Last week, PRI held its inaugural “California Ideas in Action” Conference in Sacramento. For those of you who weren’t able to join us, below is your chance to watch 4 great panel discussions showcasing how free-market ideas are best suited to address California’s unique challenges and move the state toward more political balance.
Free-Market Solutions to California’s Health Care Challenges
Health care will be at the top of this year’s agenda. Proposals are expected to create a destructive single-payer health care system, impose new mandates on prescription drugs that will hurt innovation, and have government try and dictate people’s food choices on organics and GMO’s. PRI’s health care experts discuss how these proposals would hurt Californians, and how market-based health care policy ideas can better address the state’s health care challenges without bankrupting the state.
Speakers:
• Sally C. Pipes, PRI President, CEO, and Thomas W. Smith Fellow in Health Care Policy
• Dr. Wayne Winegarden, PRI Senior Fellow in Business and Economics
• Henry I. Miller, MS, MD, PRI Senior Fellow in Health Studies
The Benefits of Charter Schools – Choosing Diversity
Every day, charter schools play an important role in meeting the diverse needs of California’s students. State education reform leaders share real-life charter school success stories and explore ideas policymakers can embrace to strengthen charter school laws and expand school choice options.
Speakers:
• Lance Izumi, Senior Director of PRI’s Center of Education
• Bill Lucia, President and CEO, EdVoice
• Dr. Margaret Fortune, President/CEO, Fortune School
Legislating Energy Poverty
Public opinion polls show that most Californians see climate change as a serious threat to the state’s economy and quality of life. However, the state’s approach is hurting people in poor, rural, inland, and minority communities. Policy experts and energy leaders explore how market-driven policies can more effectively and affordably chart California’s energy future.
Speakers:
• Dr. Wayne Winegarden, PRI Senior Fellow in Business and Economics
• Nick Loris, Herbert and Joyce Morgan Fellow in Energy and Environmental Policy, Heritage Foundation
• John C. Gamboa, California Community Builders
How Non-Profits and Private Charities Can More Effectively Lift People Out of Poverty
There are many well-intentioned government anti-poverty programs in California, but private charities and non-profits have proven to be just as effective – if not more so – in getting people back on their feet. Policy experts and leaders on the front lines share their experiences and discuss how out-of-the-box thinking can help alleviate poverty and reduce homelessness.
Speakers:
• Kerry Jackson, Fellow, PRI’s Center for California Reform (Moderator)
• Michele Steeb, Saint John’s Program for Real Change
• Deacon Jim Vargas, Father Joe’s Villages
• Damon Dunn, PRI Fellow in Business and Economics
