Thursday Thought Leaders: Federal Debt, Local Impact: What's at Stake for Our Economy
Name:
Thursday Thought Leaders: Federal Debt, Local Impact: What's at Stake for Our Economy
Date:
September 10, 2026
Time:
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM EDT
Registration:
Register Now
Event Description:
Featuring Carolyn Bourdeaux and John Pendleton of The Concord Coalition
We invite you to a luncheon with former Member of Congress Carolyn Bourdeaux and former Director at the Government Accountability Office John Pendleton. Listen in as they discuss how rising debt damages the economy and how these challenges will shape our future. Attendees will walk away with a clearer understanding of the federal budget and a renewed sense of urgency about our nation's debt crisis. We look forward to seeing you there.
Concord Coalition+Action Description:
Founded by bipartisan Senators Warren Rudman (R-NH) and Paul Tsongas (D-MA) more than thirty years ago, The Concord Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that educates, engages and empowers citizens with credible, nonpartisan information on the risks and consequences of growing federal debt and unsustainable fiscal policies. Concord Action is a 501(c)(4) organization supporting the growing grassroots movement of Americans who care deeply about our economy and fiscal outlook. Every day, advocates demand that Congress take action to protect a fiscally sustainable American future.
Panel Description:
The U.S. debt crisis is deeper than you think, and the clock is ticking. The debt is not just a Washington issue—it influences borrowing costs, economic growth, and policy stability. For business leaders, understanding these dynamics is essential for strategic planning and risk management. When policymakers sideline fiscal responsibility to prioritize politics and deficit spending, it threatens our nation’s economy, freedom, and security all the way down to the local level.
About John H. Pendleton
John H. Pendleton serves as a Visiting Scholar in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace where he works on nuclear policy and digital resilience issues. Prior to joining Carnegie, he retired after almost 35 years at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). He has testified before Congress a dozen times and signed more than 100 reports on a wide range of prominent issues. John’s work at Carnegie and GAO has been cited in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, ProPublica, Stars and Stripes, and Time, among many others, and he has been interviewed on NPR’s All Things Considered and Here and Now.
John graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1987. He lives in Berkeley Lake, Georgia, outside Atlanta, where he proudly serves as the City Treasurer and Director of the Finance Committee. His wife Dr. Lesley Pendleton was a longtime educator in Gwinnett County Public Schools, including serving as Principal of Berkeley Lake Elementary School. They are proud of their two grown sons, who both live in Atlanta, but who have not yet produced any grandchildren.
About Dr. Caroline Bourdeaux
Dr. Bourdeaux served as a Democratic Member of Congress from Georgia from 2021-2022 after winning one of the most competitive races in the country. During her time in Congress, Dr. Bourdeaux worked with the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and served as Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition Task Force on Fiscal Responsibility and Government Reform. She led bipartisan efforts to advance solutions to our nation’s fiscal challenges through responsible budgeting reform and requiring Congress to pay for programs. She also led policy work on health care, small business and infrastructure. Dr. Bourdeaux is a contributing columnist to the Atlanta Journal Constitution and a Senior Visiting Scholar at the University of Georgia.
Dr. Bourdeaux is an expert in national, state and local public finance. Prior to entering politics, she was a professor at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. Among her many accomplishments, she served as Director of Georgia’s Senate Budget and Evaluation Office during the Great Recession, where she received recognition by the Senate for significant service to the State of Georgia (S.Res. 1598).
About John H. Pendleton
John H. Pendleton serves as a Visiting Scholar in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace where he works on nuclear policy and digital resilience issues. Prior to joining Carnegie, he retired after almost 35 years at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). He has testified before Congress a dozen times and signed more than 100 reports on a wide range of prominent issues. John’s work at Carnegie and GAO has been cited in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, ProPublica, Stars and Stripes, and Time, among many others, and he has been interviewed on NPR’s All Things Considered and Here and Now.
John graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1987. He lives in Berkeley Lake, Georgia, outside Atlanta, where he proudly serves as the City Treasurer and Director of the Finance Committee. His wife Dr. Lesley Pendleton was a longtime educator in Gwinnett County Public Schools, including serving as Principal of Berkeley Lake Elementary School. They are proud of their two grown sons, who both live in Atlanta, but who have not yet produced any grandchildren.
About Dr. Caroline Bourdeaux
Dr. Bourdeaux served as a Democratic Member of Congress from Georgia from 2021-2022 after winning one of the most competitive races in the country. During her time in Congress, Dr. Bourdeaux worked with the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and served as Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition Task Force on Fiscal Responsibility and Government Reform. She led bipartisan efforts to advance solutions to our nation’s fiscal challenges through responsible budgeting reform and requiring Congress to pay for programs. She also led policy work on health care, small business and infrastructure. Dr. Bourdeaux is a contributing columnist to the Atlanta Journal Constitution and a Senior Visiting Scholar at the University of Georgia.
Dr. Bourdeaux is an expert in national, state and local public finance. Prior to entering politics, she was a professor at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. Among her many accomplishments, she served as Director of Georgia’s Senate Budget and Evaluation Office during the Great Recession, where she received recognition by the Senate for significant service to the State of Georgia (S.Res. 1598).
