Activists “will remain vigilant” even as lawmakers head home, says state director.
LANSING, Mich.—Following its months-long effort to defeat a proposed Medicaid expansion, the grassroots group Americans for Prosperity-Michigan today thanked state senators for standing firm for taxpayers and future generations. Scott Hagerstrom, state director of Americans for Prosperity-Michigan, issued the following statement:
“Our Senators put good policy above politics today by refusing to expand the broken Medicaid system. They saw through the federal government’s long con to the reality for Michigan’s fiscal future.
“Expanding Medicaid would be the largest expansion of state government since 1967, when the state income tax was enacted.
“This is a victory for taxpayers, but we will remain vigilant in the months to come. We are just glad they are going home today.
“Over the summer we will be touring the state to educate citizens on health care issues and how their lawmakers voted. We will also be thanking legislators who stood most strong and continue in our efforts to advocate for more limited government.
“There are numerous reasons for Michigan to reject any type of Medicaid expansion. Most of those reasons begin and end with a federal government that has become too large, too intrusive, and in desperate need of reform. The people of Michigan are sick and fed up with government living beyond its means at their expense. Rather than caving to special interests, state lawmakers need to stand on principle and demonstrate their commitment to fiscal responsibility by rejecting the Obama Administration’s Medicaid expansion.”
Note: Americans for Prosperity-Michigan activists launched thousands of calls into Senate offices in recent weeks. The group was also active on social media, ran online ads, distributed key vote alerts, and sent email action alerts. AFP-MI has been educating citizens across the state now for months on the issue.
