Pelosi, House Democrats to Host Economic Forum

WASHINGTON, May 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced today that House Democratic leaders are bringing in economists and jobs experts to examine ongoing initiatives to create jobs, reform the financial system, and keep our economy moving toward recovery. 

"While Congressional Republicans stand with Wall Street and special interests and have done nothing to save or create jobs, Democratic leaders are working day in and day out to put Americans back to work and fight for the interests of Main Street and the middle class," Pelosi said.  "We will continue to take action to strengthen our middle class, revitalize our economy, support our small businesses, and create good-paying jobs for America's workers.

"Republicans in Congress and the Bush White House turned record surpluses into record deficits, and they want to take us back to an era of fiscal irresponsibility and devastating job losses.  Recovery efforts led by Democrats and President Obama are taking our country in the right direction and we will not let up in our drive for jobs, economic security, and prosperity for the middle class."

The forum is the latest in an ongoing effort by the 111th Congress to deliver a New Direction for jobs and the economy.  In October, Democrats brought together a panel of experts to address the state of America's economy. 

PARTICIPANT BIOS:

Linda Bilmes– Professor Bilmes is a professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.  She has held senior positions in government, including Assistant Secretary and Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Administration, and has been a U.S. Representative to several high-ranking commissions.

Alan S. Blinder– Professor Binder is a professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton University and Co-Director of Princeton's Center for Economic Policy Studies, which he founded in 1990.  Dr. Blinder served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in the 1990s and a member of President Clinton's original Council of Economic Advisers.

Heather Boushey– Ms. Boushey is a Senior Economist at the Center for American Progress.  Prior to joining the Center she was a senior economist with the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress.  She was formerly a senior economist with the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

Robert Greenstein – Mr. Greenstein is the founder and Executive Director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Prior to founding the Center, he was Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture under President Carter.  He was appointed by President Clinton in 1994 to serve on the Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement and Tax Reform and headed the federal budget policy component of the transition team for President Obama.

Robert D. Reischauer– Mr. Reischauer is the current President of the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C.  From 1989 to 1995, he was the director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and is a nationally known expert on the federal budget, Medicare, and Social Security.  He had been a senior fellow of economic studies at the Brookings Institution since 1995.

William M. Rodgers III– Professor Rodgers is a professor and chief economist at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.  He is also a senior research affiliate of the National Poverty Center at the University of Michigan.  Prior coming to Rutgers, he served as chief economist at the U.S. Department of Labor from 2000-2001.

Allen Sinai– Mr. Sinai is Chief Global Economist and President of Decision Economics, Inc. (PDE), a global economic and financial advisory firm. 

SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House