To set the stage for this, if you look back at our generation, essentially your parents, if you look back at the generation we came in through the 1960s in the country changed radically in ways that you cannot imagine. Unlike the relationship you had with your parents through the most part were you talk to back and forth in your shared values and even musical taste, unlike that kind of relationship we could not have got. We loved and respected our parents but they did not understand us at all. We did not understand them. We really did set out to develop a new country, a new culture in many ways, and we did. It was not so easily done. Our parents went through the great war, world war ii. They came back having seen horrors and they had fought for their country and wanted nothing more but to settle down and live a decent life where hard work was recorded where they could simply raise kids and have a family. They were very different than we were. There was a war going on in that generation
Good evening. You are already getting applies. I do not know how much i need to say. Let me just give a warm welcome and thanks to governor howard dean for joining us today for our discussions and exploring Bipartisan Solutions seminar. We are looking at three topics in the seminar, as you know, budget, financing the american dream, immigration, energy policy. Perhaps the most fundamental issue is the one we are about to discuss right now, financing the american dream. Unless we have the resources, how can we possibly enact policy change . We are fortunate to have an expert with us here on this issue. Governor dean is a wellknown, respected figure in american politics, former chair of the Democratic Congressional committee which he implemented the 50 state policy. Which was credited with helping the democrats make historic gains in the 2006 and 2008 election. He was a six term governor of vermont where he was known as a conservative democrat which ties in directly to what we discussed
President and chief economist. Where is Bruce Johnston . Well, bruce cant be with us this time. He was so engaged and busy in what he was doing, he ruptured his appendix. And hes doing very well. Hes on the mend. Youll see him here next time, and youll be able to talk to him in the next few days. But he sends his best and has challenged marty to do as well as he could. Well see. There are also a number of our senior advisers here who can help us our staff guys can help us with any questions that get particularly complicated. You know, as i said in the speech, the chamber believes that the American Economy is improving and that its gaining momentum. We expect, as i said, growth to accelerate to about 3 by the end of this year. But doesnt mean at all that were out of the woods. 21 million americans are still unemployed, underployed or stopped looking for work. American workers have not seen substantial increases in pay in recent years. Obamacare, doddfrank and other laws and regulations
You have several publican candidates of their. Paul ryan, rand paul, all pushing different things. What do you think the areas you would focus on . You have the shortterm and longterm issues. They are both important. I really believe there are great opportunities to drive this in the shortrd term. The energy revolution, which we all see and appreciate. The question that this administration has become very aggressive and i congratulate them on the trade side which will create a good deal of Economic Growth and opportunity. The reality that we are finally facing up to the fact that there are many Job Opportunities if we can get the government to help make it happen. Energy, trade, the whole question of investment and where its going. I think we are going in the right direction. We will seening is three speeches this weekend what i said on question of opportunity or inequality is because the white house has chosen, it appears to us, to make this their approach over the next year. I think
I would take the commission and say the recommendations you made were great, but there is not a ecstatic world. Even the pass afnlgtd Affordable Care act and the exchange coming in to play has changed the dynamic, and so i would say i want a new set of goals. I want 2020 goals. I Want Health Care Cost Containment to be one of the goals, but i want central to this payment reform. Delivery and payment reform as your consideration. How do we go from a feeforservice and what do we do to make the transition and consider it not as a onetime thing. The commission made the recommendations. Its ongoing work and important to treat it that way. As environment changes to change the set of goals but keep quality of service and payment foremost in your mind. Governor, you get the last word. If i were governor for day i would issue an executive order redefining the length of a day. [laughter] shorter . I think its going to take more than a day. This is a very good report, but as we said this morning,