Restoring Fiscal Sanity – While We Still Can

Co-Sponsors: Brookings Institution, New America Foundation, Progressive Policy Institute, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Concord Coalition Committee on Economic Development, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Heritage Foundation, Urban Institute

Deficits are back, the debt is rising, and the coming election is the last before the baby boom generation begins to retire. Tough policy choices will be needed to get the country back on track, yet politicians continue to postpone making them. This policy forum—hosted by nine different organizations with varying perspectives—will explore and debate a number of possible options to help address these fiscal challenges before it is too late.

Opening Remarks
Will Marshall, President, Progressive Policy Institute
The Honorable Bill Frenzel, Co-Chair, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget; Guest Scholar, Brookings Institution; and Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives

Remarks
The Honorable John McCain, U.S. Senator (R-Ariz.)
The Honorable Joe Lieberman, U.S. Senator (D-Conn.)

Panel One: The Need for Action

Moderator: Jim Pinkerton, Fellow, New America Foundation
Bob Bixby, Executive Director, Concord Coalition
Charlie Kolb, President, Committee for Economic Development
Eugene Steurle, Senior Fellow, The Urban Institute

Panel Two: Specific Reform Options

Moderator: Ron Haskins, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Stuart Butler, Vice President, Domestic and Economic Policy Studies, Heritage Foundation
Bob Greenstein, Executive Director, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Maya MacGuineas, Executive Director, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, and Director, Fiscal Policy Program, New America Foundation
William Niskanen, Chairman, Cato Institute
Alice Rivlin, Senior Fellow and Director, Greater Washington Research Program, Brookings Institution
Paul Weinstein, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Fellow, Progressive Policy Institute

Wrap Up
Isabel Sawhill, Vice President and Director Economic Studies, Brookings Institution

Videos of this event are available