Martin noted that a House committee holding hearings on the bill has announced that today's scheduled hearing will be the last for possibly months, even though 10 more bills were introduced late last week to implement the $4 billion to $5 billion state government health plan.

"With an election year just around the corner, given Michigan voters' overwhelming opposition to this legislation, it's no wonder the committee doesn't want to hold more hearings," Martin said.

"During the hearings over the past two months, so many witnesses have either voiced opposition or raised serious concerns, opposition to the legislation among voters has skyrocketed."

The vast majority of witnesses at the House hearings have expressed concerns or outright opposition to the legislation, including representatives of local governments, executives of health plans, representatives of labor unions and school districts, the head of the House Fiscal Agency, independent actuaries, and more. Witnesses have said the claimed savings are grossly over-estimated, the risks and costs to taxpayers are under-estimated, and constitutional problems with the bill are not even being acknowledged.

"A number of people with additional concerns wanted to testify and have been told they would not be allowed," Martin said.

"We know, for example, that witnesses have asked to present their concerns about reproductive rights and domestic partner benefits. We know Public Policy Associates, which has completed the only thorough analysis of the legislation, has asked to testify, but has basically been told 'no.' We are going to make sure their concerns are heard by the people, by legislators, and the news media, even if the committee has stopped the public hearings."

Here are quick summaries of the EPIC*MRA and MRG polls (more information can be found at www.accountabilityinreform.com):

*    The EPIC*MRA survey of 600 voters, completed Dec. 9, found only 22 percent of Michigan voters support the legislation. A 59 percent majority opposed the legislation when first asked, and after hearing arguments both in favor of and against the proposal, opposition grew to 71 percent. A 78 to 16 percent majority said local governments, universities, colleges, local schools and their employees should not be forced to join a state government plan and the decision should be voluntary.

*    In the MRG survey of 600 voters, conducted Sept. 12-20, opposition was strong at 57 percent to 37 percent. The MRG poll found especially strong opposition among behavioral Republicans: 72 percent of GOP voters opposed the bill.

In both surveys, Michigan voters were alarmed by the costs to state government and taxpayers of setting up and running the plan for the first year, estimated at about $870 million. Opposition also increased after voters learned taxpayer bailouts have occurred in other states with mandatory and voluntary public employer health insurance plans. This year in North Carolina - one of the few states with a mandatory health insurance plan for public employers - the Legislature turned to taxpayers to bail out the plan's deficit to the tune of more than $250 million this year and $658 million over two years.

"Michigan voters believe it's a bad idea and risky for taxpayers to force all local governments and their employees onto a state government-run plan that voters believe is going to cost more to set up and run than it will ever save," Martin said.