FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, October 3, 2007

CONTACT: Kavan Peterson
Office: 410-455-1896
Email: kavan@umbc.edu

BALTIMORE -- On Monday, Oct. 29, U.S. Comptroller General David M. Walker comes to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) for the Maryland stop of the Fiscal Wake-Up Tour, a nationwide series of town hall forums focusing on the threats posed by the nation's long-term fiscal challenges. The event, sponsored by the nonpartisan Concord Coalition, will include a panel of analysts from The Brookings Institution and The Heritage Foundation and will be open to the press and public.

“One thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on is that our nation's current fiscal policy is not sustainable over the long-term,” said Robert L. Bixby, executive director of The Concord Coalition. According to Bixby:

“Our childrens' economic future is at risk, which is something no one wants. Changing course will require hard choices such as scaling back future entitlement promises, increasing revenues to pay for them, or -- most likely -- a combination of both. Because these choices are politically difficult, the active involvement of the American people is critical. Without greater understanding of the problem among the public, community leaders, business leaders and home state media, elected leaders are unlikely to break out of their comfortable partisan talking points and unlikely to find solutions. That is why we began the nationwide Fiscal Wake-Up Tour. As demonstrated by the recent election result, voters are tired of partisan gridlock. This gives both parties an opportunity and a duty to begin working together on the real problem we face. Ensuring a sound fiscal future for our children should certainly be high on their list.”

David Walker is the nation's top account and head of the GAO (Government Accountability Office), Congress' watchdog agency. He is frequently featured in the national media, most recently on CBS News 60 Minutes and Comedy Central’s Colbert Report, featured below:

What: Public Forum and Reception

Where: Engineering Building, Lecture Hall 5
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
(Click here for directions)

When: Monday, October 29, 2007
5:00 PM Public Forum
6:30 PM Reception

Who: U.S. Comptroller General David M. Walker
Robert L. Bixby, The Concord Coalition
Doug Elmendorf, Brookings Institution
Stuart Butler, Heritage Foundation

For more information call 410-455-2916 or email FiscalWakeUp@umbc.edu.

Panel members will be available to the media before and after the event. For a complete press packet, visit: http://www.concordcoalition.org/events/fiscal-wake-up/press/07-atlanta-pp.html

For information about David Walker's participation, please contact the GAO Office of Public Affairs, 202-512-4800. For information about the forum, please contact Jonathan DeWald, Communications Director of The Concord Coalition, at 888.333.4248 or 703-894-6222.

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About The Concord Coalition

The Concord Coalition is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to informing the public about the need for generationally responsible fiscal policy

About UMBC

UMBC is a public research university integrating teaching, research, and service to benefit the citizens of Maryland. UMBC provides undergraduate programs in economics and political science and graduate programs in economic policy analysis and public policy. The Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program at UMBC supports talented undergraduate students who want to become effective leaders in government, non-profits, corporations and the community.