MASSACHUSETTS NURSE NEWSLETTER :: October 2006

Nurses recommend Patrick/Murray

	Deval Patrick	Tim Murray

On Nov. 7 Massachusetts voters will elect a new governor and lieutenant governor, and this election is critical to front-line staff nurses. Because of the importance of this election, the Massachusetts Nurses Association PAC and its board of directors have recommended and endorsed Deval Patrick for governor and Tim Murray for lieutenant governor.

The next governor:

• Will have the power to sign into law or veto the safe RN staffing bill.
• Will hold tremendous influence and power in the appointment of key positions in government that impact nursing and health care, including the commissioner of the Department of Public Health, members of the Board of Registration in Nursing and key health care policy makers.
• Will be the employer of nearly 2,000 registered nurses and health care professionals working in our state health and human services system. Under the Romney/Healey administration this unit went three years without a contract and had to fight back constant efforts to dramatically increase their health insurance premium contributions, alter their pension and dismantle their collective bargaining rights and benefits.

Patrick and Murray bring a new approach and new ideas to Massachusetts state government. Patrick supports the House-passed, redrafted version of the safe RN staffing bill. The Romney/Healey administration issued a statement of opposition during the House debate and candidate Healey refused to answer an MNA questionnaire or attend a related MNA interview.

In his own words
Patrick recently commented on the redrafted safe RN staffing bill and said, “I supported this compromise, and conveyed this support in a number of public forums. Though that compromise did not move in the Senate, I look forward to working with the MNA, legislators and others to revive it.”

In terms of patient safety and nursing care, Patrick has said, “My conversations with the Board and other members of the MNA, my own research and my family’s experience have convinced me of the need to address the staffing crisis that nurses and their patients are facing. As I stated in my MNA questionnaire, recent patient care studies highlight how nurse understaffing leads to increased rates of error, complications, lengths of stay and readmissions. I believe hospitals and their nursing staffs should work toward the best staffing ratios to serve patient needs.”

Tim Murray: A friend of nurses
As the mayor of Worcester, Murray has a strong record of supporting working people, organized labor and quality health and human services. Murray has consistently advocated for the concerns of nurses and their patients. The nurses of St. Vincent Hospital have long admired Murray since his days as a city councilor. While in that position, he regularly walked the picket line with the striking nurses and provided ongoing support in their fight for improved staffing and working conditions.

In addition, Murray has been a strong voice for nursing care and patient safety issues at the Worcester-area hospitals and in the Worcester public schools. The MNA has consistently been able to turn to Murray for support and understanding when it came to the issues facing nurses and patients.

Healey will target nurses, patients
Healey recently unveiled her 50-point plan for Massachusetts. Included in that plan were several items targeting Unit 7 members, including dramatic increases in state employee health insurance premiums and elimination of the defined benefit pension system.
Under the Romney/Healey administration this unit has gone three years without a contract. Help us put an end to this vicious cycle: vote for Patrick and Murray on Nov. 7.