LegiSchool students question state leaders about health care policy

California high school students questioned state leaders about health care issues at a press conference at the state Capitol on Thursday, April 3, as part of a day-long Student Legislative Summit sponsored by Sacramento State’s LegiSchool Project.

The students questioned Senate President Pro Tem-elect Darrell Steinberg, Assembly member Alan Nakanishi, and health care lobbyist Anthony Williams about health issues and various reform proposals.  

“The panelists were impressed with how challenging the students’ questions were,” said LegiSchool project director Sara Vogel. “They were not soft at all. The students were very knowledgeable about the issues.”         

Students were selected to participate through LegiSchool’s statewide essay contest, “Health care in California: Is there a cure?” The students were asked to analyze recent health care reform legislation and to offer ideas to improve the state’s current system.

The student questioners and their high schools were Edward Chau, Upland; Slava Fedorchuk, Newport Harbor; Sandra Gonzalez, San Ysidro; Patrick Huie, Oakland; Mardo Iknadiossian and Ross Stuart, Mount Shasta; and Erika Klein, Ariel Nicole Murphy, Kathryn Payne and Derek Tat from the Los Angeles High School for the Arts.