Former Colorado governors Bill Owens and Richard Lamm addressed DU students and members of the community at a breakfast last Thursday morning in an event organized by the Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management.

Seated on stage amidst a crowd of tables in Driscoll Ballroom, the former governors discussed key policies currently affecting development and growth on both a local and national level.

The former governors also shared their opinions on public-private partnerships for infrastructure and how to fulfill financial obligations to future generations.

Approximately 125 people attended the breakfast, including over 30 DU students.

The discussion and breakfast cost $40 in advance for attendees and $50 at the door. Students and faculty of DU paid $25 to attend.

Catering much of the discussion to questions written by the audience on note cards, the breakfast lasted from 7 to 9 a.m.

Lamm addressed the audience first, following a half hour of networking and breakfast.

He spoke on a variety of issues, stressing the need to be fair to the future generations of America.

“We have a national sickness in this country,” said Lamm.

“I believe that we should spend 10 years to revitalize and renew America-raise taxes and cut benefits. At least then we won’t be the first generation to leave debt to our kids.”

Lamm continued to reflect on the issues currently challenging the growth of the nation, suggesting a means to cease the national debt.

“I don’t think we have a revenue problem in the U.S. I think we have a spending problem,” said Lamm. “When you cut taxes without cutting spending, you don’t cut taxes. Either we are spending too much or taxing too little, and we are putting it on our grandkid’s credit cards.”

Owens spoke following Lamm, providing a different perspective on the issue of how to fulfill financial obligations.

However, Owens focused the majority of his discussion addressing the private-public partnerships for infrastructure.

He stressed the need to integrate private businesses in order to enhance the public sector. “I would suggest that the U.S. in 10 years will be following a more European model,” Owens said. “We will see more and more government services provided by the private sector under government supervision, and I think that’s a good thing.”

Owens also acknowledged some possible negatives to privatization following a question posed by an audience member.

“There are certain areas where it is relevant and useful and there are certain areas where it is not relevant and not useful,” said Owens.

“But, economies change. In 5-15 years, we are going to use more private capital as one way to meet our needs. I am a believer in using the private sector to perform under public good.”