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News Release

Last modified: Thursday, January 15, 2009

IU Maurer School of Law hosts inaugural Tax Policy Colloquium

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 15, 2009

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Tax law experts from across the country will visit the Indiana University Maurer School of Law--Bloomington during the spring 2009 semester as part of the Law School's inaugural Tax Policy Colloquium.

The six speakers will present works in progress on timely topics in the field of tax law and policy, said Leandra Lederman, the William W. Oliver Professor of Tax Law at the IU Maurer School of Law.

Lederman said the colloquium will provide a forum for students and faculty to engage in important discussions on tax policy issues and to participate in the development of innovative tax research. A veteran presenter at similar colloquiums, Lederman said bringing an event to the law school was a "win-win" situation.

"[The colloquium] brings faculty scholarship into the classroom and fosters intellectual exchange among all members of the IU community interested in tax policy," Lederman said. "Our students are getting the opportunity to read and comment on papers on six different cutting-edge tax issues."

Students participating in the colloquium will read each speaker's paper and submit reaction papers the week before the presentation, providing an opportunity to discuss the issues as a class and develop questions for the presenters. Lederman said she sought out presenters who are working on interesting, timely topics and could convey their insights in an engaging, informative way.

Presenters at the inaugural colloquium series include:

• David I. Walker, Boston University School of Law (Jan. 29)
• Sarah B. Lawsky, George Washington University School of Law (Feb. 12)
• Steven Bank, UCLA Law School (Feb. 26)
• Nancy Staudt, Northwestern University Law School (Mar. 12)
• Joseph Dodge, Florida State University College of Law (Apr. 2)
• Dennis Ventry, UC Davis School of Law (Apr. 16)

The presenters will address a wide range of issues in federal tax law and policy. Ventry, for example, will deliver an article titled "The (Ignominious) Rise and (Predicted) Fall of the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction," while Dodge will present "The Foundation, Role, and Meaning of 'Ability to Pay' in Tax Theory."

Lederman will lead the 2009 colloquium, and IU Law Professor Ajay Mehrotra will head the spring 2010 colloquium.

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