Visionary Looks Ahead - Thomas M. Cooley Law School

featureNine-term Congressman Bart Stupak(Dethmers Class, 1981) readies for life’s next chapterIn 2014, an estimated 32 million Americanswill begin receiving new insurance benefitspreviously unavailable to one of the neediestsegments of the nation’s population.The Patient Protection and Affordable CareAct (Public Law 111-148), better known asHealth Care Reform, could be considered oneof the most hotly debated pieces of federallegislation ever signed into law.Regardless, a Cooley alumnus is standing tallin his role of advocating for this sweepinghealth policy change that will ultimately affecteverything from the cost of insurance to howhealth care services are delivered throughoutthe country.A pro-life Democrat, Stupak opposed languagein the original bill that would include funding forelective abortions. He successfully negotiatedwith leaders of Congress and President Obamato issue an Executive Order to prevent thefunding of elective abortions and, subsequently,cast one of the deciding votes in support of thebill. The late-hour vote catapulted Stupak intothe national spotlight and elicited strong wordsfrom both sides of the aisle.HEALTH REFORM:HALLMARK OF HIS CAREERStill, health care policies will likely be hailed asthe hallmark of Stupak’s distinguished 20-yearpolitical career, which has spanned nine termsand produced hundreds of pieces of legislation.The perennial incumbent has opted not to seeka 10th term and will retire from public office atthe end of the year.Being thrust into the national spotlight is nothingStupak envisioned 38 years ago while working asa police officer in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.An avid outdoorsman, Stupak loved his earlycareer days working outside and on the road.While the rural Caro, Michigan state post wherehe worked had its share of crime, the realities ofhis crime-fighting job came crashing down onhim following the death of a good friend.“I was 28 and thought, what else can I dowith my life?”His wife, Laurie, suggested that he considerlaw school.The idea took hold.(continues)BENCHMARK FALL 2010 COOLEY.EDU3