For Immediate Release:                                                                    Contact: Leah Gonzalez (347) 231-7231

August 4, 2008                                                                                                   Evan Stavisky (212) 571-7717

 
 
1199 SEIU ENDORSES COUNCIL MEMBER
MICHAEL McMAHON FOR U.S. CONGRESS
 
Union's Endorsement Continues Growing Momentum for McMahon
In His Bid For The Open Seat In The 13th Congressional District

 
(New York, NY) 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East today announced their endorsement of Democratic candidate Michael McMahon for the 13th Congressional district.  McMahon, a lifelong Staten Island resident, is seeking the open seat being vacated by Congressman Vito Fossella.

 
Michael McMahon has a long history of fighting for health care access as a member of the City Council.  The closing of several private hospitals such as Victory Memorial in Bay Ridge, and Bayley Seton and Doctors Hospital in Staten Island has taken away many families' primary source of healthcare.  To help combat this crisis, McMahon worked with the public hospital system to develop a Federally Qualified Health Care Center in Staten Island, and increased healthcare funding for the Richmond University Medical Center and Staten Island University Hospital.  In addition, when the City wanted to remove nurses from primary schools, McMahon introduced and passed a law requiring the Department of Health to provide at least one full-time, on-site nurse to every school with over 200 students.   

 
"The lack of access to quality, affordable healthcare is among the most pressing problems our country, and Staten Island and Brooklyn in particular, face today," said George Gresham, President of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.  "The healthcare workers of 1199 are proud to endorse Michael McMahon for Congress.  His record of protecting access to healthcare and expanding funding for hospitals demonstrate his commitment to making progressive healthcare reform a reality."

 
"Health care isn't simply an abstract concept to be debated by politicians - it's something that gets delivered every day by real working men and women who have the right to be treated with respect in the workplace, and given a reasonable wage and benefits," said Michael McMahon.  "I am proud to have fought for health care access and the needs of working families here in New York City.  With 1199's support I look forward to bringing that fight to Washington, working to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and provide universal health care to all Americans."

 
With 92,000 labor households in the 13th Congressional district, the support of rank and file union members is a critical part of any successful campaign.  1199 SEIU will aggressively mobilize its members on McMahon's behalf.  The union plans to direct mail, phone-bank and go door-to-door to its thousands of members in the district. 

 
Last month McMahon earned a spot on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's vaunted "Red to Blue" program, signaling that the campaign is a top national priority for the Democratic Party.  The program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country and offers them financial, communications and strategic support.

 
With 300,000 members in New York, Massachusetts, Maryland and Washington D.C., 1199 SEIU is the largest and fastest growing healthcare union in the country.  Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all.

 -- Anthony HogrebeInterim Communications DirectorMcMahon for Congress(732) 841-2823