AUSTIN, Texas – With the Fourth Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature a month away, the Texas Public Policy Foundation today announced the keynote speakers and panel topics that will be featured in the event.
The Policy Orientation will be held January 9 and 10, 2006, at the Austin Capitol Marriot. Registration is available online for the general public at www.TexasPolicy.com. The event has sold-out each year, with attendance in excess of 400 lawmakers, staff, and interested individuals.
The Policy Orientation will begin Jan. 9 with a 2pm keynote address by Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick. That evening, the dinner will be keynoted by Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst.
On Tuesday, Jan. 10, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich will deliver an address on health care issues at 9 a.m. At lunch, the keynote address will be delivered by former Texas Comptroller John Sharp, the newly appointed chairman of the governor’s Texas Tax Reform Commission.
Also confirmed to address the Policy Orientation in a keynote speech on Jan. 10 will be Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht on school efficiency. The day before, Ohio’s Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, a prominent lecturer and leader in the national conservative movement, will speak on tax limitation.
Other special addresses will be announced in the coming days.
The Foundation also released the panel topics to be covered at the Policy Orientation. The panels are carefully crafted to ensure multiple sides of each issue is represented and explored by experts from around the state and nation.
The panel topics include:
A complete list of panelists and other special speakers will be announced next week.
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