What issues are going to dominate this year's elections, state legislative sessions, and government affairs efforts in the months to come? January 2007 |  |
On October 5, 2006, The Heartland Institute hosted its third annual Emerging Issues Forum. The program featured 13 speakers from across the country, addressing emerging public policy issues in four arenas: health care, budget and taxes, environment, and telecommunications. Their focus was on the future: looking ahead at what issues are "emerging." What are we going to be debating next year, and the year after, and the year after? What issues are going to dominate elections or government affairs efforts in the future? Luncheon keynote speaker Douglas Whitley, president and CEO of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, delivered an "inspired" address on "How to Create Prosperity in Illinois." Whitley used the Emerging Issues Forum to "set forth an economic agenda ... that our state’s political, business, and community leaders should embrace if Illinois is to re-emerge in its rightful place as national leader and economic powerhouse that is generating jobs and prosperity for the people of this great state." His 10-point agenda included agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, energy, and health care, among other topics. More than 100 guests attended the event, held at Chicago’s Newberry Library. In addition to Whitley’s keynote, the group heard stellar panel presentations. They are all collected in this book. |
