City Action Michigan FAQ
Congress raised our healthcare costs. That’s why cities across Michigan are taking action.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Healthcare Action Plans
What is City Action Michigan?
City Action Michigan is a Michigan nonprofit and state political action committee that works to make healthcare affordable for working families. We registered with the State of Michigan. We are based in Kalamazoo at 251 North Rose Street, #243. Our neighbors run this campaign, not Washington insiders. You can reach us at cityactionmichigan@gmail.com.
What is the Healthcare Action Plan?
The Healthcare Action Plan is a local ballot initiative that lets voters in six Michigan cities create a citizens’ committee on healthcare. The cities are East Lansing, Lansing, Portage, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, and Benton Harbor. The committee studies healthcare costs in your city, holds public meetings where you can speak, and reports what it finds every two years. It also tracks how your members of Congress voted on your healthcare and how Congressional action changes our local healthcare costs.
What does a YES vote mean?
A YES vote creates a Citizens’ Advisory Healthcare Action Committee in your city. The committee will:
- Hold public forums so residents can share what healthcare really costs them
- Track healthcare prices, insurance coverage, and access to care in your city
- Report how your federal and state representatives voted on your healthcare
- Give your city council real solutions every two years
We urge you to vote YES on the Healthcare Action Plan.
What does a NO vote mean?
A NO vote means nothing changes. Your city would have no citizens’ committee watching healthcare costs. No public report would track how your representatives in Congress voted on your care.
Which Michigan cities can vote on this?
Six Michigan cities have a Healthcare Action Plan initiative:
When is the vote?
The Healthcare Action Plan will appear on the November general Election ballot in all 6 communities. Signatures were collected locally in our communities to get the measures added to the ballot.
Will this raise my taxes?
No. The Healthcare Action Plan does not create a new tax. Committee members serve without pay. That is written into the local charter amendment itself.
Who serves on the committee?
Your city council appoints seven residents to the committee. The charter requires people with real experience, such as:
- Healthcare workers and nurses
- Public health professionals
- Patient advocates
- Uninsured or underinsured neighbors
- Members of organized labor
Members serve three-year terms with no pay. All meetings follow Michigan’s open meetings and public records laws.
Why do we need this now?
Congress cut $1.1 trillion from Medicaid and ended Affordable Care Act healthcare affordability tax credits in 2025. Because of that vote, families in all 6 communities pay more than $1,000 more per year for care. In 2026, prescription drug prices grew 10 times faster than inflation and prices increased on over 350 drugs. When Washington fails us, our cities can act.
What did our members of Congress do?
[Name each representative and the specific vote, with a link to the official roll call, e.g.: “Congressman Bill Huizenga voted for (bill name and number) on (date), which cut $1.1 trillion from Medicaid. See the official vote at clerk.house.gov.“]
On July 3, 2025, the U.S. House passed H.R. 1 by a vote of 218 to 214. The law cuts more than $1 trillion in federal health spending over ten years, most of it from Medicaid and Affordable Care Act affordability subsidies. These cuts paid for a massive tax cut for billionaires. The Congressional Budget Office says 10 million more Americans will lose health insurance because of it. Seven Michigan Republicans voted yes. Six Michigan Democrats voted no. Since it was passed millions have seen their premiums go up, an average 20.2% increase in Michigan.
- Official House vote: https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025190
- Official Senate vote: https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00372.htm
- CBO estimate (deficit, coverage loss): https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61570
Voted YES to Cut Medicaid and to Raise Costs
District 4: Congressman Bill Huizenga (R)
Congressman Bill Huizenga voted yes on H.R. 1 on July 3, 2025. That law cuts more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and other health programs. His vote is expected to leave 27,000 people in his district without insurance. His district includes Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Portage, and Benton Harbor where local healthcare action plans are on the ballot. See his vote at clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025190.
District 7: Congressman Tom Barrett (R)
Congressman Tom Barrett voted yes on H.R. 1 on July 3, 2025. That law cuts more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and other health programs. Tens of thousands of people in his district are expected to lose coverage and hundreds of thousands have already seen their premiums rise. His district includes Lansing and East Lansing where local healthcare action plans are on the ballot.. See his vote at clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025190.
Who pays for City Action Michigan?
City Action Michigan is paid for with regulated funds; all contributions and spending are reported to campaign finance authorities. Our partners include the Michigan Nurses Association, Committee to Protect Health Care, Berrien Forward, and Kalamazoo Forward.
How can I help?
You can help in three ways:
- Sign up for updates at cityactionmichigan.com
- Tell your neighbors what a YES vote means