AUSTIN, Texas -Two weeks prior to the Second Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature, the volume of registrations forced the hosts to create a waiting list for individuals hoping to attend.

The Orientation is being held January 28th and 29th at the Driskill Hotel in Austin.

“We’re very pleased so many people are interested in the issues facing Texas, and view this forum as an opportunity to learn more,” said Brooke Leslie Rollins, president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Scaled back from the first Policy Orientation because the Legislature is not in session, the Foundation added additional capacity for the event – but still had to implement the waiting list.

The Policy Orientation will focus on a variety of issues, featuring speeches and panel discussions with the state’s elected leaders and policy experts from across the state and nation. The lineup includes individuals from across the political and ideological spectrum.

Kicking off the first day of the Orientation will be a speech by newly appointed Texas Commissioner of Education, Dr. Shirley Neeley. The first day will focus on education finance and reform issues, and conclude with a dinner keynote by Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst.

The second day will include panel discussions examining water, health care, transportation, asbestos litigation, telecommunications and insurance.

Governor Rick Perry will provide the luncheon keynote address on Jan. 29, while former New Zealand cabinet minister Maurice McTigue will speak at that morning’s breakfast.

Other panelists and speakers include:

  • Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs
  • Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson
  • State Sen. Frank Madla
  • State Sen. Kyle Janek
  • State Rep. Dianne White Delisi
  • State Rep. Kent Grusendorf
  • State Rep. Talmadge Heflin
  • State Rep. Carl Isett
  • State Rep. Bill Keffer
  • State Rep. Phil King
  • State Rep. Mike Krusee
  • State Rep. Glenn Lewis
  • State Rep. Robert Puente
  • State Rep. Gene Seaman
  • State Rep. Larry Taylor
  • José Montemayor, Texas Commissioner of Insurance
  • Kay Andrews, Brown McCarroll, LLP
  • Chris Britton
  • The Honorable J.E. “Buster” Brown
  • Catherine Clark, Texas Association of School Boards
  • Wendell Cox, Public Purpose
  • Anne Dunkelberg, Center for Public Policy Priorities
  • Raymond Gifford, Progress & Freedom Foundation
  • Eric Hanushek, Hoover Institution
  • Ted Heydinger, Texans for Economic Progress
  • Milton Holloway, Resource Economics, Inc.
  • Caroline Hoxby, Harvard University
  • Harrison Keller, Office of the Speaker
  • Dick Lavine, Center for Public Policy Priorities
  • Haavi Morreim, University of Tennessee
  • Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform
  • Paul Peterson, Harvard University
  • Ed Pickle, Shell Oil Company
  • Drew Scheberle, Texas Business and Education Coalition
  • Adam Thierer, Cato Institute
  • David Tuerck, Beacon Hill Institute
  • Richard Vedder, Ohio University
  • Shirley Ybarra, Former Secretary, Virginia DoT