Public finance expert Leonard Burman talks about Bush tax cuts at TMR

The Oct. 7 session of Thursday Morning Roundtable (TMR) will feature Leonard Burman, professor of practice at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. Burman will discuss tax cuts, the budget and the U.S. economy. The expiration of the “Bush tax cuts” at the end of 2010 creates a number of decision points for Congress: Should all or some of the tax cuts be extended? If so, should they be made permanent? If not, how long should they be extended? If only some of the tax cuts are to be extended, which ones? Burman will address these issues and accept questions from the audience.

In addition to his position in the Center for Policy Research at Maxwell School, Berman is a fellow at the Urban Institute and director of the Tax Policy Center. He is an expert in public finance and modeling the effects of government policies on individuals’ lives and firms’ decisions. He has held high-level positions in both the executive and legislative branches, serving as deputy assistant secretary for tax analysis at the Treasury from 1998-2000, and as senior analyst at the Congressional Budget Office. Burman is also a visiting professor at Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute, and has previously taught economics at George Washington University and Bates College.

Burman is the author of “The Labyrinth of Capital Gains Tax Policy: A Guide for the Perplexed” (Brookings Institution Press, 1999), and numerous articles, studies and reports. Burman’s current research is focused on the changing role of taxation in social policy, pension and retirement policy, estate taxation, the alternative minimum tax and tax policy with respect to health care.

TMR meets from 8:15-9:15 a.m. at Drumlins, 800 Nottingham Rd. For further information, contact Sandra Barrett, director of community programs, (315) 443-4846. The TMR program is broadcast on WCNY-FM, 91.3 on Sundays at 8 p.m. and at http://www.wcny.org/tmr.