2015 Tax Policy Conference

Agenda

Time Topic Presenter(s)

8-8:20 AM

Registration and Refreshments

 

8:20-8:30 AM

Welcome
  • Annette Nellen (MST Program Director, San José State University)

8:30-10 AM

Political and Budgetary Challenges of Federal Tax Reform: Tax reform has been discussed since the mid-1990s. What will it take to effect change? How is revenue neutrality measured? What does dynamic scoring mean? What are the opportunities, roadblocks, and prospects for tax reform?

  • Caroline Bruckner (Executive in Residence, Kogod School of Business; Managing Director, Kogod Tax Center at American University; Former Counsel to U.S. Senate Committees on Energy and Small Business)
  • Rohit Kumar (Principal and Co-Leader - WNTS Tax Policy Services, PwC; Former Domestic Policy Director and Deputy Chief of Staff for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell)

10-10:15 AM

Break

 

10:15-10:55 AM

2015 Federal Tax Reform Proposals: A review of key proposals and activities, including those from President Obama, Congress and the OECD.

  • Roger Royse (Founder, Royse Law Firm)
  • Eric Ryan (Partner, DLA Piper)
  • Moderator: Annette Nellen

10:55 AM-12:05 PM

What About State Tax Reform?: What can the feds learn from state cross-border/jurisdictional concerns that states have been dealing with for decades? In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Willis Commission Report, a review of its purpose and key proposals, along with their relevance today will be discussed. 

  • Greg Turner (Special Counsel, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton)
  • John Paek (Partner, Baker & McKenzie)
  • Annette Nellen (Professor, San José State University)

12:05-12:45 PM

Lunch

 

12:45-1:45 PM

Inequality and Income Segregation through the U.S. Tax System: Continuous demographic changes have broadened income gaps and created some “super zips.” What does the data tell us and how does it / should it affect tax reform and revenue neutrality efforts?

  • Kirk J. Stark (Professor, Barrall Family Professor of Tax Law and Policy, 
    UCLA School of Law)

1:45-2 PM

Break

 

2-3 PM

Takeaways for Businesses:

  • Observations from speakers and attendees
  • What’s missing from the proposals and discussions
  • Relevance to state governments
  • Tips for discussing these topics with the C-suite and clients
  • Moderator: Peter Waterstreet (Director - International Tax, Synopsys)

  + Today's speakers.