National Survey Reveals Voters’ Attitudes on Health Care – Particularly Independent Women – Will Have Significant Impact

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 08, 2005
   
CONTACT:
Alyssa Barnum
202-730-7358
alyssa.barnum@seiu.org
 
Washington, DC – Today Americans for Health Care, a project of SEIU, and EMILY’s List released the results of a joint national survey conducted by Lake Research Partners which reveals that health care is an extremely powerful issue for women voters and will play a critical role in the 2006 elections.

As more and more elections tip on the narrowest margin of swing voters and independent moderates, it is crucial to determine how to move independent women.  One of the most effective ways to move independent women voters is by highlighting the issue of affordable health care.

“We know from talking to our SEIU members and to Health Care Voters across the country that Americans are concerned about the skyrocketing costs and increasing inaccessibility of quality, affordable health care,” said Ellen Golombek, Director of Government Affairs for the Service Employees International Union. “This poll shows that voters are hungry for government action to address what they clearly see as a health care crisis.”

The poll also provides important insight into targeting and moving a critical sector of voters – women, particularly independent women.

“What we found in this poll echoes some of EMILY's List ongoing research, that health care can not be approached just as a pocket book issue,” said Karen White, EMILY's List National Political Director. “For women, health care is a morals and values issue and the full power of this issue to move voters will not be felt unless it is cast in this light.”

The partnership between EMILY’s List and SEIU Americans for Health Care brought two powerhouses to the table – one organization with expertise about women voters and another with expertise about health care.

EMILY's List is the nation's largest political action committee and financial resource for women running for elective office. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY's List has helped elect 61 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 11 to the U.S. Senate, and eight governors. In only ten election cycles, EMILY's List has helped elect hundreds of pro-choice Democratic women to federal office, state legislatures, state constitutional offices and other key local offices. www.emilyslist.org