Michigan’s top legislators will arrive on campus Tuesday as part of the Griffin Forum.

Democratic and Republican leaders will make up the panel for Tuesday’s event: “Now What? Managing the budget crisis while promoting a positive future for the state of Michigan.”

The event begins at 7:30 p.m. in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium, with a public reception following at 9 p.m. in Warriner Hall’s second floor lobby.

Panelists for the event are: Speaker of the House Andy Dillon; D-Redford Township; Majority Leader of the Senate Mike Bishop; R-Rochester; Minority Leader of the Senate Mark Schauer; D-Battle Creek and Central Michigan University alumnus and Minority Leader of the House Craig DeRoche, R-Novi.

Tim Skubick, WKAR’s “Off the Record” host, is the moderator.

The panelists will discuss how universities factor into Michigan’s economy, Michigan competing in a global economy and if the budget crisis is finished.

Gary Peters, organizer of the event and Griffin Endowed Chair, said it is rare to have all four leaders under one roof.

The event is a great opportunity to get outside Lansing, Schauer said.

“It’s a great way to talk about the process of creating legislature, and how, for example, the budget gets made,” he said.

Admission to the forum and reception both are free.

Schauer said he is interested in interacting with his colleagues in a public forum.

“It is always interesting to be in a room with the other leaders,” Schauer said. “I always learn so much. And it’s great to be on a college campus.”

The forum does not come without controversy, because Peters, its organizer, also is a congressional candidate.

A group on campus has been opposed to Peters’ employment for months because of his candidacy.

“Gary Peters should have resigned if he wanted to pursue public office,” DeRoche said. “The endowment was set up to help educate students, not to help people who run for office.”

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