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About MMA MMA News Keynote speaker: Federal deficit affects everyone
In her keynote address at the MMA Annual Meeting on Jan. 21, Cokie Roberts expressed sympathy for the task that local officials face in an era of extreme fiscal restraints.
Roberts, a longtime commentator for ABC News and National Public Radio, noted that the expected fight in the new Congress over raising the federal debt ceiling is “essentially a symbolic fight, since everyone knows that in the end you have to vote to raise the debt ceiling because otherwise the government cannot fulfill its obligations.”
“The federal deficit,” Roberts told the room of local officials, “is going to affect all of you tremendously because there is no stimulus money coming down the pike. The ability to do something about jobs becomes pretty remote.”
Later, in response to a question about the municipal bond market, Roberts said, “The states are in terrible shape. You know that better than anyone. ... States complain and complain and complain, but they complain correctly, that they have to balance their budgets.”
Roberts also offered advice on dealing with anonymous bloggers. Local officials, she said, should either ignore the person “or bring him in and try to talk sense to him.
“Of course, they attack me, too,” she added. “But I don’t go there. All that would do is boost Rolaids stock.”
Roberts, who also spoke at the Women Elected Municipal Officials luncheon, devoted much of her keynote speech to next year’s presidential campaign. She described the job market as “the single biggest factor that will matter in 2012,” but also suggested that demographic trends favor President Barack Obama.
She noted Obama’s strong showing among Hispanic voters and women in 2008. Despite the big gains by Republicans in the midterm elections, among women voters Democrats did better with every age group except senior citizens, she said.
“When you look at the demographic numbers, you really see Obama looking in much better shape than the last election would suggest,” Roberts said. “What we haven’t seen is young people turning to the Republican Party.”
Roberts cited polls indicating that Obama is in better position than Bill Clinton was at the same point in his first term as president.
“But,” she added, “things happen all the time that change people’s perspective.”
About MMA MMA News Keynote speaker: Federal deficit affects everyone
Keynote speaker: Federal deficit affects everyone
In her keynote address at the MMA Annual Meeting on Jan. 21, Cokie Roberts expressed sympathy for the task that local officials face in an era of extreme fiscal restraints.Roberts, a longtime commentator for ABC News and National Public Radio, noted that the expected fight in the new Congress over raising the federal debt ceiling is “essentially a symbolic fight, since everyone knows that in the end you have to vote to raise the debt ceiling because otherwise the government cannot fulfill its obligations.”
“The federal deficit,” Roberts told the room of local officials, “is going to affect all of you tremendously because there is no stimulus money coming down the pike. The ability to do something about jobs becomes pretty remote.”
Later, in response to a question about the municipal bond market, Roberts said, “The states are in terrible shape. You know that better than anyone. ... States complain and complain and complain, but they complain correctly, that they have to balance their budgets.”
Roberts also offered advice on dealing with anonymous bloggers. Local officials, she said, should either ignore the person “or bring him in and try to talk sense to him.
“Of course, they attack me, too,” she added. “But I don’t go there. All that would do is boost Rolaids stock.”
Roberts, who also spoke at the Women Elected Municipal Officials luncheon, devoted much of her keynote speech to next year’s presidential campaign. She described the job market as “the single biggest factor that will matter in 2012,” but also suggested that demographic trends favor President Barack Obama.
She noted Obama’s strong showing among Hispanic voters and women in 2008. Despite the big gains by Republicans in the midterm elections, among women voters Democrats did better with every age group except senior citizens, she said.
“When you look at the demographic numbers, you really see Obama looking in much better shape than the last election would suggest,” Roberts said. “What we haven’t seen is young people turning to the Republican Party.”
Roberts cited polls indicating that Obama is in better position than Bill Clinton was at the same point in his first term as president.
“But,” she added, “things happen all the time that change people’s perspective.”
Written by MMA Associate Editor Mitch Evich
