After the U.S. House of Representatives passed a historic health care bill Saturday, the University campus has been buzzing this week as supporters and opponents argue the bill’s merits.
Tonight, the debate gets a larger stage.
The Black Affairs Council will sponsor “The Great Debate: Health Care Reform” at 7 p.m. in room 248 of the Miller Student Learning Center. The event – which is open to all members of the University community – is part of BAC Week 2009.
“With the recent passing of the health care bill in the House of Representatives, this is definitely a major issue,” said Nekabari Goka, head of the BAC Political Action Committee. “This debate is an opportunity for people of different viewpoints to come out and voice their opinions.”
Before the president can sign the bill into law, it must first pass through the U. S. Senate.
Several organizations on campus will send representatives to express their positions on the topic, including College Republicans, Young Democrats and Young Americans for Liberty.
“We’re looking forward to it,” said Bobby Andres, president of the Young Democrats. “We’re pretty excited to finally debate College Republicans on the issue.”
Last fall, students debated whether to cast ballots for Barack Obama or John McCain, and Saxby Chambliss or Jim Martin.
With the absence of any major political race involving Georgians this fall, the debate about health care reform has moved to the forefront of campus political discourse.
“It’s a historic moment,” Andres said. “Democrats have been trying to get health care reform since Harry Truman. Now there’s finally a meaningful bill that has passed.”
Greg Wilson, chairman of the College Republicans, expressed an opposing viewpoint.
“The bill is too expensive and it has too many flaws,” Wilson said. “It’s a takeover of health care.”
Wilson took issue with the fact that Americans can be jailed for failing to purchase a qualifying health care plan.
“We think that health care should be a choice each American deserves to make,” he said.
BAC Week is an annual event celebrating the organization’s commitment to preserving black culture at the University. The group traditionally holds a political debate during BAC Week every year.
“It’s important for political groups on campus to get together and talk about this issue,” Wilson said. “A lot of people haven’t made up their minds and it’s important for us to have a healthy and civil dialogue.”