WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2012 — Norman J. Ornstein, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research and election analyst for CBS News, will discuss ideas to improve America’s political process at the American Bar Association Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice 2012 Fall Conference.  The meeting will take place Oct. 25–26 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C. 

The conference will also focus on sequestration (the impact of mandatory cuts to federal programs scheduled for the end of 2012), the enforcement of the JOBS Act and the STOCK Act, voter identification, counterterrorism and other administrative law issues.  Program highlights include: 

“Sequestration and the Fiscal Cliff” — Panelists will discuss the impact of sequestration and its role in Congress, the debt ceiling as well as other fiscal issues that Congress may face in the lame-duck session after the election. Oct. 25, 3:30 – 5 p.m. 

“Role of Administrative Agencies in the Political Process; A Preview of Potential Election Day Issues” — Panelists will focus on the controversy over voter ID laws and post-election issues, such as provisional ballots.  Virginia, Wisconsin, Florida and Pennsylvania are among the states that will be studied. Oct. 26, 1:45 – 3:15 p.m.

“The JOBS Act: The Real Impact on Financings and SEC Rulemaking, and the SEC Itself” — The adoption of the JOBS Act has caused wide speculation about its impact on private and public financing transactions and the role of the Securities and Exchange Commission in reacting to the new legislation.  Panelists will focus on the effect on capital raising by companies and rulemaking issues faced by governmental agencies. Oct. 25, 10:45 a.m. – 12:15 pm.

Additional information as well as a link to the meeting’s full agenda can be found here.  There is no charge for media covering this event.  For media credentialing and conference materials, or to interview speakers, please contact Rabiah Burks at 202-662-1002 or Rabiah.Burks@americanbar.org.       

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the world’s largest voluntary professional membership organization.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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