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UID:5396@bluehillpeninsula.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231004T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231004T190000
DTSTAMP:20230927T165008Z
URL:https://bluehillpeninsula.org/events/information-session-for-penobscot
 -voters-on-universal-health-care-referendum/
SUMMARY:Information session for Penobscot voters on universal health care r
 eferendum
DESCRIPTION:On election day this year\, Penobscot residents will have the c
 hance to vote on a town referendum on universal health care\, one of the 
 first in the state at the municipal level. Below is a news release about t
 he referendum as well as an information session and public hearing for Pen
 obscot voters coming up in October.\n---\nNews release\n9/26/23\nContacts:
  David Jolly\, dhjolly49@gmail.com or (919) 451-0908\; Liz Solet\, esol
 et@maineallcare.org or (207) 460-7748 \n\nPenobscot voters to consider r
 eferendum on universal health care on Nov. 7 \n\nIn addition to the eight
  state ballot questions this November\, residents of Penobscot will have t
 heir own referendum to consider: “Shall the citizens of Penobscot call o
 n the Maine Legislature to create a publicly funded healthcare plan that p
 rovides every Maine resident with comprehensive medical care?” \n\nDavi
 d Jolly\, a Penobscot resident and board member for Maine AllCare\, asked
  the town’s select board to put the referendum on the November ballot an
 d the three selectboard members agreed to do so. Maine AllCare is a statew
 ide nonprofit that advocates for universal health care in Maine and across
  the U.S. \n\n“The Penobscot select board understands that there are ma
 ny in our community who are concerned about the future of our health care 
 system\,” said select board member Sara Leighton. ”We feel it’s impo
 rtant for our citizens to make their voices heard. We are very proud that 
 Penobscot is the first town in Maine to have this type of ballot initiativ
 e on universal health care\, and it is our hope that voters come out in dr
 oves to weigh in on this important issue.” \n\nMaine AllCare volunteers
  have presented similar measures to town select boards and city councils a
 nd 12 have passed\, including one in Penobscot in 2020. The current effort
  in Penobscot is the first time the question is being put directly to vote
 rs on the November ballot. (Voters in Trenton and Woolwich passed similar 
 resolutions at their annual town meetings in 2021.)  \n\nIf the Penobsco
 t referendum succeeds\, Maine AllCare intends to launch similar initiative
 s in other towns and cities across the state\, with the goal of demonstrat
 ing that there is widespread support for a publicly funded universal healt
 h care system in Maine.\n\nMaine AllCare will hold an informational sessio
 n on the referendum on Wednesday\, October 4\, 6–7 pm\, at the Penobscot
  Community School to provide information about the referendum and the stat
 e of health care in Maine and to talk with attendees about their views\, e
 xperiences and  concerns.\n\nThe Penobscot select board will conduct a p
 ublic hearing about the referendum on Tuesday\, October 17\, 6–7 pm\, at
  the school\, giving residents another opportunity to discuss issues relat
 ed to the referendum.\n\n“Comprehensive health care reform is unlikely a
 t the federal level any time soon\,” David Jolly says. “But change is 
 possible at the state level and Maine AllCare wants to put pressure on our
  legislators to make that happen. That’s why we’re asking the people o
 f Penobscot to vote yes on this referendum.”\n\nFor more information\, c
 ontact David Jolly at dhjolly49@gmail.com or visit maineallcare.org. 
  \n\n###
LOCATION:Penobscot Community School\, 66 North Penobscot Rd\, Penobscot\, M
 aine\, United States
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=66 North Penobscot Rd\, Pen
 obscot\, Maine\, United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Penobscot Commun
 ity School:geo:0,0
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