Event Details
Thursday, March 12, 2026
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
McGoldrick Center Salon A
USM Portland Campus
or Via Zoom
The national debt is reaching historic levels and is growing at an unsustainable rate. What does that mean for us here in Maine?
From the stability of Social Security and Medicare to the effect on interest rates, student loans, and housing, the consequences of our debt trajectory affect us all. Join us for an engaging educational forum featuring a panel of federal and state experts for a non-partisan deep dive into our fiscal trajectory and the path toward sustainability, in-person or on zoom.
The Muskie School of Public Service invites you to a panel discussion to explore:
The Drivers: What factors are pushing the national debt to new heights?
The Maine Connection: How do federal budgetary policy and fiscal uncertainty impact our state economy?
A Path Forward: Policy ideas for building a sustainable fiscal future.
The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session, providing an opportunity to ask the experts questions and join in on the conversation.
Meet The Panelists
Executive Director
Concord Coalition
Dr. Carolyn Bordeaux leads the Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to educating the public on the long-term risks of federal debt. A former Democratic Member of Congress representing Georgia (2021–2022), she has led bipartisan efforts to reform the budgeting process and championed the principle that Congress must find sustainable ways to pay for its programs.
Senior Vice President
Bipartisan Policy Center
As a senior leader at the Bipartisan Policy Center, G. William Hoagland oversees the organization’s fiscal, health, and economic analyses. He previously spent 25 years on the U.S. Senate staff, where he served as the Director of the Senate Budget Committee and participated in federal budget negotiations.
Maine State Economist
State Economist Amanda Rector has led Maine’s economic and demographic analysis since 2011. She plays a pivotal role in state fiscal planning as a member of the Revenue Forecasting Committee and serves as the Governor’s representative to the U.S. Census Bureau.