BATTLE CREEK, Mich. –– State Senate Democratic Leader Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek) joined AARP at a town hall meeting last night to help raise awareness of the issues of health care and financial security and also discuss his recent efforts to support “Divided We Fail” and solve the ongoing health care crisis.

“A comprehensive, long-term health care strategy is critical to Michigan’s economic recovery,” said Schauer. “Unaffordable health care costs Michigan jobs, makes our companies less competitive, and puts an incredible burden on families who are already struggling to make ends meet. We need to put political differences aside and work together to address these issues to keep our businesses competitive and ensure our citizens have access to the health care they need.”

Schauer recently sponsored a bipartisan resolution calling for Democrats and Republicans to work together on solving the health care and financial security crisis facing the nation. Senate Resolution 160 supports the “Divided We Fail” campaign to make improving health care accessibility and achieving greater financial security top priorities.

Included in the “Divided We Fail” platform are the goals that:

• All Americans should have access to affordable health care, including prescription drugs, and these costs should not burden future generations.

• Wellness and prevention efforts, including changes in personal behavior such as diet and exercise, should be top national priorities.

• Our children and grandchildren should have an adequate quality of life when they retire. Social Security must be strengthened without burdening future generations.

• Workers should be provided with financial incentives to save, should have access to effective retirement plans, and should be able to keep working and contributing to society regardless of age.

The AARP, Service Employees International Union, Business Roundtable, and National Federation of Independent Businesses are among the dozens of organizations supporting the campaign. For more details, visit www.dividedwefail.org.

# # #