Editor's note: this article has been updated to reflect a change in one of the forum speakers, as well as an update to one of the groups represented in the forum.
A virtual forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 21 will feature experts on both sides of the Medicaid Expansion issue, which will appear on the statewide Missouri ballot as Amendment 2 in the August 4 primary election.
The public can join the forum live via Zoom using this link: https://otc.zoom.us/j/91144597893
The following week, KSMU-Ozarks Public Radio will broadcast the recorded forum in its entirety at 7 p.m. Monday, July 27.
Sponsored by Ozarks Technical Community College’s Social Sciences Department and Politically Active (a non-partisan student organization), the forum is part of a series of candidate and issue forums organized by 10 community organizations working together to engage and educate voters.
Forum Experts
- Speaking in support of Medicaid Expansion will be CoxHealth president and CEO, Steve Edwards. Edwards will be representing "Yes on 2: Healthcare for Missouri," which describes itself as a grassroots, nonpartisan effort led by Missouri doctors, nurses, healthcare advocates, civic and business leaders, and Missourians who need healthcare.
- Speaking in opposition to Medicaid Expansion will be Missouri Senator Bob Onder, representing United for Missouri, an organization committed to educating citizens about the impact of limited government. Onder is a physician and serves on Missouri's legislative Task Force for Examining Statewide Medicaid Delivery Models. The group United for Missouri says it supports policies that promote the American free enterprise system as the best way to ensure growth, opportunity and prosperity for Missourians.
For more information, contact OTC representatives Andrew Crocker, crockera@otc.edu or Cara Griffin, griffin@otc.edu
Candidate and Issue Forum Coalition Members
The coalition sponsoring the series of forums has 10 members:
· Be Civil, Be Heard program
· Drury University’s L.E. Meador Center for Politics & Citizenship
· Junior League of Springfield
· KSMU-Ozarks Public Radio
· Leadership Springfield
· League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri
· Missouri State University’s Public Affairs Office
· NAACP Springfield
· Ozarks Technical Community College’s Social Sciences Department and Politically Active student organization
· Springfield-Greene County Library District