Candidates Pledge Commitment to Michigan State University
	Candidates Gretchen Witmer (D) and Bill Hollister (R) answer questions during an Oct 25 debate and forum at the MSU Radiology Auditorium. The event was hosted by MSUCOM.

by Krister Friday

October 25, 2000

As the campaign for the 70^th District House heats up, one thing remains clear: both candidates agree that MSU has not received its fair share of state funding for higher education. Democrat Gretchen Whitmer and Republican Bill Hollister each affirmed their commitment to MSU in front of an audience at the Radiology Building this past Wednesday, during a candidate forum and debate hosted by MSUCOM and its Office of Government and Community Relations. The debate was moderated by Bill Ballenger, the editor of Inside Politics, a Lansing-based political newsletter.

Although the candidates sharply disagreed over who had the best qualifications to fill the seat vacated by departing Representative Laura Baird, D-Okemos, they both took turns emphasizing the importance of education and Michigan State University.

"I am a product of local public schools," said Whitmer, who called education her top priority. "We need to make sure that all children have access to great, strong education." As for higher education, Whitmer, an MSU graduate, told the audience that if she wins she has been guaranteed a place on the state’s higher education subcommittee, where she will fight for increased state funding for MSU.

For his part, Republican Bill Hollister, also a MSU graduate, questioned Whitmer’s ability to run on promises made to her by others and stressed instead his history of "collaboration and participation" in legislative issues. He suggested that if both state houses end up controlled by Republicans after the election, a Republican with a history of bipartisanship would have a better ability to fight for increased MSU funding.
		The Candidates talk with Dean Jacobs before the debate.

On health and medicine related issues, both candidates expressed an interest in changing existing health policy.

When asked about the issue of inadequate Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements for physicians, Whitmer pledged to shore up the state Medicaid budget, which she claimed had been cut by the Engler administration. She also vowed to strengthen health programs with proven successes like the "MIChild" program and expand coverage for the working poor. Hollister suggested that broadening the definition of a primary care physician to include more rural family practitioners was one improvement that could be made in the reimbursement system. He also pointed out that Sparrow Hospital, for instance, spends about 20 million dollars a year in uncompensated care and that ways need to be found to give everyone "accessible, affordable healthcare."