|
Statewide
Health Care Ballot Initiative Petition Drive is Launched
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office has
approved the final wording for a statewide ballot initiative that
would place a question on the November 2000 ballot to mandate universal
access to quality, affordable health care; place a moratorium on
for-profit health care conversions in the state; and create a strong
bill of rights for those in managed care.
A campaign to gather the 60,000 signatures needed
to place the initiative on the ballot began on September 15, 1999.
The MNA is a major supporter of this initiative and the MNA Board
of Directors has endorsed a campaign to mobilize MNA members to
participate in the petition drive. Between now and Nov. 20th,
nurses, physicians, social workers and other concerned citizens
will be out in force to circulate petitions.
The campaign to place the question on the ballot
is being coordinated by the Committee to Defend and Improve Health
Care, an off-shoot of the Ad Hoc Committee to Defend Health Care,
of which the MNA is a member. In fact, the MNA was one of
the first ten signers to the application for the initiative that
was submitted to the Attorney General in July. Other notable
groups who have signed on to the effort include the League of Woman
Voters, Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group and Mass. Senior
Action Council.
“This is an exciting project and important vehicle
for correcting problems caused by the corporatization of the health
care system,” said MNA President Karen Daley, who helped deliver
the application to the Attorney General. “Now it is up to
all of us to see that enough signatures are gathered to place the
initiative on the ballot.
For more information on how to participate in this
process, or to obtain instructions and a petition to circulate in
your own facility/neighborhood, contact the MNA at 800.882.2056,
x728 or pkleingardner@mnarn.org
or contact Kathy Budreski at the Committee to Defend and
Improve Health Care at 781-826-2095 or email is kbudreski1@mediaone.net.
Click here to view the Attorney
General’s Summary of Committee to Defend and Improve Health Care
Statewide Ballot Initiative
Click here for ideas on
how to gather petition signatures
Story updated on 11/8/99.Click
here for updated information!
Click here for a listing of
Mall Signature-Drives on Nov 13 &14th |
