Public | Oct, 20 2014 12:15PM - 3:00PM
Fifty years ago, President Lyndon Johnson used his mastery and knowledge of the U.S. Congress and his command of the political process to garner bipartisan support for his "Great Society," enacting some of the most significant legislation in modern history. Now our political process is mired in partisan bickering, stalemates, and government shutdowns. To investigate the causes and consequences of America's partisan and political divide, the LBJ School of Public Affairs and LBJ Foundation will host a lunch and afternoon panel discussions with elected officials and experts on modern political reform. The event will be held at the LBJ School of Public Affairs on Monday, October 20, from 12:15 to 3:00 p.m.
The Honorable Charlie Gonzalez and the Honorable Henry Bonilla of the Bipartisan Policy Center's Commission on Political Reform will speak, during a luncheon event, about the Center's recommendations for specific reforms to improve the political process.
Eric S. Heberlig and Bruce A. Larson, authors of "Congressional Parties, Institutional Ambition, and the Financing of Majority Control" will discuss the competition for majority party control and the wide-reaching implications of this phenomenon in a 30-minute book talk. Heberlig and Larson are the recipients of the 26th D.B. Hardeman Prize, awarded by the LBJ Foundation for the best book on the U.S. Congress.
The afternoon will conclude with a one-hour public forum with an open Q&A with all of the panelists moderated by John C. Fortier, Director of the Democracy Project of the BPC’s Commission on Political Reform. This event is part of the LBJ School’s “50 for 50” initiative, a special series of 50 events for 50 years, exploring the critical civil rights issues of our time and calling for a renewed effort to "get things done" in order to improve the lives of all citizens.
The Bipartisan Policy Center is a nonprofit organization that drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation and respectful dialogue. With projects in multiple issue areas, BPC combines politically-balanced policymaking with strong, proactive advocacy and outreach.
Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided on a first come, first served basis.
This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required.
Free parking is available on a first come, first served basis in Lot 38, the LBJ Library visitors' parking lot.
If you need an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Kelly Pratlett (kellypratlett@austin.utexas.edu) no later than five (5) business days prior to the event.
