The Honorable Jim Nussle

As a former White House budget director and chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee, Jim Nussle holds a unique perspective on the current budget and policy crisis going on in Washington.   Not only has Jim been witness to some of the most historic moments in American history, but he's actively been involved in these pivotal moments - including the writing of the Contract with America, the attacks of 9/11 and their aftermath in national policy decision-making and being the last Budget Chairman to draft reconciliation legislation - a sometimes controversial procedure that is  being considered as a part of the current health care reform debate.

In 2007, after 16 years in Congress, including six years as House Budget Chairman, President Bush nominated Jim to join his Cabinet as Director of the Office of Management and Budget, where he presided over the nation's $3 trillion budget and participated in high-level decision making surrounding issues such as the financial industry crisis, bank bailouts, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and homeland security.

SPEAKER TOPICS
ABOUT The Honorable Jim Nussle   (+/-)

A Trusted Advisor in Turbulent Times

As Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Nussle served as one of the President's most senior White House advisors. During his tenure, the President called upon Nussle and his economic advisors to assist him in creatively addressing the economic challenges facing the nation. In addition to numerous other measures, Nussle participated in the establishment of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) that Congress enacted, a $700 billion program to address the systemic crisis plaguing the nation's credit market and the national and international financial systems.

Leading the Call for Reform

Prior to his service to the U.S. President, Nussle spent 16 years representing the 1st District of Iowa in the U.S. House of Representatives. At the time of his first election, Nussle was the youngest member of Congress in the House.  While there, Nussle earned a reputation as a reformer. As a member of the "Gang of Seven," he and his colleagues helped to expose corruption in the institution, which led to the conviction of several colleagues. In 1994, he collaborated with a six-member team that created the Contract with America.  In 2001, Nussle was elected by his peers to three straight two-year terms as the chairman of the influential House Budget Committee, considered one of the most challenging assignments in Congress. As Chairman, Nussle achieved many successes in this role including shepherding six consecutive federal budgets through Congress that initially balanced as well as reduced taxes and the national debt.

+/-

SPEAKER TOPIC DESCRIPTIONS    (+/-)

Reconciliation, the Health Care Reform Debate and How it Effects You

Health care reform has long been and continues to be a complex, contentious issue, igniting passionate debate and partisan posturing from both sides of the political aisle.  Although many agree on the need for reform, there is little consensus on how to design, develop and implement an efficient and effective program for all Americans. 

In the face of increasing political opposition, the Obama Administration has the option to pursue a "go it alone" strategy to pass legislation if they are not able to generate enough bipartisan support in Congress to do so; this tactic is technically referred to as Reconciliation.

Few people understand the rules of this complicated budget procedure, let alone know how to explain the nuances so people can truly understand the impact to their business, industry and family.  As a former White House Budget Director and Chairman of the House Budget Committee, Jim Nussle authored the most recent successful Budget Reconciliation measure and can strategically analyze and describe how this procedure and resulting provisions will affect your interests.  

Understanding the Policies of the Obama Administration

Is your organization spinning with questions about bailouts, stimulus packages and the nationalization of banks?  As the most recent former Director of the White House Office of Management & Budget and a member of the President's National Economic Council, no one is in a better position to talk about the country's economic situation crisis than Jim Nussle.   Get a better understanding of the historic Obama budget, and hear from the guy who was the last Chief Budget Officer to get the clearest perspective on what this budget reveals about the Obama Administration and its policies.  Some have said this budget represents the single largest change in direction for the country since the 1940s.  Tax increases, new spending priorities, new healthcare policy, changes in key deductions -- what does it all mean and how will it affect my family, my business, my community? Jim breaks it all down and explains the good, the bad and the ugly of the new President's budget.

 The Federal Budget Process

Learn how the $3 trillion budget that keeps our country running really works.  As former Chairman of the House Budget Committee in Congress and former Director of the Office of Management and Budget in the White House, Jim Nussle will reveal the inside story on the Federal budget process from both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.  Who's really in charge of the budget process?  How do budget negotiations between the Congress and the White House really happen?  What's the difference between an authorization and an appropriation?  How can your organization best participate in the setting of funding priorities and programmatic decisions-making?  Jim is able to explain in layman terms how our complicated budget process works and how citizens can best be involved with the process.

The Federal Policy Process at Work: How Federal Policy Gets Made 

Ever wonder how policies and laws actually get made?  As a veteran federal policy maker, Jim Nussle shares an inside look at both legislative and administrative branches of government.   He knows how both branches work, how they interact and the powers they possess.  He also understands how policy initiatives get derailed or blocked.   He will include a discussion of the federal regulatory framework and the role of the White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB).

 Leading for Results

Jim Nussle has served in many leadership capacities in his career from Congressman to Chairman of a powerful Congressional committee to a Member of the Cabinet.  He has negotiated trillion dollar budgets, spearheaded critical legislative achievements, and led an effort to reveal the scandal that closed the House Bank.  He has also learned from other impressive leaders - two Speakers of the House and the President of the United States.  Jim will share his experience and thoughts on leadership, leadership styles, how you can get results and what lessons he's learned that will translate to your organization.

Washington Inner Circles

Ever wonder how things do or don't get done in Washington?  What rises to the level of the Oval Office?  What really happens on Capitol Hill?  What occurs in legislative negotiations?  How do those crazy projects make it in to law?  Jim Nussle has been in the inner circle of some of the great leaders of our time -- at some of the great moments in our time.  He served on the senior staff and in the Cabinet of the Bush White House. He co-wrote the Contract with America that brought Republicans into an historic House majority.  And he was a member of the Gang of Seven that exposed one of the greatest scandals in the history of the House of Representatives.   Jim reveals the secrets about how things get done in Washington, and identifies the key moments and turning points in these and other historic political events.

+/-