As the Speaker of the Senate for Undergraduate Student Government, I would like to take a moment to respond to the Friday column submitted by a fellow senator who opposed the passage of a bill to establish a student health line.

The bill that was approved by the Senate will provide funds to establish a 24-hour student health line that would be accessible to all Ohio State students. The health line would be a resource that will allow students to obtain professional, 24-hour medical advice over the phone.

Though a number of factors explain the Senate’s choice to approve this piece of legislation, there were several core arguments that were most salient. One is that the student health center is not open on weekends. Many students need medical attention or consultation on weekends and have nowhere to turn short of admitting themselves to the hospital. The health line would help students determine whether to seek medical attention and how to alleviate symptoms.

The health line would also help contain health care costs for students as it might lead to reducing the need for paid medical consultation. Another key benefit is the health line will serve as a clearinghouse where students can obtain information on where to receive specialized medical services, such as mental health care.

Much of the attention during our formal floor debate focused on the funding of this proposal. Outside sources of funding were sought and a significant contribution was secured from Student Affairs Vice President Rich Hollingsworth. Hollingsworth committed $20,000 of his discretionary budget funds toward this initiative. Even with this contribution, $36,000 was still needed to fund the proposal.

During the past two years, your student government Senate has passed scores of legislation to ensure fiscal responsibility and greater accountability in USG. When few others cared to tackle this difficult challenge, your Senate enacted new measures requiring the introduction of detailed budgets to accompany every spending proposal, mandating that expenditures be voted on by the Senate instead of ordered without a vote and forcing greater record-keeping and public disclosure. The spending rules on the books today are the toughest ones USG has had since the enactment of the student activity fee and are often characterized as being over-burdensome by some critics.

The bill in question was approved after months of study by the Policy Committee, weeks of discussion by the Senate, a vote by the Senate to block bringing the bill to an up-or-down vote last fall because senators believed the large expenditure merited further examination, a thorough examination by the Senate Budget and Finance Committee and a spirited debate on the Senate floor.

The establishment of the student health line is indeed a significant expenditure; in fact, it is the single largest bill on record ever approved by USG. Considering the circumstances described above, the thorough analysis that preceded passage, and the fact that the USG budget remains strong and with an enormous surplus of funds (over $180,000), the Senate believed that this investment in student health and well-being was worthwhile and within our means.

USG President Ryan Fournier has since vetoed this spending bill. This is the first USG presidential veto since disgraced former President B.J. Schuerger (who later resigned amidst scandal) vetoed legislation allowing Senate oversight of questionable executive expenditures six years ago.

A presidential veto is an unprecedented move that will stand in the way of advancing a significant accomplishment by USG. Should a veto override be entertained in the Senate, we would like to hear your thoughts on this issue. You may attend tonight’s Senate meeting at 6:30 in Recreational and Physical Activity Center Conference Rooms Two and Three and speak during our forum open for the public.

Nick Benson is a senior in political science and is the USG Speaker of the Senate. He can be reached for comment at [email protected].