January 29, 2013
John Tillman will examine state’s budget crisis
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, will discuss Illinois’ ongoing financial crisis next week at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Tillman will present his ideas on Tuesday, Feb. 5, in Student Center Ballroom B. The luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute is sponsoring the event.
Media Availability
Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to attend a media availability with John Tillman at 10:30 a.m., Feb. 5, in the Institute lobby, 1231 Lincoln Drive, in the old U.S. Forestry Building. The media is also welcome to cover Tillman’s appearance at the Student Center later that morning. For more information, contact Matt Baughman, Institute associate director at 618/453-4009 or 618/201-0082.
The luncheon and lecture are free and open to the public, but seating is limited and advance registration is required for meal considerations. To register, contact Carol Greenlee, Institute project coordinator, at 618/453-4078 or by email at cgreenlee@siu.edu by Friday, Feb. 1. Open seating will be available for those who wish to only listen to the speech and not be included in the meal.
Tillman’s visit is part of the Institute’s continuing emphasis on examining the state’s budget and pension troubles. Last week, Standard & Poor’s downgraded Illinois’ credit rating to A minus, dropping the state to the worst in the nation.
“John’s lecture will be one of several we are holding in recent months about debt and fiscal issues at the state and federal levels,” said Institute director David Yepsen. “John and his organization come at these issues from the perspective of less government, less regulation and free markets.”
Yepsen said he’s sure some will disagree with Tillman’s “thought-provoking suggestions and observations,” but that “they are all part of the debates going on in Springfield and Washington, D.C.”
Founded in 2002, the Springfield-based Illinois Policy Institute is an independent, non-profit, think-tank and research organization that supports free market principles and liberty-based public policy initiatives. Tillman came to the Illinois Policy Institute in 2007, and in 2011, earned the Roe Award, presented annually by the State Policy Network, for his leadership, innovation and accomplishments in public policy for advancing free market philosophies, according to Illinois Policy Institute.
Tillman is a regular contributor with numerous media outlets, including FOX News Channel, FOX Business, the BBC, National Public Radio, The Wall Street Journal, and Washington Times.
Tillman is former president of Americans for Limited Government, a national organization that advocates property rights, spending limits and term limits. He is also co-founder of the Sam Adams Alliance, a national non-profit organization that encourages grassroots citizen activism.
For more information on the program, contact the Institute at 618/453-4009 or visit paulsimoninstitute.org/
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