Congress members to talk about future president's impact on Florida

September 30, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Two prominent legislators from Florida will discuss the next president and his relationship with the Sunshine State on Oct. 7 at the University of Florida.

U.S. Reps. Adam Putnam, R-20th, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-12th, will speak on “Florida and the Next President” at 7 p.m. in the Ocora at Pugh Hall. The event is presented by the Bob Graham Center for Public Service and is the final event in the 2008 Presidential Lecture Series “The Path to the White House.” The discussion will be moderated by Brendan McLaughlin, news anchor of WFTS-TV in Tampa.

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets may be picked up in advance at the Graham Center office, Pugh Hall Room 220, or at the main entrance of Pugh Hall on the night of the event.

“Congressman Putnam and Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz are two of our nation’s rising political stars,” said Mike Bowen, assistant director of the Graham Center. “They have a firm grasp of the issues facing Florida in the coming years. Their discussion should get to the heart of what this presidential election means to our state.”

The two participants have made their marks in Congress. Wasserman Schultz sits on the Appropriations Committee, where she chairs the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, and the Judiciary Committee. Putnam is chairman of the House Republican Conference, making him the third-ranking Republican in the party’s congressional leadership structure.

The Graham Center for Public Service provides students with opportunities to train for future leadership positions, meet policymakers and take courses in critical thinking, language learning and studies of world cultures. Its mission is to foster public leadership and solve issues related to the Americas and homeland security.

For more information, please contact Mike Bowen at 352-273-1080 or at mbowen@ufl.edu.