There is a health care reform panel at 7 p.m. today at Pruis Hall.
The event will be moderated by Ball State University political science professor Charles Taylor and feature national, state and local representatives to comment on the topic. Panelists will have five to 10 minutes to explain their perspectives on health care reform, then the audience will be allowed to ask questions.
"We tried not to have so much of a pro or con angle but what they have to say from their professional position," Director of Student Life Mitch Isaacs said.
Isaacs said the Office of Student Life has been in contact with Rep. Mike Pence's office since August, but it was just confirmed Monday morning that he would be at the panel.
The House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act late Saturday night in a 220-215 vote. Pence voted against the act.
"He's the person in our district that casts the vote," Isaacs said. " ... When you work for the government and they give you a date and a time, you work with that."
Isaacs said the panel is the brainchild of 2009 graduate Cody Willis, who could not be reached for comment.
Economics professor Cecil Bohanon, a member of the panel, said as an economist he's not against reform, but wants to outline the trade-offs and incentives of health care reform.
"It continues to be a moving target," Bohanon said. "It's going to the Senate next, so they might change the bill."
PANELISTS
Congressman Mike Pence
Pence is the third-ranking lawmaker among House Republicans. He has been an outspoken opponent of the Democrat health care bill in the House, saying it doesn't do enough for small businesses.
Pence has represented the 6th district, which includes Muncie, since 2001. He has served as House Republican Conference Chairman since 2008 and as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee since 2003.
Thomas Whiteman
Whiteman is a representative of the Indiana State Medical Association and a practicing otolaryngologist - an ears, nose and throat specialist.
Larry Dust
Dust is the CEO of Key Benefit Administrators, a national health care insurance company.
Key Benefit Administrators has offices in Indianapolis and Fort Mill, S.C.
Professor Cecil Bohanon
Bohanon is a economics professor at Ball State. His interests include public finance, public choice and applied macroeconomics, according to the Ball State Web site.
David Orentlicher
Orentlicher is a former member of the Indiana House of Representatives, a professor of law and medicine at Indiana University and the co-director of the William S. and Christine S. Hall Center for Law and Health.
He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives, where he focused on health care issues, from 2002 to 2008.
Read More
Indiana Capital Chronicle: Who votes? Here’s who decides Indiana’s elections
By Indiana Capital Chronicle / 1 minutes agoIndiana voter turnout rates have long lain among the lowest in the country. Despite that, some Hoosier voters cast ballots year after year.
Over 3,000 Cardinals join the Ball State family of alumni following commencement
By Ella Howell / YesterdayThe Quad filled with approximately 3,000 graduating Cardinals and their loved ones the morning of May 4 in preparation for the 198th Ball State University Commencement.
