Policymakers in Michigan faced a severe budget crisis, and every big line item in the state budget was potentially on the chopping block. Not many line items were bigger than health care. The Michigan Hospital Association was determined to change the terms of the debate; health care wasn’t just to be viewed as a budget to cut. It was, instead, a fast growing industry to cultivated, especially in a state otherwise lacking fast growing industries. This issue advocacy campaign successfully told the story of why Michigan should protect health care jobs.