Hundreds of activists from around the country convened for an online week of inspiration and strategy to win Medicare for All! The 2022 M4A conference featured more than 20 plenary panels, 40 live workshops, and 80 speakers.
Over the last three decades, activists have sought to establish state single-payer through the ballot initiative process in a variety of states, so far without success. This workshop explores the elements of single-payer ballot campaigns and the challenge of winning them. In particular, we will consider how policy, legal requirements, qualifying for the ballot, fundraising, and especially the character of the coalition and effectiveness of the opposition influence the outcomes. The premise of any campaign has to be there is no shortcut, no substitute for the deep organizing that moves people to action.
Michael Lighty is considered a preeminent spokesperson and expert on Medicare for All. For over 25 years, Lighty has organized, written and spoken on the subject. He was a lead policy analyst for a single-payer bill, SB 562, the Healthy California Act.
