FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Patrick Fields
November 7, 2007 patrick.fields@mu.edu

College Republicans and Democrats present Health Care Debate 2007

MILWAUKEE, WI – Last night in the Alumni Memorial Union students gathered to hear a panel-style debate put together by the College Republicans and College Democrats on health care in Wisconsin. The debate centered on the health care crisis and what reforms are necessary to repair the broken system.

The debate featured four distinguished panelists. State Representative Leah Vukmir (R), from the 14th district of Wisconsin, and Mr. Jerry Frye, President of the Benefit Services Group, presented arguments in favor of a market-based approach to reform and critiqued the current Healthy Wisconsin proposal.

Representative Vukmir said, “We need to give consumers the information and tools with which to make informed decisions for themselves,” Rep. Vukmir also stressed the importance that only the consumer knows what is good for themselves and that, “Once government gets involved you are going to stifle innovation.” Mr. Frye suggested that reform must address, access, cost, and quality. He stated that, “The marketplace is in the process of putting mechanisms in place to address the problems of cost and quality.” Mr. Frye also added that doctors and providers need to focus on evidenced based medicine in order to make treatment more effective and efficient.

Dr. Robert Kraig, Communications and Program Director for Citizen Action, and Dr. Therese Lysaught, Theology Professor at Marquette University, presented arguments in favor of Healthy Wisconsin and in general for a government managed solution. Dr. Kraig argued that, “Healthy Wisconsin combines consumer need for security and choice.” He stressed the importance of people having the security of knowing that they are covered if anything should happen to them. Dr. Lysaught focused on the principles of Catholic social teaching in her argument, and the duty of Christians to look out for the poor and disadvantaged.

The debate lasted for approximately an hour and a half and became heated at times. Overall, the four panelists all agreed that there is a health care crisis but they disagreed in the ways to reform the system. This was an informative and beneficial debate because it brought both sides of the ideological divide together to present the merits of their arguments. It also allowed students to reach their own conclusions.

The College Republicans and College Democrats look forward to presenting more informative debates on a variety of important issues to Marquette students in the coming months, especially as the election season starts to come into full swing.

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“Paid for by the Marquette University College Republicans, Brent Downs, Treasurer. NOT authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. MU CRs, an association of students attending Marquette University, is registered with, but separate from, Marquette University.”