Contact: AnnMarie Schneider, (517) 355-6672, annmarie@msu.edu; or Gisgie Dávila Gendreau, University Relations, (517) 432-0924, gendrea3@msu.edu

2/22/2005

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) will begin its 2005 Policy Forum Series. The first in a series of four open forums, “Trash Dumping in Michigan: The Economics of Solid Waste Management,” will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Anderson House Office Building in downtown Lansing, 124 N. Capitol Ave., Mackinac Room, fifth floor. This particular forum is co-sponsored by MSU’s IPPSR and Canadian Studies Centre.

Now in its 13^th year as a series, the IPPSR Policy Forums provide an opportunity to hear experts on critical issues that are faced by Michigan communities. An informative address by invited speakers will be followed by open discussion of the solid waste exchange between Michigan and Canada, the pluses and minuses to the business of trash and landfills, NAFTA’s role in trash as a commodity, and related state policy questions. This forum will address questions such as why some communities cannot handle their waste, and the control held by federal vs. state legislators over the issue.

Speakers include:

• Mike Unsworth, History and Canadian Studies Bibliographer at MSU Libraries and assistant director of Canadian Studies Centre;

• Geoff Rathbone, director of policy and planning for Solid Waste Management Services Works and Emergency Services in Toronto, Ontario;

• Andrew Campbell, director of solid waste at the Regional Municipality of York and the Ontario Centre for Municipal Best Practices on Waste Management, and;

• Todd Weiler, an adjunct professor at Washington College of Law at American University and research fellow for the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law & Policy.

A registration fee of $15 for each forum is charged to attendees and includes a catered lunch and materials. [Editors Note: The registration fee is waived for media representatives with press identification.]

Pre-registration may be made by phone at (517) 355-6672; by e-mail to rojasm@msu.edu; or at www.ippsr.msu.edu

Future forums in the series are held at the same place, same time frame, on the following dates:

March 30
Co-sponsored by The Michigan at the Millennium Project
Talk of Tax Reform: Unemployment Taxes and Business Loopholes
Michigan’s State Unemployment Tax Act (SUTA) has recently been targeted for reform. The chief complaint: Too many businesses are paying either much more or much less than their fair share of unemployment tax. This forum will look at how businesses comply with the current state tax code, SUTA, various perspectives on the problem, and proposals for reform.

April 13
Co-sponsored by MSU’s International Studies and Programs
Michigan and the International Economy: Gaining an Edge on Overseas Trade Opportunities
In the 21^st century, Michigan’s economy and prosperity will be increasingly dependent on the global economy. The forum will report on Michigan’s current level of international trade compared to other states, and focus on our opportunities and challenges of overseas trade.

May 11
Co-sponsored by MSU’s College of Communication Arts & Sciences
Privacy and Security of Citizen Information: The Role of State Government
Financial and criminal identity theft crimes are on the rise, and there are special concerns for electronic information exchanges and maintenance of information. This forum will focus on the role of state government to protect the personal information it maintains on individual citizens and proposals for how Michigan can lead the nation with its privacy and security information practices.