Tucson Supporter and Friend Breakfast

Legislatures or Legislators, Which is Broken?

At the polls, most of us cast our vote based on a belief that the people we elect are sensible and capable of making decisions that will be in the best interest of the majority of the population. But good decisions seem to be increasingly rare in Congress. What goes wrong? And who is at fault - the institution or the individuals involved?

One roadblock of good decision-making is the overwhelming power of special interests. These often distort the decision-making process, making “sensible” an irrelevant consideration.

But special interests are not an invincible force. Many legislatures have reformed their procedures so policymakers’ decisions cannot be as influenced by such interests. They have also put in place stronger incentives for legislators to work for the betterment of the public rather than themselves.

Please join the Mercatus Center for a discussion with Maurice McTigue, former cabinet minister and member of parliament in his native New Zealand, for a discussion about how accountability and transparency can be put into practice for lasting change in our legislatures.

This is not a fundraising event and there is no charge to join us. We are pleased to have you as our guest to show our thanks and appreciation to our donors. Dress is business casual. Please invite friends or associates who might be interested.

To RSVP for yourself and your guests, please contact Brit Vorreiter at bvorreit@gmu.edu or (703) 993-4925.