This past Thursday and Friday, I had the privilege of visiting the University of Iowa in Iowa City to engage with students, faculty, and community members on the pressing issues surrounding our nation’s fiscal policy. Hosted in collaboration with the Tippie College of Business, the visit was an inspiring reminder of the power of civic engagement and education in shaping a more fiscally responsible future.
A highlight of the trip was facilitating Principles & Priorities, The Concord Coalition’s interactive federal budget exercise. This wasn’t just a campus event, it was a true community gathering attended by dozens of participants including academic leaders, local residents, and students. The event drew the attention of local media, with coverage by KCRG-TV and a thoughtful radio interview on KXEL with host Jeff Stein. Also, local volunteer Fiscal Lookout Josh Squires wrote a substantive guest editorial for The Gazette, a key Eastern Iowa newspaper, focusing on what it means to him to be a young leader in the fiscal policy arena. His opinion piece and countless conversations over two days helped spotlight the importance of bringing fiscal responsibility discussions into public forums.
In addition to the public event, I was honored to accept speaking invitations from six different classes throughout the day, reaching more than 1,000 students. Over the course of those conversations it became clear that no matter the major, fiscal policy touches every aspect of our economy and society. The curiosity and engagement shown by these students was truly energizing and their desire for action was clear.
The university also hosted a lunch for me with a diverse group of students representing a range of majors. Over a thoughtful meal, we explored how federal budget decisions affect their chosen fields and future careers—whether it’s understanding the impact of interest rates on entrepreneurship or how entitlement programs affect long term fiscal sustainability.
It’s always encouraging to see a university embrace the importance of nonpartisan dialogue on difficult policy challenges. The students’ enthusiasm, the faculty’s support, and the broader community’s engagement made this visit one of the most meaningful I’ve had in recent months.
My sincere thanks to the University of Iowa and everyone who helped make the visit a success- especially Professor Alexandra Nica who truly made it happen. Together, we’re empowering the next generation of leaders to take a seat at the table—and to help build a sustainable fiscal future for our nation.
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