2021 Budget Ball Reception: Celebrating Our Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility
On Tuesday, November 2, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget hosted our annual Budget Ball reception on the rooftop of 101 Constitution Avenue. The evening featured an outdoor reception overlooking the Capitol, where we welcomed over 300 people to celebrate the Committee’s work. Among the attendees were more than 35 Members of Congress, members of the media, congressional and agency staff, policy experts, business leaders, other D.C. stakeholders, and Snap Inc. co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel and his wife, Miranda Kerr.
Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget co-chair Tim Penny provided remarks on all the work the organization has been doing to both educate the public and impact the current debates surrounding the budget. He noted that while the major political parties are not currently focused on debt and deficits, there are still lawmakers from both parties that are committed to fiscal responsibility. He proceeded to recognize the 2020 class of Fiscal Heroes that included a bipartisan group of 14 senators and 28 House members who are passionate about doing the work necessary on Capitol Hill to restore fiscal discipline.
From left to right: Committee co-chair Mitch Daniels, Committee president Maya MacGuineas, Committee co-chair Tim Penny, Snap Inc. co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel, and Committee co-chair Leon Panetta
The highlight of the evening was a fireside chat between Committee president Maya MacGuineas and the co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc., Evan Spiegel. They touched on a variety of fiscal issues, including investing in the future, cryptocurrency, and education. Both noted that the current composition of the federal budget reflects the needs, opportunities, and challenges of the past rather than planning and allocating resources for the future – the U.S. currently spends one dollar on children for every six dollars spent on seniors. Spiegel showed that not only is he able to provide valuable insights into the future of technology, but he too is a budget wonk deeply concerned about our nation’s future and the fiscal burden we are leaving to future generations.
Committee president Maya MacGuineas interviews Snap Inc. co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel
If you missed the event this year, rest assured that next year's event is already in the works.
