Budget Battles, Lobbying & Legislation: Navigating Health Policy in NC with Dr. Chris Cooper - WNC Health Policy Podcast Ep. 16
Image credits: Chris Cooper (background image: Thanakorn Lappattaranan)
In this episode of the WNC Health Policy Initiative Podcast, we sit down with political scientist Dr. Chris Cooper, Robert Lee Madison Distinguished Professor and Director of the Haire Institute for Public Policy at Western Carolina University, to unpack the forces shaping health policy in North Carolina. From the role of lobbying and interest groups to the legislative process behind health-related bills currently on the table, Dr. Cooper offers a look into how policy is made.
Tune in to learn more about:
Political dynamics at play in the state legislature
Health policies on the table during the 2025-2026 session
WNC representation in the General Assembly
Federal impact on state dynamics
How lobbying sets the agenda
Whether you're a policymaker, health professional, advocate, or simply interested in the intersection of politics and public health, this conversation provides crucial insights into what’s happening behind the scenes in Raleigh and beyond.
🎧 Tune in to better understand how decisions about health policy get made that impact WNC. Listen via the audio bar above, or via Apple Podcasts or Spotify
About the WNC Health Policy Podcast: In each installment, we speak about different public health strategies for improving health and well-being in Western North Carolina (WNC). The WNC HPl is a collaboration between the NC Center for Health & Wellness at UNCA and MAHEC, with generous support from the Dogwood Health Trust.
Individual opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast are those of the author(s)/interviewee(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the WNC Health Policy Initiative or its host institutions of the University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA), Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) or our funders.
Transcript
Coming Soon!
AR: Andrew Rainey (WNC HPI)
AA: Dr. Chris Cooper (Organization)
