CRFB Kicks Off National Debt Tour Today at Harvard

Update: Watch the live stream below.

Today in Boston, CRFB kicks off a national tour of policymakers, fiscal experts, and business leaders as part of the national “Go Big” campaign pushing for a major deficit reduction deal in 2012.

The first event is being held at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University and will feature U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), an organizer of the Senate’s 2011 bipartisan “Gang of Six” deficit reduction initiative; Dave Cote, former member, National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, and Chairman and CEO, Honeywell International; former Rep. Vin Weber (R-MN); and CRFB President Maya MacGuineas.

The event, moderated by Nina Easton, Washington Bureau Chief of Fortune, will be a frank discussion of the U.S. budget situation and the political and policy solutions that will be required for the country to overcome the enormous fiscal challenge it faces.

The tour will offer Americans across the country an opportunity to learn more about the threat posed by the national debt and how to address it. As CRFB’s Maya MacGuineas said:

Poll after poll shows that the national debt is a top concern for Americans. When it comes to addressing deficits and debt in way that strengthens the economy, people are looking for leadership and solutions from Washington, but all they see is partisanship and sound bites. Boston is the first stop in a cross-country tour to bring people together to confront this major challenge to our future. The National Debt Tour will inform Americans about what’s at stake, engage them in discussing solutions, and empower them to demand action from their leaders.

The event is open to the public. The event is available to be watched at Harvard's website here.