Please join us at this year’s Donald C. Lubick Symposium to honor the career of Len Burman, cofounder of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and its director for many years. Len retired last year after an outstanding and impactful 40-year career in the federal government, in academia, and at the Urban Institute.  

Len’s unwavering commitment to a fairer, more efficient, and simpler tax system has guided his research and public service on a wide range of federal tax issues. Some of his most important contributions have centered on three key questions: 

• How can the federal tax system better support families with children?
• How do taxes on high-income individuals affect federal revenues, the economy, and fairness?
• What policy choices are needed now to prevent a federal budget crisis? 

At the symposium, tax experts from government, academia, and other research organizations will delve into those questions and the implications for current and future tax policy.  

Opening Remarks 

• Tracy Gordon, Vice President for Tax Policy, Urban Institute; Robert C. Pozen Director, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center 
• William Gale, Arjay and Frances Miller Chair in Federal Economic Policy, Economic Studies Program, Brookings Institution; Senior Fellow, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center 

Panel 1: Balancing Policy Goals and Administrative Hurdles: Families in the Tax Code  

• Jacob Bastian, Assistant Professor of Economics at Rutgers University; Nonresident Senior Fellow – Economic Studies, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center
• Josh McCabe, Director of Social Policy, Niskanen Center
• Isabel Sawhill, Senior Fellow Emeritus, Brookings Institution
• Elaine Maag, Senior Fellow, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center (moderator) 

Panel 2: Taxing Capital Income: Impact on Revenues, the Economy, and Fairness 

• Lily Batchelder, Robert C. Kopple Family Professor of Taxation, New York University School of Law
• Jane Gravelle, Senior Specialist in Economic Policy, Congressional Research Service
• Kyle Pomerleau, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
• Robert McClelland, Senior Fellow, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center (moderator)

Panel 3: Can Changes in Tax Policy Help Prevent a Fiscal Crisis? 

• William Gale, Arjay and Frances Miller Chair in Federal Economic Policy, Economic Studies Program, Brookings Institution; Senior Fellow, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center
• Marc Goldwein, Senior Vice President and Senior Policy Director, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
• Louise Sheiner, Senior Fellow, The Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, The Brookings Institution
• Jessica Riedl, Fellow, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, Economic Studies, Brookings Institution (moderator) 

THE DONALD C. LUBICK SYMPOSIUM SERIES  

The Tax Policy Center established the Donald C. Lubick Symposium Series in 2016 to honor Don’s extraordinary record in promoting better tax policy grounded in the principles of efficiency, equity, and simplicity. The annual symposium convenes policymakers and senior government officials, practitioners, scholars, and the media to engage in rigorous analysis and dialogue at the frontiers of tax policy. It is especially fitting that this year’s symposium celebrates Len Burman’s career because he served as the US Treasury Department’s deputy assistant secretary for tax analysis under then–assistant secretary Don Lubick.  

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Please email [email protected] if you require any accommodations or have any questions about this event.

This event was made possible by the generous support of donors. We are grateful to them and all our funders, who enable the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center to advance its mission. More information on the Tax Policy Center’s funding principles is available here.