Most of the $2.4 million raised by committees supporting and opposing questions on the November 2018 Massachusetts ballot has come from labor unions, with the Massachusetts Nurses Association leading the pack. The nursing union supports a proposal calling for strict nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals, SouthCoastToday.com reports.
Here are five things to know:
1. The Committee to Ensure Safe Patient Care raised the most money last year, relying heavily on unions. The group is pushing the question that would require nurse-to-patient ratios; it has raised nearly all of the $1,051,300 it pulled in last year from the Massachusetts Nurses Association.
2. The question aims to improve patient safety by establishing a maximum limit on the number of patients assigned to a nurse at any single time.
3. The Coalition to Protect Patient Safety, a group opposed to the question, raised a single $10,000 donation from the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association last year. The group says the question will drive up costs.
4. Raise Up Massachusetts raised the next highest amount in 2017, bringing in $511,441. The group supports the minimum wage question and a question that would help guarantee paid family and medical leave for workers.
5. The amount of money individuals can contribute to political candidates is limited, but there is no limit on donations to ballot question committees.
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