Former New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg, former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and private-sector leaders expressed concern about how irresponsible fiscal policies could harm the country’s economic future at a forum Monday in Portsmouth, N.H.
“Getting something done on these issues comes down to leadership,” said Gregg, who is a member of The Concord Coalition’s Board of Directors and a co-chair of Fix the Debt. “I have always said that for such major changes to be acceptable by the American people, they have to be fair. The entry level test for fairness is: ‘Is it bipartisan?’”
Rendell, also a Fix the Debt co-chair, said failure to address the debt would have devastating consequences: “If we don’t do anything, we won’t have any money left over to make necessary investments in infrastructure. Instead, by the end of the next president’s second term — should he or she serve that long — almost the entire budget will be all mandatory spending and interest on the debt.”
About 250 people attended the forum, “Fiscal Policy and Our Economic Future,” which was part of the Community College System of New Hampshire’s “Granite State Conversation” series. It was held at Great Bay Community College. First Budget, a joint initiative of Concord and Fix the Debt, is among the sponsors of the series.
Other speakers Monday were Kevin Davis, CEO of Performance Sports Group Ltd., and Paul Montrone, CEO and chairman of Perspecta Trust. Ross Gittell, chancellor of the community college system, and Robert L. Bixby, Concord’s executive director, served as moderators.
External links:
Former Politicians Warn of Debt Crisis (Portsmouth Herald)
Event Video
