirees Chapter

United Auto Workers Local 735, Retirees Chapter

United Auto Workers Local 909

Westside Mothers

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Washtenaw County