Dole Institute to host event on bipartisanship, democracy


LAWRENCE — The Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas will host guest speakers U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett, Utah, and former Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, of Kansas, to share reforms suggested by the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Commission on Political Reform in a program titled, “We Can Fix It: a Bipartisan Blueprint to Strengthen Our Democracy.”

The program will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23. It is free and open to the public.

The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) was formed in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell to develop and promote bipartisan solutions to the country’s problems and to promote civility in government. Launched in March 2013 by the BPC, the Commission on Political Reform examines partisan conflict in the U.S. with the intent of diagnosing causes and identifying consequences of this conflict on the political process.

“Americans are frustrated with how ineffective Washington has become,” said Dole Institute director Bill Lacy. “The BPC, co-founded by Senator Dole, has studied the problem extensively and has developed tools for getting things accomplished in a hyper-partisan environment.”

Both Bennett and Glickman have worked with Dole during their careers. Glickman previously spoke at the Dole Institute in 2005. He has also provided an oral history segment for the Dole Institute Oral History Project, which is available online.

Bob Bennett served in the Senate for 18 years, assuming roles on numerous committees during his tenure. He served as CEO of Franklin Quest Inc., which under his leadership grew from just four employees to more than 1,000, ranking No. 151 on the 1990 Inc. 500. Bennett is chairman of The Bennett Group, senior policy adviser at Arent Fox, and a senior fellow at the BPC, encouraging progress on issues including the national budget, energy, and public health. Bennett is resident scholar at the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics.

Glickman served as the Secretary of Agriculture for six years. Prior to his tenure as Secretary, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas’s 4th District for 18 years. Glickman served as director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government from 2002-2004 and served as chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America Inc. (MPAA) from 2004 until 2010. He is vice president of the Aspen Institute and executive director of the Aspen Institute Congressional Program, a nonpartisan public policy education and civility building program for members of Congress. Glickman is senior fellow at the BPC and serves as co-chair of a number of committees and initiatives, including the Commission on Political Reform.

The event is co-sponsored by the Bipartisan Policy Center, KU’s Young Americans for Liberty, KU College Republicans and KU College Independents. Those who wish to learn more about the Bipartisan Policy Center and its initiatives prior to the Dole Institute event Oct. 23 are encouraged to visit Bipartisan Policy.

Due to an event taking place the same evening at the Lied Center, the Dole Institute encourages attendees of the bipartisan program to arrive early to avoid any issues with parking.

Fri, 10/17/2014

author

Melanie Coen

Media Contacts

Melanie Coen

Dole Institute of Politics

785-864-1156