CAPITOL HILL WORKSHOP
Legislative Politics in a Time of Austerity and Deficits

September 11-13, 2012

During the past few years, the White House and Congress pursued one of the most ambitious social and economic agendas in recent American history. From health care and energy to education and the environment, they charted a course that dramatically increased the size and cost of government. Now in the current Congress, with Republicans firmly in control of the House of Representatives, these changes are in jeopardy. As the deficit and national debt reach record levels, the emphasis is on cutting spending in all areas, including defense.

As the economy demands serious attention, rapidly changing global events continue to affect all aspects of U.S. policy making. The elimination of Osama bin Laden may have ended one phase of America's long war on terror; however, a new more complicated struggle, highlighted by the so-called "Arab Spring," illustrates the difficulties facing elected officials at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. America's withdrawal from Iraq, coupled with continued involvement in Afghanistan and other areas of the world — Latin America, Sub-Sahara Africa, South Asia, and China and East Asia — will make significant demands on lawmakers.

How will Congress respond to and finance this assortment of challenges? What will the budgetary impact be on federal agencies? The Capitol Hill Workshop offers attendees the unique opportunity to discuss current issues of interest, in an off-the-record setting, with a group of speakers of national stature who have personal experience in critical aspects of the national policymaking process.

TOPICS AND SPEAKERS *

• Border Security and Insecurity
  Michael Cutler, Fellow, Center for Immigration Studies; Consultant on Immigration and Terrorism Issues; Commentator, Fox News and CNN
• Leadership and the Evolution of Power in Congress
  Walter Oleszek, Senior Specialist in American Government, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; Author of Congress and Its Members
• Congress, the Administration and Industry: DOD and the Politics of Acquisition Policy
  Jon Etherton, Defense and Intelligence Consultant; Former Professional Staff Member, U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Acquisition and Technology
• Washington 101: From the Founders to Modern Politics
  Bill Thomas, Former Roll Call Editor, Journalist and Author of Capital Confidential
• The Clash between Economic and Political Realities
  Richard Rahn, Chairman, Institute for Global Economic Growth; Former Vice-President and Chief Economist, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• The Challenges to U.S. National Security: The Obvious and the Obscure
  Paul Goble, Senior Research Associates, Euro College, University of Tartu, Estonia; Former Senior Advisor to the Director, Voice of America
• The Supreme Court: Balancing Liberty and Security
  Jeffrey Rosen, Legal Affairs Editor, The New Republic; Author, The Most Democratic Branch: How the Courts Serve America
• The Constitution and Representative Government: The American Experience
  Mark Talisman, Senior Lecturer, JFK School of Government and Harvard University
• Reflections on the Role of Government in America
  Ralph Nader, Consumer Advocate and 2008 Presidential Candidate
• Modern Congressional Leadership and U.S National Interests: A Personal Perspective
  Larry LaRocco, Former Democratic Representative from Idaho; Former President, U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress
• The 112^th Congress: Conflict or Cooperation
  Charles W. Stenholm, Former Congressman (D-TX), Member House Agriculture Committee; Farm Lobbyist
• The Middle East: An Update from the Region
  Ambassador Edward "Skip" Gnehm, Former U.S. Ambassador to Jordan, Kuwait, and Australia
• The Role of the Senate Armed Services Committee
  Lucian Niemeyer, Professional Staff Member, Senate Armed Services Committee; Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee
• Leadership and the Balance of Power: An Update
  Steven Roberts, Syndicated Columnist; Telivision and Radio Analyst; Professor of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University
• Perspectives on Asia: The New National Security Challenges
  Victor Cha, Former Director for Asian Affairs, National Security Council; Korea Foundation Chair, Asian Studies and Government, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
• Separation of Powers: Does the Constitution Still Matter?
  Mickey Edwards, Former Representative from Oklahoma and Republican Party Leader; Executive Director, The Aspen Institute
  
• National Defense Budgets in an Age of Austerity
  Lawrence J. Korb, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress; Former Assistant Secratary of Defense under President Reagan
• Lobbying Congress: Money and Politics
  Cleta Mitchell, Political Law Attorney; Former Oklahoma State Legislator; Former Director and General Counsel, Term Limits Legal Institute

Subject to scheduling availability, the Capitol Hill Workshop will include informal tours of Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress.

*NOTE: The above roster, with abbreviated bios, highlights speakers who have participated in previous Alan L. Freed Associates Capitol Hill Workshops

 

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

After participating in the Capitol Hill Workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the key decision makers who are involved in the policy-making and policy implementation processes and the institutional perspectives from which they offer advice and make judgments;

2. Think strategically and tactically about how to affect policy-making and policy implementation, how to anticipate reactions to that policy in the United States and abroad, and how to avoid unintended consequences that flow from poor policy judgments;

3. Improve cultural and historic awareness of the political, legal, and institutional environment in which domestic and foreign policy-making and policy implementation occur;

4. Enhance critical synthetic and analytical skills necessary to advise senior officials in the making and evaluation of public policy;

5. Be sensitized to the changing situational conditions that affect past, current, and future policy judgments.

PROGRAM MODERATORS

A highly qualified Program Moderator will facilitate dialogue between the speakers and participants over the course of the three-day seminar. View moderator biographies.

 

FEE

The fee for the workshop is $1,485 per person. The program will feature approximately 12-15 separate presentations. Also included are daily continental breakfast and working luncheon. The workshop will be held in a private meeting room at the Capitol Hill Club. An on-site staff person will assist participants as needed and coordinate daily activities. (Please check Registration Page for fees for two-day Capitol Hill Workshops in Aberdeen, MD and Dayton/Fairborn, OH).

 

REGISTRATION

The target audience for these workshops are civilians (GS-13 and above) and military O-4 and above). Others who have a special interest in the subject, need-to-know, or are in key positions may apply. Workshop space is limited to assure participants ample time for open discussion with presenters. Upon registration, attendees will receive confirmation via email. Cancellations will be accepted in writing up to two weeks prior to each program. After that time, substitutions will be accepted. The Agency will be billed if registration is cancelled after the deadline.

If you have any questions or need further information, please call Iris Fernandez or Patricia Patton at 703-684-8807.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Capitol Hill Workshops will be held in private meeting rooms at the Capitol Hill Club, located at 300 First Street, SE, in Washington, DC. The Club is directly across the street from the Capitol South Metro Station (Blue and Orange Lines). Business attire for participants is required. Military uniform is optional.

Reporting information concerning registration time and meeting room assignment will be sent to all participants approximately 2 weeks prior to the start of each program. The meeting room will open at 7:45 am and seminars will be conducted from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

These programs are informal and strictly "off-the-record." No video, power point or audio-visual aids are utilized in seminar presentations.

 

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