This is Utah Valley's opportunity to ask questions about the things that are bothering residents.

Responding to a flood of concern from Utahns, Sen. Orrin Hatch is hosting an economic forum called "The Fiscal Future of America," which will be held at Utah Valley University on Aug. 28 beginning at 9 a.m. The event is free to the public.

"Our nation is at a critical juncture," Hatch said. "The runaway spending train enveloping Washington, D.C., is threatening to decimate the future of our children and for all Americans for generations to come. My office has received literally thousands of letters, phone calls and e-mails from Utahns who are extremely concerned about America's fiscal future. I envision this forum as a way for our citizens to have an opportunity to not only listen to some speakers who have been at the forefront of our economy, but to ask questions of the experts and provide feedback to me that I can arm myself with for this fight in Washington."

If the caliber of visiting speakers is any indication, Hatch is arming himself with heavy artillery. Two-time presidential candidate and editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine, Steve Forbes will headline the event with Hatch. Also on tap: Douglas Holtz Eakin, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, who served both as a top staffer for Sen. John McCain's presidential bid and as the chief economist for the President's Council of Economic Advisors.

"Both are honest and good people," said Hatch in an interview with the Daily Herald.

The UVU forum will be a discussion of the mid- and long-term outlook for the federal budget deficit, debt levels and the economy. It will also look at the effect of recent and proposed legislation, such as the stimulus bill, the auto bailout and other bailouts, and health care reform.

"We'll talk about our economy and health care and a lot of things that are bothering Americans," Hatch said. "This is an opportunity for folks in this state to ask questions about the things that are bothering them. I thought it would be good to get real top economists out here to listen to and ask questions to. We are hoping we will get a large crowd."

Continuing in his signature vernacular, Hatch added, "What I want for our folks here in Utah is to have the best information they can get, and to take away a great knowledge of what is right and wrong about our country, and the health care debate, and taxation. ... I just want to have our folks always on the cutting edge, and this is the way to do it."

The forum is being sponsored jointly by the UVU Office of the President, the Woodbury School of Business and the Center for the Study of Ethics. The forum will be held at the Ragan Theater on the UVU campus. The public is encouraged to come.

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