MARSHFIELD — The Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service (WIPPS) and the David R. Obey Civic Resource Center present a unique opportunity for university students and the general public to hear directly from two long-time congressional leaders.

Retired U.S. Congressmen Dave Obey, from Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, and Tom Petri, from Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District, are going on the road to speak to campuses and classes across the state in a Civic Participation Lecture Series. The first talk will be March 9 at 5 p.m. in Room 131 at UW-Marshfield/Wood County. The event is free to attend and open to the public.

“These long-time public servants care deeply about America and the importance of citizen involvement and awareness of how our government works,” said Eric Giordano, WIPPS director. “They are eager to share their experiences and expertise on a wide variety of domestic and international policy issues.”

Some potential topics in the series include:

—An insider perspective on how Congress works.

—The role of committees in Congress and its effectiveness.

—How Congress creates and passes budgets.

—How a representative balances national issues with district responsibilities.

—The critical role public service plays today, more than ever.

—Forging one’s way into politics at the state or national level.

—Opportunities and challenges of a career in public service.

—Is our political system broken? If so, how do we fix it?

—Advocating for strongly held policy positions without excessive partisanship.

—A wide range of domestic and international policy topics including:

• Overview of U.S. economic health.
• The future of health care.
• The state of higher education and student aid.
• Meeting America’s future transportation and infrastructure needs.
• National and homeland security.
• U.S. foreign policy.

In March and April, the Obey, Petri Civic Participation Series will be held at campuses in Rhinelander, Ashland, Rice Lake, Cadott, Madison, Milwaukee, and Waukesha.

For more information, visit marshfield.uwc.edu or call 715-389-6530.