THE STATES OF THE ECONOMY
SUNDAY, July 19, 2009, 5:00 p.m.
Free. Reservations required. Please call 215.409.6700 or order online.
Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach
F.M. Kirby Auditorium
National Constitution Center
Independence Mall
525 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA
The National Constitution Center is proud to host a unique public program, in partnership with the National Conference of State Legislatures, examining how states have responded to the current economic crisis. In particular, this discussion will address the varied approaches among states, and their lawmakers, to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. State Senator Don Balfour from Georgia and Joe Hackney, the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives will be joined by David Thornburgh, Executive Director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government in a conversation moderated by Tom Ferrick, Jr. of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
This program is part of a broader series at the Center on the American economy, tracking the social, political, and moral causes of the current recession and the prescribed cures to our economic situation. The series aims to present a balanced, "on the ground" assessment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds and how the dollars will be spent.
State Senator Don Balfour was first elected to the Georgia Senate by Gwinnett County in 1992, and has served the 9th District consecutively for more than 17 years. He is the longest serving Republican in the State Senate. Senator Balfour is Chairman of the powerful Senate Rules Committee. In addition, he serves on the Appropriations Committee, Education and Youth Committee, and the Health and Human Services Committee. He is an executive with the Waffle House, Inc., and has worked for them for over 25 years. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Senator Balfour was elected President of the National Conference of State Legislatures and is the first legislator from Georgia to hold the position of NCSL President since it was founded in 1975.
State Representative Joe Hackney was elected speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives in January 2007, at the start of his 14th term in office. During his tenure, Speaker Hackney served as one of the General Assembly’s leading advocates for openness in government and ethics and lobbying reforms. Prior to becoming Speaker, Hackney was House Democratic Leader for one term, House Majority Leader for one term and Speaker Pro Tempore for two terms. Speaker Hackney began his legal career as a clerk for North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Frank Huskins. He worked as an assistant district attorney in Orange and Chatham counties from 1971-74, before entering politics as the campaign manager for North Carolina Congressman Ike Andrews. Since 1974, Speaker Hackney has been a partner in the Epting & Hackney law firm in Chapel Hill, N.C. Speaker Hackney is also president of the National Conference of State Legislatures. In 2007, he received the group’s Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award, the nation’s top honor for state legislators.
David B. Thornburgh is the Executive Director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government and has extensive experience in the areas of regional economic development and civic affairs. Prior to his appointment he served as a Senior Advisor to the Econsult Corporation, a Philadelphia-based regional economic consulting firm founded in 1979. In 2006 and 2007 he served as CEO of the Alliance for Regional Stewardship (ARS), a national best practice network of public and private sector leaders committed to building globally competitive regions. Prior to joining the Alliance Mr. Thornburgh served as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Economy League (PEL) in Greater Philadelphia from 1994 to 2006. A frequent commentator on public policy and regional development issues, Mr. Thornburgh has been quoted often in the Philadelphia newspapers and also in the New York Times, USA Today, the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Inc. and Fortune.
Tom Ferrick Jr. is a journalist with nearly 40 years of experience in covering government and politics, most of it with the Philadelphia Inquirer. Ferrick has covered local, state and national politics. His assignments have included stints as City Hall Bureau chief in Philadelphia and, for seven years, as legislative and state government reporter in Harrisburg. More recently, he served for nine years as Metro columnist for the Inquirer. Ferrick’s work has been recognized with a number of local and national journalism awards. In 2008, he was recipient of the fifth annual Hal Hovey Award, presented by Governing Magazine and Stateline.org for outstanding journalistic coverage of state and local government.
Parking for this event is available for $9.00 at the Independence Visitor's Center garage located on 6th Street between Market and Arch Streets. Parking availability is subject to change; please call the Constitution Center on the day of the program or check our web site for more information. Please also see our directions by public transportation.
For reservations please call 215.409.6700 or order online. Programs at the National Constitution Center begin promptly and latecomers may not be admitted to the program. Please note this program is subject to change.
Related Links:
National Conference of State Legislatures
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act