The Malibu Rotary Club welcomed Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D. Calif.) to the Graziadio Executive Center on Friday morning.
Waxman has represented California’s 30th district— which includes Malibu— in the U.S. Congress since 1974.
“Congressman Waxman is probably one of the three most important House members Dean of Seaver College David Baird said, before the talk began. It’s an honor to have him here at the invitation of Rotary but also as a guest of campus.”
Waxman chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee split his hour-long talk between a report on the happenings in Washington and a question-and-answer session.
Waxman called 2009 an exciting year for his committee emphasizing the economic import of health care and climate change.
“We have a health care system that is unsustainable Waxman said. We spend more money on health care than any country in the world and yet we have 45 million people uninsured. The system is really quite dysfunctional.”
Waxman also focused on the energy bill. According to Waxman the bill’s three major purposes are to lessen U.S. dependence on foreign oil to combat the effects of greenhouse gasses and their imminent effects on the climate and to create jobs and transform the economy.
Waxman then fielded questions from the audience. Great Books Professor Don Marshall asked the congressman: “Is [the healthcare bill] going to happen? Is it dead because the Senate Republicans are going to block it?”
“We have come so close not to complete healthcare reform would be a travesty Waxman said in response. I’m an optimist. I have to work under the assumption that if there’s an avenue— if there’s a way to get there we’re eventually going to get people health care reform.”
Waxman’s closing comments addressed the current Republican Party strategy which he said he considers risky. He said it was their goal to stop all legislation from passing so that come the elections in November voters will punish the democrats at the polls for not succeeding in their endeavors. He said the GOP had become the “Party of ‘No.'”
Mark Cruz a senior political science major who attended the talk said he thought it was a good presentation and a good overview of what the Congressman is doing. He especially liked the fact that the update was in person.
“Individuals get to hear it right from the source without a filter Cruz said, adding that although he is more conservative, he appreciated hearing the other side. There should be a robust dialogue between sides. It’s important for conservatives to listen and dispel this ‘Party of No’ myth.”
“I appreciate Rotary [Club] for bringing him here to unfold his thinking Marshall said. It would be nice to have more time for questions but his time is valuable.
“It’s a noble calling to be a politician Marshall said. He’s really trying to be what a politician should be and I admire him for that.”
Waxman encouraged students to get involved in public service.
“Students should accept responsibility to be of service to the community Waxman said. Politics has been a vehicle for me but there are a lot of other organizations to get involved in.”
