Speakers for June 24th Tax Conference Announced

Tax Conference Speakers Announced

Hoosiers encouraged to submit suggestions

INDIANAPOLIS (June 4, 2014) – Governor Mike Pence, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Department of Revenue (DOR) announce the programs, speakers and panelists for Governor Mike Pence’s Indiana Tax Competitiveness and Simplification Conference set for June 24 at the Indiana Government Center South Conference Center.

The conference will bring together nearly 200 local and national tax experts and policy makers to focus on ways to create a more competitive business and individual tax climate in Indiana. This full day of exploration and discussion will look for new and fresh ideas and known best practices in state taxation. The conference will result in recommendations to both the administration and the General Assembly on ways to make Indiana more competitive through tax simplification.

“A diverse group of experts will be represented at the conference to help Indiana consider tax simplification methods from every angle,” said Governor Pence. “This conference is an excellent opportunity to examine our tax structures in open and frank discussions we hope will inform the 2015 General Assembly.”

Speaker and discussion panel members include many significant academics and experts in state taxation:

• Some of the nationally recognized speakers include noted economist Dr. Arthur Laffer, The Laffer Center; Allan Hubbard, Chairman of E&A Industries, former director of the National Economic Council; Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform; James Eads, Ryan & Associates, former executive director, Federation of Tax Administrators; and Mark Everson, alliantgroup, former Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.

• Members of numerous national tax policy organizations will also participate in panel discussions on various tax issues, including The Mercatus Center, Tax Foundation, Tax Analysts, Pew Charitable Trusts, Multistate Tax Commission and Council on State Taxation.

• Many Indiana associations and organizations have also pledged to participate in discussions including the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute, Indiana CPA Society, Indiana Manufacturing Association, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Association of Indiana Counties and Indiana Society of Enrolled Agents.

A complete agenda and speaker/panel member list is provided below.

Conference organizers also urge all Hoosiers and Hoosier businesses to share their ideas about state taxes and suggest recommendations for making Indiana a more business-competitive state. Anyone interested in providing ideas and input for consideration during the conference can submit comments and recommendations at www.in.gov/dor/5120.htm or send mail to:

Indiana Department of Revenue
Public Relations MS 103
100 N. Senate Ave. IGCN 248
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2253

These comments will be posted for public discussion at www.in.gov/dor/5121.htm.  

The conference will include two special presentations and seven panels. The complete agenda is below. Although additional speakers continue to be finalized, this table represents currently confirmed conference speakers and panel members.

8:00 – 8:15 a.m.	Opening remarks	Chris Atkins, director of Office of Management and Budget
8:15 – 8:40	Keynote presentation “The Impact of Different Taxes on Economic Growth”	Allan Hubbard, president, E&A Industries (former director of the National Economic Council)
8:40 – 10:00	Panel: “How to Succeed at Tax Simplification” Moderated by John Ketzenberger, Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute	James Eads, Ryan & Associates (former executive director, Federation of Tax Administrators) Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform Prof. Mike Hicks, Ball State Center for Business and Economic Research Maurice Mctigue, Mercatus Center at George Mason University
10:15 – 11:30	Panel: “Individual Income Tax”	Prof. Lawrence Jegen, McKinney School of Law: Indiana University Dave McDaniel, CPA, Indiana CPA Society Andrew Stadler, Indiana Society of Enrolled Agents Mark Everson, alliantgroup (former Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service)
	Panel: “Tax Competitiveness”	Dagney Faulk, Center for Business and Economic Research, Ball State University Scott Drenkard, Tax Foundation Jenny Massey, FairWinds Advisors Jeff Chapman, Pew Charitable Trusts
11:30 – 1:15	Luncheon Remarks by Governor Mike Pence	Dr. Arthur Laffer, chairman, The Laffer Center at the Pacific Research Institute
1:15 – 2:45	Panel: “Sales and Use Tax”	Prof. John Mikesell, Indiana University—Bloomington Tim Rushenberg, Indiana Manufacturers Association Scott Wilson, Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. Sheldon Laskin, Multistate Tax Commission
	Panel: “Local Tax”	Prof. Larry DeBoer, Purdue University Jeff Quyle, Association of Indiana Counties Justin Ross, Indiana University—Bloomington Terry Flick, Kimball International, Inc.
3:00 – 4:30	Panel: “Corporate Tax”	Tony Robinson, Ernst & Young Mike Ralston, PricewaterhouseCoopers David Brunori, Tax Analysts David Lewis, Eli Lilly and Company
	Panel: “Tax Simplification”	Bill Waltz, Indiana Chamber of Commerce Francina Dlouhy, Faegre Baker Daniels Donna Niesen, Katz, Sapper & Miller Fredrick Nicely, Council on State Taxation
4:40 – 5:00 p.m.	Closing statements

While not open to the general public, all sessions will be video recorded and will be available for viewing within 2 hours of completion at www.in.gov/dor/5119.htm. All sessions will be open to the news media.

Additional information

• Tax conference information page: www.in.gov/dor/5119.htm