Sen. Joseph Lieberman was the keynote speaker at a three hour state and federal fiscal forum held on July 16th. The event was co-sponsored by No Labels Connecticut, an organization whose stated goal is to take politics out of problem solving.
It was also organized by the Comeback America Initiative, a Bridgeport-based advocacy group for fiscal responsibility founded by David Walker, former Comptroller General of the United States.
'It's time to get together to solve problems rather than be involved in partisan politicking,' said Lieberman, a Stamford resident and native.
'Spending has been out of control,' said Walker. 'We've got some serious problems.' Walker lamented the current level of federal borrowing, which was expected to reach the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling in two weeks and rivals the World War II-era burden. 'We got something for World War II. We can debate what we're getting for the current debt,' Walker said.
Sheila Weinberg, founder & CEO of the Institute, spoke on the state panel (pictured above) and emphasized that the federal balanced budget amendment will mean nothing if truth in accounting is not included. 'The states have been the laboratory for the balanced budget amendment,' she explained . 'Because political math is used to calculate state budgets, balanced budget requirements have failed and most states are deep in debt.'
Photo from left: Debra Hauser, Democratic co-chair of No Labels; Ben Barnes, secretary of the state CT Office of Policy and Management; Sheila Weinberg, Institute for Truth in Accounting; Oz Griebel; and Lowell Weicker Jr. Photo: Neil Vigdor / CT
The lack of truth and transparency in state budgets have concealed $1 trillion of outstanding bills. 
The Institute has completed its two year study on the transparency in the state of Illinois budgeting processes.
Truth in Accounting and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce will host a Comeback America 'Fiscally Speaking Tour' event with speakers U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, Congressman Mike Quigley and David M. Walker. A Noon Luncheon will be held on Monday, October 17th at the Mid-America Club, 200 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago.
