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The American Prospect, Institute for America’s Future, Demos, Economic Policy Institute

Today’s economic crisis is the moment to think big and plan ahead—and not just for the immediate challenge of ending the recession. Sustaining an economic recovery will require a dramatic change of course. At the core of this change is a long-term increase in our public investment in areas vital to economic growth and social decency, social and economic needs that have been deferred for four decades.

This conference, convened by The American Prospect, Institute for America’s Future, Demos, and the Economic Policy Institute, is designed to set the stage for reclaiming the public philosophy of activist government, one that effectively serves people’s needs where market forces fail. We will demonstrate how, with a serious commitment to public investment, ordinary people will once again get real value for their tax dollars, and how, by encouraging the new administration and Congress to embrace this approach, activist, progressive government will enjoy a new era of popular support.

 

 

The Real News Network will be live streaming the presentations

throughout Thursday. Beginning at 9am EST, join us online to watch the conference. The Real News will also be interviewing several of the guest panelists for further stories into next week. Join us Thursday,

February 11, 2009 at 9AM EST.

The full conference details are available below, and residents or visitors

to  Washington DC can register to attend on the day.

 

Conference Program

9:00 a.m. – 9:25 a.m. — Welcome and Introductory Remarks
Robert Kuttner, American Prospect and Demos

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. — The New Deal Moment
Alan Brinkley, Columbia University

9:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. — Infrastructure,
Renewable Energy, and Housing
Moderator: Robert Borosage, Institute for America’s Future
Panel:
Ed Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania
Michelle Collins, Senior Vice President, ShoreBank
Jerome Ringo, President, Apollo Alliance (invited)

11:05 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: Break

11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Investing in People
Moderator: Tamara Draut, Demos
Panel:
Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers
Jacob Hacker, University of California, Berkeley
Karen Kornbluh, Former Policy Director to Sen. Barack Obama
and Democratic Platform author
Ellen Bravo, University of Wisconsin

12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch Served

1:00 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. — Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Larry Mishel, President, Economic Policy Institute
Keynote: Paul Krugman, Princeton University and New York Times

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.: Break

1:55 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. — High-Wage America
Moderator: Larry Mishel, President, Economic Policy Institute
Panel:
Rep. George Miller, Chairman, House Committee on
 Education and Labor
Janet Gornick, City University of New York
Manuel Pastor, University of Southern California

3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. — Putting It All Together,
Economically, Fiscally, Politically
Moderator: Miles Rapoport, President, Demos
Panel:
Jeff Madrick, Challenge Magazine and The New School
Theda Skocpol, Harvard University
Mark Schmitt, Executive Editor, American Prospect
Deepak Bhargava, President, Center for Community Change

4:30 p.m. – 4:35 p.m. — A Continuing Campaign
Roger Hickey, Co-Director, Institute for America’s Future

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