U.S. Senator Marco Rubio to Kick-Off 2011 Steamboat Institute Freedom Conference

Attorneys General John Suthers (CO), Greg Zoeller (IN) and Alan Wilson (SC) Join Distinguished Speaker Line-up

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo., Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (FL) and a panel of some of the nation's most influential state attorneys general have been added to the program for the Third Annual Steamboat Institute Freedom Conference held on August 19-20, 2011, it was announced. The panel will feature Attorneys General Alan Wilson (SC), John Suthers (CO), and Greg Zoeller (IN).

Senator Rubio will appear in a special video presentation at a V.I.P. opening reception for attendees on Thurs. Aug. 18, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Before assuming office as senator in January, Rubio was a part of the Florida House of Representatives. In November 2006, he was elected speaker of the Florida State House. Rubio also authored the book, 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future, which recounts his travels throughout the state to gather ideas from citizens. In 2007, Rubio advocated reform of Florida's tax system, arguing for reduced property taxes and decreasing the size of government.

"We are honored to have U.S. Senator Marco Rubio speak to us at our conference kick-off reception. He is one of the rising stars of the conservative movement and has been a steadfast advocate for limited government and individual rights. We know that he'll provide great insight into what our country needs at this critical moment," said Jennifer Schubert-Akin, chairman and founding board member.

"I'm looking forward to speaking to the guests of this ground-breaking Conference. The Steamboat Institute has done a remarkable job promoting America's values and founding principles of this great nation," said Rubio.

The Attorneys General Panel will take place on Friday afternoon and include Attorneys General Alan Wilson (SC), John Suthers (CO), and Greg Zoeller (IN). The panel will discuss the effects of Obamacare and right-to-work issues on the states, as well as other key topics of national importance.

"We're fortunate to have these three attorneys general – from South Carolina, Indiana, and our state of Colorado – who are at the forefront of defending the 10th amendment, and we look forward to their valuable insights," said Schubert-Akin.

Tony Blankley, a popular columnist with the Washington Times newspaper and Townhall Magazine, will moderate the conference, and Jonah Goldberg, founding editor and editor-at-large of National Review Online, will be the dinner keynote speaker. Other distinguished speakers include: Steve Moore, senior economics writer for the Wall Street Journal; Kate Obenshain, vice president of the Young America's Foundation; Jason Mattera, editor of Human Events; Amy Oliver, host of The Amy Oliver Show (1310 KFKA-AM); Kevin Jackson, author of "The Big Black Lie" & founder of BlackSphere.net; and Lt. Col. Steve Russell, Oklahoma state senator and author of author of "We Got Him!"

Other featured panels will focus on freshmen U.S. Congressmen Todd Rokita (IN) and Joe Walsh (IL); health care reform with Grace-Marie Turner, president of the Galen Institute, Hal Scherz, M.D. founder of Docs4PatientCare, and Robert Goldberg, Ph.D., vice president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest; and energy and free market solutions with editor-in-chief of "A Line of Sight," former U.S. Congressman Bob Beauprez (CO); John Harpole, founder and CEO of Mercator Energy, and former Governor of Wyoming, Jim Geringer, now director of Environmental Systems Research Institute.

The Steamboat Institute Board of Directors includes Chairman Jennifer Schubert-Akin, Vice Chairman Rick Akin, Anne Lowe, Gary Hofmeister, Kirsten Fedewa, and Kelly Victory, M.D.

For more information and to register for the 2011 Steamboat Institute Conference, please visit: www.steamboatinstitute.org.  Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

For more information, contact Kirsten Fedewa at 202.365.6936 or [email protected].

SOURCE The Steamboat Institute