Physicians endorse Pulver, Pitchford, O’Neil for commitment to health care, protecting Michiganders during COVID-19

LANSING, Mich. — The Committee to Protect Medicare today announced its endorsement of Julia Pulver, Chokwe Pitchford and Dan O’Neil for Michigan state representatives. The CTP is an organization of physicians in more than 40 states, including Michigan. 

“As Michigan physicians, we are excited to endorse and support Julia Pulver, Chokwe Pitchford and Dan O’Neil for Michigan state representatives because of their commitment to putting people’s health ahead of partisan politics and corporate special interests,” said CTP Michigan State Lead Farhan Bhatti, MD, a practicing family physician in Lansing. “Julia and Dan will stand up to the dangerous partisanship that has led the Trump Administration and its allies in the Michigan Legislature to deceive the American public during a global pandemic that has killed 200,000 people, including more than 6,000 here in Michigan who needlessly lost their lives. The Committee to Protect Medicare believes Julia and Dan will make policy decisions based on science, data and medical evidence, which will protect Michiganders and save lives. ”

An attorney running for the 104th House District, O’Neil supports expanding Michigan’s COVID-19 testing and tracing efforts. He also supports expanding affordable health care and preventing insurance corporations from selling junk insurance that raises costs for patients even as it reduces services. 

O’Neil is running against John Roth, who supports a petition campaign to end a governor’s executive authority during a public health emergency. That petition campaign has been rife with controversy, including eyewitness accounts of petition gatherers lying to people to get them to sign the petition.

“Our representatives in Lansing should be doing everything within their power to save lives while supporting small businesses and educators, not launching partisan attacks on our governor who has sought to do just that,” said Dr. David Best, a family physician in Traverse City, which is part of House District 104. “As a doctor, I know Dan will be a champion for the health of not just our families, but our whole community.”

Pitchford is running to unseat incumbent Rep. Pauline Wendzel in the 79th House District, which includes Bridgman, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Coloma, Watervliet and surrounding communities. He is committed to lowering prescription drug prices and protecting care for those pre-existing conditions. 

Rep. Wendzel has publicly attacked Governor Whitmer’s life-saving executive orders surrounding COVID-19, including her order to ensure that migrant workers, many of whom tend to farms in Berrien County, are tested to stay safe from the virus. 

“Here in Berrien County, we believe that no matter your job, you should be able to put in a day’s work and be able to put food on the table and have the medicine and health care you need to be able to live comfortably, and Chokwe Pitchford believes that too,” said Dr. Eric Lester, an oncologist in St. Joseph. “As a physician and voter, there’s no one I trust more to fight for our health care and affordable prescriptions.”

Pulver is a registered nurse seeking the seat for House District 39, which includes West Bloomfield, Wixom and Commerce Township. Pulver is an advocate for investing in robust public health programs, expanding affordable health care, and implementing strong safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic such as social distancing and mask wearing, which can reduce airborne transmission and person-to-person infections. Pulver also supports stringent science-based safeguards at schools that can help reduce infection risks to students and staff. 

Pulver is challenging Rep. Ryan Berman, an incumbent who has supported pushing students back to in-person learning even if conditions put children, teachers and staff at risk. Berman also has expressed opposition to mask wearing and has been pictured without one with others who wore a mask.

“With her experience as a registered nurse, Julia is a strong advocate for public health investments that can improve people’s lives,” said Dr. Bhatti. “As a fellow health care provider, what encourages me is Julia’s readiness to let science and evidence guide public health policy decisions. Now more than ever, Michigan needs elected leaders who will follow science and not partisan politics.”

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About the Committee to Protect Medicare

The Committee to Protect Medicare is an advocacy organization made up of frontline doctors engaging in direct advocacy and communications in support of a stronger healthcare system in America. To learn more: https://committeetoprotect.org/

NOTE: The physicians above are speaking in their capacity as members of the Committee to Protect Medicare. They should be identified only as indicated in this news release. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sep. 17, 2020
CONTACT:
Az Ibrahim, 616-227-1940, azlan@committeetoprotect.org
https://committeetoprotect.org/