So many of you have spent the last 12 week stalking to family, friends and strangers about the dangers of government run healthcare. You have inspired us beyond measure. For all your efforts, thank you!

Despite the hard work of so many across the state, we didn’t reach the 381,000 signature goal. But, through your hard work, we did accomplish some amazing things.

The average petition drive has six months to gather signatures and spends about $1.5 million. We had about 11 weeks and spent about 2% that amount. In the end we believe we will end up with between 145,000 – 185,000 signatures.

I know you must be disappointed about the outcome. Trust me, I am too. We never would have taken this project on if we really thought it was hopeless. But this isn’t a fight you or Ipicked. It is a fight Congress started in March. While the results were not what we wanted, this isn’t the end of the line.

Representative Tom McMillin and Senator Wayne Kuipers are going to be introducing bills called the Healthcare Freedom Act. These bills would take our amendment language and put into law. While this isn’t as good as a Constitutional Amendment, it does help Michigan take a stand. We will need your help to pressure the legislature into passing one of these bills. It will be much easier that SJR K because we only need a majority for it to pass.

We also are going to be looking at other options as the fight unfolds. Our core goal is to get something on the books in Michigan that draws a line in the sand and says we won’t stand for this unconstitutional law.

So while we did not succeed in this battle, the war is not over. The next battle is just beginning and we are in it for the long haul. There are no guarantees, but the alternative is to sit back and accept the healthcare takeover. We know that isn’t an option for any of us.

For all you have done these past 11 weeks- thank you. Not to be too corny, but you are the wind beneath our wings.

Stay in touch by going to www.makelansinglisten.com.

Wendy, Melanie, Marla,  & Jen

Healthcare Freedom Press Conference
July 6th, 2010 at noon ~ State Capitol Steps

Activists across Michigan have been fighting back against the government takeover of healthcare. Citizens overwhelmingly opposed the bill passed by Congress in March. Immediately after the vote, Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom launched a petition drive to add a constitutional amendment to the ballot in November. The group has gathered signatures from every county in Michigan and is collecting signatures up until noon on July 5th.

Key volunteers and organizational leaders will be on hand Tuesday, July 6th to announce the results of the petition drive and what the next steps will be.

WHO: Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom, National Federation of Independent Business, Representative Tom McMillin, Common Sense in Government, Steve Ross, SE MI 9-12 Group

WHAT: Press Conference

WHEN: Tuesday, July 6th noon-1 PM

WHERE: Capitol Steps, Downtown Lansing

We are still getting a steady flow of petitions, and the deadline has been extended! We still need your petitions ASAP, so continue to send them in. You can mail them to the address at the bottom of the petition, or the address on the circulator instruction sheet.

PO BOX 27351
LANSING MI 48909

PO BOX 27361
LANSING MI 48909

The official deadline for the petitions is July 5, so we must have them in the office prior to then! Before submitting petitions, PLEASE make sure that the circulator section at the bottom is filled in and dated. We can no longer send these back to get them filled out, so petitions submitted without this information being competed will not be counted. We know you worked hard to get them, so help us make sure we can use them!

As always, thanks for all of your hard work!

The growing crisis in the Gulf of Mexico is just a preview of the healthcare disaster we are facing as a country.  The lack of cooperation between the public and private sector, the slow moving reaction to an obvious crisis, and the lack of transparency are fears shared by citizens across the State have about the healthcare “reform” passed by Washington.

This weekend so many of us will find our thoughts turning to all the men and women who have died to defend our freedom. It may be just a flash as we flip through the channels and see an advertisement for one of the many war movies they are sure to show this weekend. Or maybe you will take your children to a Memorial Day parade, gently reminding them to stand and clap when the Vets walk by. If you have served or loved someone who has served, thank you.

In October of 2004 my husband was deployed to Iraq. He and his fellow soldiers risked, and in one case lost, their lives fighting for our freedom. So how best can we honor those who have fought and died? There isn’t just one right answer to this question, but I do know that fighting for freedom here at home is a must. For now, I am choosing to fight back against the awful healthcare bill. Americans knew this bill was bad when it passed and it hasn’t gotten any better with age! Will you join me? Will you fight here at home against socialized medicine? Will you beat back European style government and protect the liberty so many have give their lives for? Go to www.michiganhcf.com to find out more about how you can fight for healthcare freedom.

Some will say that Memorial Day isn’t political, but when folks are trying to destroy our country from within, everyday is political! Enjoy the barbecues, parades and golf, but remember to order a Healthcare Freedom petition to circulate by going to www.michiganhcf.com!

Saturday’s Healthcare Bill Read-A-Thon was a success! While we were unable to read through the entire bill, we did highlight some of the more interesting aspects of it. Watch for a video with some of the highlights of the day coming soon!

Event Marks First Time the Healthcare Reform Bill will be Read in Public

 LANSING – Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom today announced a public Read-A-thon of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that President Obama signed into law in March. This is the first time the healthcare bill will be read aloud, live, for the public to hear.

 The Read-A-thon will take place Saturday, May 22, from 1:00 pm – midnight, The event was inspired by the fact that very few people, including members of Congress, have read the healthcare bill.  But as Nancy Pelosi said, now that they have passed the bill, we can find out what’s in it.  

 The event will be shown live on the organization’s Web site, www.michiganhcf.com. Volunteers will read the bill in 15-minute time slots.  Readers will acquire pledges for every minute they read.  Viewers will also be able to donate via phone and online during the Read-A-thon.

 “So many people have asked us what is in this healthcare bill;” says Wendy Day, spokesperson for Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom. “Now they can hear for themselves.  Most people still may not understand the convoluted mess of regulation and taxation, but we’re doing the job the U.S. Congress forgot to do by reading the bill aloud in public.”

 Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom launched a petition drive in response to the passage of the federal healthcare takeover bill that would would place a Constitutional amendment on the ballot in November. The amendment would include the following:

 Prohibit government from restricting a person’s right to choose his or her own health care system or plan.

 Prohibit government from interfering with a person’s or employer’s right to pay directly for lawful medical services.

 Prohibit government from imposing a penalty or fine on those who choose to obtain or decline any healthcare coverage or to participate in any particular health care system or plan.

 “This event represents a fun opportunity for candidates and other volunteers to show their support for the amendment, and for Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom,” says Day.

 The effort needs 381,000 valid signatures by July 5, 2010 to be considered for the November ballot.   Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom is a coalition of organizations, businesses, and individuals working to place a Healthcare Freedom Amendment on the ballot in November, More information can be found at www.michiganhcf.com.

Michigan Citizens for Healthare Freedom is proud to announce that the National Federation of Independent Businesses has joined the growing coalition of organizations, businesses, and individual working to place the Healthcare Freedom Amendment on the ballot in November.

“The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a massive piece of legislation that will unfold over the next 10 years,” says NFIB State Director Charlie Owens, “Its complex provisions have already proven to be difficult to interpret. However, one thing is already clear – small business will be at the losing end of much of the new tax and regulatory requirements, and those costs will come straight out of the pockets of Michigan small businesses.”

We are so pleased that NFIB has stepped up as leaders in the fight against the federal takeover of health care. The implications for small business are devastating and the last thing the Michigan economy needs is another obstacle to job growth.