“Global Environmental and Economic Challenges” featuring Margo Thorning, Ph.D. – Live webcast 12 noon

Lawmakers, legislative staff, news media and other interested friends are cordially invited to the
Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s
APRIL 29 ISSUES & IDEAS FORUM
“Global Environmental and Economic Challenges” featuring:
Margo Thorning, Ph.D.
Senior vice president and chief economist with the American Council for Capital Formation

DATE: Thursday, April 29, 2010

TIME: Noon – 1 p.m.

LOCATION: Radisson Hotel Lansing, Michigan II & III Rooms
111 N. Grand Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933

COST: Lunch is provided at no charge with reservation.

Legislation like the federal Waxman-Markey bill, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, threatens to further
slow the economy, particularly in Michigan. If such restrictions on energy use are passed, Michigan’s gross state
product, employment, industrial output, state budget revenues and household income would fall further.
Nor would these policies appreciably help the environment: U.S. climate change policies will have virtually no
environmental benefits unless developing countries, whose emissions are skyrocketing, also participate. Solutions
include: improving the U.S. tax code to reduce the cost of new, cleaner technology; promoting market reforms
to allow the developing world access to cleaner technologies; using nuclear power for electricity generation; and
continuing with global approaches, such as the Asia Pacific Partnership and the Major Economies Initiative.

Dr. Thorning is an internationally recognized expert on tax, environmental and competitiveness issues. She has
testified as an expert witness on capital formation and environmental issues before several U.S. congressional
committees. Thorning writes and lectures on tax and economic policy, is frequently quoted in publications such
as the Financial Times, Suddeutsche Zeitung, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and has appeared
internationally on public affairs news programs. She has made presentations on the economic impact of climate
change policy at forums in China, India, the European Union, Russia and elsewhere.

Previously, Dr. Thorning served at the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the
Federal Trade Commission.

The luncheon begins at noon. To make reservations, please call the Mackinac Center at
989-631-0900 by 5 p.m. on April 23, 2009.

The Purpose of the Issues & Ideas Forum
The nature of the legislative process is such that public policy debates are often framed by specific constituencies and political pragmatism
rather than by sound principles. By offering a forum for wide-ranging discussion, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy hopes to broaden
the debate to include theoretical and philosophical ideals — and how to achieve them. The best interests of Michigan residents can be
served only when legislation incorporates our best understanding of legal, economic, psychological, moral and scientific principles.