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Baldwin hosts student ‘meet, greet’ session
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by Ryan Masse
Monday, October 11, 2004
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin discussed health care and a number of other issues with University of Wisconsin students Sunday night during a "Meet 'n' Greet" session at Chadbourne Residential College.
Baldwin recounted her first foray into politics for the small gathering of students, saying her election to the Dane County Board at age 24 provided a voice for a segment of the population normally shunned by politicians.
"Most of my colleagues were old enough to be my parents, and yet I wanted them to take me and the people I represented seriously," Baldwin said. "The very same thing works today. It's our responsibility as people who care about our future to start having conversations … with people who might otherwise not come out to the polls."
Failing to make a commitment to education, Baldwin said, would lead to an erosion of the middle class.
"Education is the goose that laid the golden egg, and if we start starving education, we're not going to have the golden egg anymore," she said.
Turning to a policy priority throughout her six years in Congress, Baldwin described the country's current health-care system as "fragmented." She said a movement akin to social security or women's suffrage would be needed to grant coverage to 45 million people uninsured in the country.
Baldwin's opponent in November's election, Republican Dave Magnum, has been critical of Baldwin's focus on health care, saying the congresswoman's insistence on universal health care has prevented her from any real accomplishments on the issue.
Baldwin insisted universal health care is an attainable goal. She expressed support for single-payer plans but indicated states should be allowed to try different plans to identify one that works best. When America does adopt a universal health care system, the country will feel a sense of pride in joining every other industrialized country, she said.
"If 45 million uninsured people spoke out with one voice, this would happen tomorrow," Baldwin said.
Baldwin fielded numerous questions from an audience eager to hear her views on issues ranging from the military draft to John Kerry's aptitude to be president.
In response to a question concerning House Majority Leader Tom Delay, Baldwin complimented the Republican for believing in his own ideology, but scorned him for acting in an unethical manner.
The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct has issued Delay two formal rebukes in the last week for a number of improprieties, including threatening retribution against a House member if he did not change his vote on a health-care bill.
"I don't believe he is fit to be in the leadership position in his party," Baldwin said of Delay.
Students said afterward they feel the congresswoman's message resonates with young people.
UW sophomore Ann Slabosky, who took an uninsured friend to get an appendectomy this week, said health-care matters will affect students sooner than they think.
"I am extremely concerned about universal health care," Slabosky said. "It's a huge problem for people our age because as soon as we get out of college, if we don't get a job right away, what's going to happen to us? We'll be screwed."
