Upcoming Panel Discussion: Rhetoric of the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) has proven to be one of the most controversial pieces of national legislation passed in many years. Despite being an important piece of Barack Obama’s successful campaign platform, the ACA has had to survive a Supreme Court challenge as well as other threats – and most notably, was cited as the casus belli for a Republican shutdown of the federal government. The purpose of this event is not to discuss the legislation itself, but rather the debate surrounding the ACA. How has this debate reflected aspects of the current national political atmosphere? What are the implications of this contentious debate for future policymaking and public dialog?

To address these questions, a panel of speakers will participate in a 90-minute discussion moderated by Pell Center Senior Fellow Joseph Grady, who will contribute additional perspectives on public dialog about the issue. Audience members will be encouraged to contribute questions and opinions.

Panel members for the event are:

Robert Hackey, Visiting Fellow, Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy; Director of the Health Policy and Management Program, Providence College, and author of Cries of Crisis

Richard Holtzman, Associate Professor of Political Science, Bryant University

Date:   Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Time:   7:00 p.m.

Place:

Salve Regina University

O’Hare Academic Center – Bazarsky Lecture Hall

Ochre Point Avenue

Newport, RI

RSVP to [email protected] or 401-341-2927