The Department of Political Science at CSU will present a free lecture titled “Politics and the Common Good: National Health Care — What Happened?” on Tuesday, April 20 from 12 noon- 1 p.m. in Parker Hannifin Hall, room 104, located at 2258 Euclid Ave.

President Barack Obama invested most of his political capital into health policy during the first 15 months of his presidency. These efforts drew criticism from right and left, as the bill lumbered through the process. Public support weakened, the bill changed considerably, and through the first part of 2010, nobody knew if the bill would pass at all. Despite these developments, Obama signed into law on March 23 a bill that made sweeping changes in the way the nation handles access to medical care.

At this first session of the Politics and the Common Good series, CSU faculty and invited experts will analyze how this bill came to be law and assess the impact its passage will have on the political environment going forward. Among questions the panelists will address are

• Why was President Obama ultimately successful in his efforts to lead Congress on the issue of national health care?
• Why did the Republican Party choose its political strategy of non-cooperation and what will the consequences of this approach to policy reform be for the party?
• What role did the Tea Party movement play?
• What will the impact of this legislation be on the Obama presidency?

Speakers are Dr. Justin Vaughn, Department of Political Science; Dr. Edward Horowitz, School of Communication; and Greg Schultz, Ohio Director, Organizing for America. The moderator is Dr. Rodger Govea, Department of Political Science.

Bring your lunch, cookies will be provided. The event is sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the Department of Political Science. The Department of Political Science at CSU is committed to helping students and the public understand the importance of politics and democracy in their daily lives. Visit www.csuohio.edu/class/politicalscience.

For more information, call 216.687.4541 or email v.varaljay@csuohio.edu.

About Cleveland State University

Founded in 1964, Cleveland State University is a public research institution that provides a dynamic setting for engaged learning. With an enrollment of more than 16,000 students, 8 colleges and more than 250 academic programs, CSU provides a hands-on learning environment that connects students, ideas and real-world experience. Visit www.csuohio.edu for more information.

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