Budget Exercise with Former Members of Congress to Teach Students About Nation’s Fiscal Challenges
November 22, 2011
EVENT:
Graduate students from GW’s Graduate School of Political Management and undergraduate students from GW’s Political Science department will work with 10 former members of Congress to discuss the nation’s fiscal challenges in a "Principles and Priorities" simulation facilitated by the Concord Coalition. This interactive exercise will provide an opportunity for students to work through challenging situations in order to develop plans to put the nation on a sustainable fiscal path. This event is sponsored by the United States Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC), the Concord Coalition and the George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management.
WHEN:
Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011; 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; Registration begins at 9 a.m.
WHERE:
George Washington University
City View Room, 7th floor
1957 E. St., NW, Washington, D.C.
Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro (Orange and Blue Lines)
RSVP:
Attendees should RSVP here. Media should RSVP to Jill Sankey at 202-994-6466 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Interviews with Former Members of Congress Association participants are available.
WHO:
Former Members of Congress who will participate include:
• Former Rep. Bob Carr (D-MI)
• Former Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA)
• Former Rep. Vic Fazio (D-CA)
• Former Rep. Bill Frenzel (R-MN)
• Former Rep. Martin Frost (D-TX)
• Former Rep. Dan Glickman (D-KS)
• Former Rep. Orval Hansen (R-ID)
• Former Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ)
• Former Rep. John Porter (R-IL)
BACKGROUND:
The Former Members of Congress Association participants will guide teams of ten through a review of spending priorities, suggesting principles and priorities for the future. A group discussion will take place after the simulation in order to get a realistic insight into how policy proposals could change the operation of the federal government.
The Concord Coalition is a non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to fiscal responsibility. Former U.S. Senators Warren B. Rudman (R-NH) and Bob Kerrey (D-NE) serve as Concord's co-chairs.
The mission of FMC is to promote public service and strengthen democracy via domestic and international programs. FMC seeks to improve the public’s understanding of the role of Congress as a unique institution, as well as the crucial importance of representative democracy as a system of government. Former members of Congress participate in many diverse pro-bono in projects such as election monitoring abroad, outreach to high school and university students to teach the importance of public service, and supporting programs that provide services to severely wounded veterans upon their return from Iraq and Afghanistan.
GW’s Graduate School of Political Management, the pioneer school in the nonpartisan study of political management and applied politics, offers graduate programs in political management, legislative affairs, public relations and PAC management, as well as international programs in Latin America and Europe. The school educates students and professionals in the tools, principles and values of participatory democracy; preparing them for careers as ethical and effective advocates and leaders at the international, national and local levels.
