Petition drive begins for universal health care

DETROIT (AP) - Advocates for universal health care in Michigan will start a petition drive Tuesday to put a proposal before the voters in November.

A group of health care, labor and civil rights activists plans to collect 475,000 signatures by July 7 as part of an effort to get the state constitution amended.

If passed, The Detroit News reports the measure would require lawmakers to come up with a solution for the state's 1.1 million uninsured residents.

John Freeman, chairman of the Michigan Health Care Security Campaign, says reforming health care will help restructure the state's economy and allow businesses to remain competitive.