Public Policy Forum president Henken goes 'On the Issues' at Marquette Law School

August 23, 2017

MILWAUKEE — Rob Henken, president of the Public Policy Forum, will be the featured guest in an upcoming "On the Issues with Mike Gousha," Wednesday, Aug. 30, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in the Lubar Center at Marquette University Law School's Eckstein Hall.

Like many cities, Milwaukee has to deliver core public services for its residents, businesses, and visitors. It has to meet the city's retirement obligations, repair its aging infrastructure, and keep its streets safe. But unlike many cities, Milwaukee has few options for generating the revenue needed to pay for those core services, forcing the city to lean increasingly on property owners. Recently, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett proposed a half-cent local sales tax to fund police and fire departments.

The Public Policy Forum calls the city's tax structure "broken" and says it has outlived its effectiveness. So what can be done about it? In a new report, the PPF looks at how other cities are generating revenue to pay the bills, and whether any of those approaches might work in Milwaukee. PPF President Rob Henken will discuss this in his visit to the Lubar Center at Eckstein Hall.

Gousha, an award-winning broadcast journalist, is the Law School's distinguished fellow in law and public policy. His "On the Issues" series of conversations with newsmakers supports Marquette Law School's commitment to serve as a modern-day public square for the city of Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin and beyond.

Through public programming such as the Marquette Law School Poll, debates featuring candidates in significant political races, Gousha's "On the Issues" conversations with newsmakers, public lectures by leading scholars and conferences on significant issues of public importance, the Law School serves as the region's leading venue for serious civil discourse about law and public policy matters.

The event is open to members of the general public at no cost; registration is required and is available online. Members of the media who are interested in attending should contact Chris Jenkins in the Office of Marketing and Communication.