Rep. Hice, Athens Mayor Girtz, and The Concord Coalition to Host Federal Budget Exercise

Press Release

Congressman Jody Hice (GA-10), Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz, and The Concord Coalition invite the public to attend "Principles and Priorities," an interactive federal budget exercise, on November 7, 2019. The event will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Lay Park Community Center Gymnasium in Athens. Citizens must register in advance to participate in the event.

This two-hour activity challenges citizens to play the role of lawmaker for a day, reviewing and voting on a wide range of budget proposals involving entitlement programs, defense, health care, discretionary spending, and taxes. Working in small groups, participants will debate over everything from changes in Social Security to how many nuclear submarines the Navy needs. In the end, these "congressional committees" will present their budget recommendations to Congressman Hice, who represents Georgia's 10th Congressional District and will attend the event and listen to the committee deliberations.

"This budget simulation will put you in the shoes of Members of Congress as you balance your principles and priorities to make tough deficit reduction choices," said Congressman Hice. "Past participants have described it as challenging, eye-opening, instructive, and even the "best exercise of democracy besides voting.' I am very grateful to participate alongside Athens Mayor Kelly Kirtz at this meaningful event."

"Whether you are working on the federal or local level," said Mayor Girtz, "it's important to be able to have conversations with people of differing political perspectives. That's why I am proud to partner with Congressman Hice and The Concord Coalition to host an educational session on economics, civility, and collaboration."

Click here to register for the event. Registration is limited to fifty people and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

"Principles and Priorities" was developed and has been presented around the country by The Concord Coalition, a national, nonpartisan organization dedicated to fiscal responsibility and reform. Since 1992, Concord has worked to educate the American public about the causes and consequences of the growing federal debt and the need to develop realistic solutions for sustainable budgets.

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