Former U.S. Senator to Speak at ASU on Economic Freedom

SAN ANGELO, TX - Angelo State University will host former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm for a public presentation on economic freedom, as well as a luncheon and book signing, on Tuesday, May 5, in the Houston Harte University Center at 1910 Rosemont Drive.

The luncheon/book signing will begin at 11:45 a.m., and the first 200 attendees to arrive will receive a free copy of Gramm's new book, "The Triumph of Economic Freedom: Debunking the Seven Great Myths of American Capitalism." His presentation will follow at 12:30 p.m.

Both events will take place in the University Center's C.J. Davidson Conference Center and are free and open to the public. However, advance registration for the luncheon/book signing is required through an online form.

In his presentation based on his new book, Gramm will explore how since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, capitalism has unleashed unimaginable growth in opportunity and prosperity. And yet, at key points in American history, economic disruption has led to a greater role for government, ostensibly to protect against capitalism's excesses. Today, government regulates, mandates, subsidizes and controls a growing share of the American economy.

Gramm will also examine the seven events and issues in American history that define, for most Americans, the role of government and how the 21st century world works.

During his distinguished career in public service, Gramm represented Texas in the U.S. Congress for more than two decades, first as a representative of the 6th Congressional District and then as a senator. His legislative record includes landmark bills like the Gramm-Latta Budget - which reduced federal spending, rebuilt national defense and mandated the Reagan tax cut - and the Gramm-Rudman Act - which placed the first binding constraints on federal spending. As chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, he also steered legislation modernizing banking, insurance and securities laws.

Prior to becoming a member of Congress, Gramm taught economics for 12 years at Texas A&M University. He currently serves as a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and as vice chairman of Lone Star Funds.

Gramm's ASU appearance is sponsored by the Texas Tech University Free Market Institute at Angelo State University. The institute aims to advance research and teaching related to the free enterprise system and the institutional environment necessary for it to function well, and to support the missions of the ASU Norris-Vincent College of Business. The institute also develops and operates student and public programming that is supported by $1 million in anonymous gifts for the benefit of ASU students and the San Angelo community.