The Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government is hosting its 12th semi-annual symposium at the University of Central Florida’s Student Union on tax day, the 15th of April. The Institute is a non-partisan organization whose goal is to promote civic education and engagement, particularly among young people. The program is free, open to the public and begins at 9:30 a.m.

The entire program focuses on President Obama, what has happened so far and what can happen in the future. Former Congressman Bill Zeliff (R-NH) and Former Congressman Jim Slattery (D-KS) will look at the early returns, both in terms of the financial crisis and the political waves that President Obama has created. Congressman Allen Boyd (D-FL), one of the leaders of the Blue Dog Democrats and a key member of the Appropriations Committee, together with newly elected Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL), will discuss the budget and the deficit. The Institute is pleased to have as the daytime keynote speaker Dr. Stephen Wayne, Professor of Government from Georgetown University, whose most recent book is The Road to the White House 2008. He is a Washington insider who has testified before Congress, advised both the Republican and Democratic National Committees in the presidential nomination process and worked as a consultant on various film documentaries of the American Presidency.

Dr. Jim M. Ludes, executive director, American Security Project and a member of the Obama transition team for foreign policy will talk about security policy and President Obama. He will be joined by Mackenzie Eaglen, senior policy analyst for Defense and Homeland Security issues from The Heritage Foundation. This discussion will be timely, as President Obama just recently has returned from his first major European trip.

The final daytime session will be the discussion of the President, the Congress, and the bureaucracy, and the separation of powers in the Obama Administration. There appears to be no question that the executive branch is now the “most equal” of the three equal branches of government. Dr. Brian Gaines, Department of Political Science, University of Illinois will be joined by Dr. Scot Schraufnagel from the Department of Political Science at UCF to discuss this important issue.

The evening keynote address begins at 7:00 p.m. and allows many people in the community to come out and actually find a parking place at the University. We have had dynamic speakers over the years. In 2004, our keynote speaker was Bob Woodward who discussed the impact of Watergate, a 30 year retrospective. In the spring of 2006 we had all the Florida governors come to one of the most heartwarming sessions we have had. We have had many Members of Congress, Senators Graham, Martinez, Nelson and journalists such as Bob Beckel (USA Today), Cal Thomas (USA Today), Dave Broder, and Ms. Lisa Myers (NBC News). We haven’t forgotten the young people, as in the spring of 2008 the keynote speaker was Ms. SuChin Pak (MTV News).

Our keynote evening speaker is Larry Wilmore. His career started as an actor and standup comic before transitioning to television writing and producing in the early 1990’s. Most recently he was a consulting producer of NBC’s “The Office.” “The Daily Show” has marked a return to performing for Mr. Wilmore and he is currently developing a sitcom for himself at HBO. He has also written his first book entitled: I’d Rather We Got Casino’s and Other Black Thoughts. He identifies himself as “the Senior Black Correspondent” and contributor, “The Daily Show.”

This is just one of the many projects of the Institute. You can find out more about it by going to www.loufrey.org.

Thank you for forwarding this e-newsletter and introducing your friends to The Frey Report. Please continue to share the Report by using the TELL A FRIEND hyperlink at the bottom of this newsletter.

Lou Frey represented Central Florida in the U. S. Congress from 1969 to 1979. In his last election, he received nearly 80% of the vote. He was elected one of five Republican leaders in the House of Representatives during the 93rd and 94th Congress. He served on...