THE  HOLDEN  PUBLIC  POLICY  FORUM @  WEBSTER  UNIVERSITY

“The Holden Public Policy Forum @ Webster University,” a bi-partisan speakers series brings Governors, Senators, presidential candidates and private sector public policy leaders to St. Louis and the Webster University Old Post Office campus to engage in open debate about public policy. 

The series was inaugurated May 10 with a speech by Governor Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas and former chairman of the National Governors Association. On May 31, New York Times columnist and Princeton University economics professor Paul Krugman spoke to the forum about his views of the growing healthcare crisis. Dr. Charles Inlander, president of the People's Medical Society, also spoke to the forum reading a "Healthy Future." Other speakers who have made commitments to appear include Senators John Kerry and Joe Biden; House minority whip Congressman Roy Blunt; Governors Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Janet Napolitano of Arizona.

The series will take place in the Missouri Court of Appeals courtroom in the historic Old Post Office in downtown St. Louis.  The Old Post Office is both a focus of downtown St. Louis’ current redevelopment boom and the site of Webster University’s downtown St. Louis campus. The speeches will be free and open to the public, and will be webcast live via the internet to sites around the world, including Webster’s more than 100 worldwide campuses. 

“When I invite public policy leaders to come and appear in our speaker series,” said Gov. Holden, “I tell them that if they have something to say, Webster University is the place to say it because the world will hear. At each of these programs, we will invite interactive discussion both with members of the audience here in St. Louis and with viewers on Webster’s campuses from the United States to the United Kingdom and from Amsterdam to Shanghai.” 

“While I am proud of my association with the Democratic party, I am determined that our Forum will offer an equal balance of views from both sides of the political aisle, and I am happy to have some of our area’s most prominent Republican leaders working with me to secure premier speakers,” Gov. Holden said.

“I am pleased and honored to be a part of The Holden Public Policy Forum @ Webster University,” said Ray Wagner, Jr., legal and legislative vice president for Enterprise Rent-A-Car and former director of the Illinois Department of Revenue and a prominent area Republican. “The program promises to be a vigorous discussion of the public policy issues facing our world today." 

While the events will be free and open to the public, those wishing to attend must RSVP due to space limitations. Individuals wishing to attend the events may secure their reservations through the Internet at: www.webster.edu/holdenppf.

Sponsorship opportunities are currently available. Current donors include: The Boeing Company, AT&T, Anheuser-Busch, The Deaconess Foundation, Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, St. Louis County Economics Council, DFC Group, Pyramid Companies and U.S. Cellular.

For event information please contact the Holden Public Policy Forum, (314) 968-7423 or faboudreaux@gmail.com