Gary was born in Pontiac, Michigan – a 5th generation Michigander. His father, a World War II veteran, worked as a public school teacher and NEA union member for more than 30 years. His mother – who survived Nazi occupation of France and met Gary’s father while he served in Europe during the war – worked as a nurse’s aide at a local nursing home. She helped organize her workplace and became an SEIU union steward.
Michigan families deserve access to quality, affordable health care coverage that helps protect their financial future. Because of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, insurance companies can no longer discriminate because of pre-existing conditions. Women cannot be charged more than men for their health care simply because of their gender. Young people getting their start in life can stay on their parents’ health plans until age 26. People are no longer locked into a job because they need health care. Health care cost increases are finally being brought under control. Millions of Americans are finally gaining some measure of security and stability through affordable health coverage.
Gary supports bipartisan, commonsense efforts to fix the law to make health care reform work better for Michiganders and our small businesses, but he also understands that the law is helping millions of Americans access health insurance, and we cannot afford to lose these new protections and reforms. The Supreme Court has twice upheld key provisions of the law, and Gary will continue to stand up against partisan efforts to repeal the law and go back to a dysfunctional system that puts insurance companies in charge at the expense of Michigan’s families.