Across the Spectrum: The Future of Ohio and the Path to Prosperity

Press Release:

BUCKEYE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY SOLUTIONS, THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS, AND GREATER OHIO POLICY CENTER ANNOUNCE JOINT CONFERENCE ON OHIO'S BIGGEST ISSUES

September 26, 2011- Columbus, OH - The Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions, The Center for Community Solutions and the Greater Ohio Policy Center-three Ohio-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations with varying perspectives on government and public policy-announce joint sponsorship of a unique conference, "Across the Spectrum: The Future of Ohio and the Path to Prosperity," to take place on December 8, 2011, at the Columbus Renaissance Hotel. The conference's dual goals are to:

* raise the level of public discourse in an era in which winning has replaced good public policy as the objective and
* explore differences and common ground on key substantive policy issues central to the future prosperity of Ohioans.

This conference recognizes that solving the deep economic and fiscal problems confronting Ohio and the nation requires fundamental government restructuring, across many areas, and new thinking about public policy and the roles of government. With its unique bipartisan underpinnings and multi-faceted approach, this conference is a singular event in the country at a time when partisanship has run amok and special interests on both sides of the aisle hold many elected officials hostage.

Keynote speakers include: Dr. Arthur Laffer, Founder and Chairman, Laffer Associates and The Laffer Center for Supply-Side Economics; Dr. Alice Rivlin, Member, National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and former Director of Office of Management and Budget under President Bill Clinton; and Professor Walter Russell Mead, Professor of Foreign Affairs and Humanities at Bard College & Editor-at-Large of The American Interest.

"While we acknowledge that we don't agree on all the answers to these sticky questions, we do agree that Ohioans must take a fresh look at and restructure many of its policies and programs to address the challenges of the current era - and the future," said John Begala, Executive Director of CCS. "Our aim is to challenge individuals and organizations to think out of their intellectual and ideological silos and work collaboratively to jumpstart a new economy in Ohio," concluded Lavea Brachmann, Executive Director of Greater Ohio. Matt Mayer, President of the Buckeye Institute added: "This conference provides the forum to promote a healthy exchange of ideas and lay the groundwork for concrete policy reforms, reflecting Ohio's aspiration to regain its status as the "state" of innovation."

The full agenda with speakers is below.


"Across the Spectrum: The Future of Ohio and the Path to Prosperity"

Renaissance Columbus
50 North 3rd Street
December 8, 2011

8:30 am
Opening Remarks: John Begala, The Center for Community Solutions

8:45 am to 10 am
Panel I - 21st Century Government: Consolidation & Smart Growth
Moderator: Lavea Brachman, Greater Ohio Policy Center
* Eric Fingerhut, former Chancellor, Ohio Board of Regents
* Mayor Karl Dean, City of Nashville (Invited)
* Mayor Michael Bell, City of Toledo

10:15 am to 10:30 a.m
Break

10:30 am to 11:45 am
Panel II - Reforming Health Care: Improving Coverage & Outcomes While Restraining Costs
Moderator: Jon Honeck, The Center for Community Solutions
* Patrick Dugan, Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President, Medical Mutual
* Edmund Haislmaier, Senior Research Fellow, Health Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation
* Amy Rohling McGee, President, Health Policy Institute of Ohio

11:45 am to 12:00 p.m
Break

12:00 pm to 1:15 pm
National Debt, Deficits & the Future of Fiscal Federalism
Moderator: Colleen Marshall, Anchor, NBC4
* Arthur Laffer, Founder and Chairman, Laffer Associates and The Laffer Center for Supply-Side Economics
I* Alice Rivlin, Member, National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and former Director of Office of Management and Budget

1:15 pm to 2:15 pm
Panel III: Government Pensions: Balancing the Interests of the Public & their Employees
Moderator: Matt Mayer, Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions
* Daniel Liljenquist, Utah State Senator
* Hank Kim, Executive Director & Counsel, National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems
* Andrew Biggs, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute


2:30 pm to 2:45 pm
Break

2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
Panel IV: State & Local Taxes & Ohio's Future Prosperity
Moderator: Gene Krebs, Greater Ohio Policy Center
* Mayor Don Plusquellic, City of Akron
* Bob Williams, President, State Budget Solutions
* Nick Johnson, Vice President for State Fiscal Policy, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

4:00 pm to 5:15 pm
Panel V: Ohio's Constitutional Review: Maintaining Tradition & Meeting New Needs
Moderator: John Begala
* William Batchelder III, Speaker, Ohio House of Representatives
* Michael Curtin, Editor Emeritus, Columbus Dispatch
* Steven Steinglass, Dean Emeritus, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

5:15 pm
Conference Closing Remarks: Lavea Brachman

5:30 pm to 6:15 pm
Reception

6:30 pm to 8:15 pm
Dinner Keynote Address: Where Is America Headed?
Introductory Remarks: Matt Mayer

Walter Russell Mead, James Clark Chase Professor of Foreign Affairs and Humanities at Bard College & Editor-at-Large of The American Interest

Dinner Closing Remarks: John Begala

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