AGA

Today on the AGA Blog

Former Comptroller General of the United States David M. Walker, CPA. Now the president and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Walker is spearheading a grassroots effort to bring attention to America's fiscal crisis. In his entry "How to Save our Fiscal Future," Walker states, "Shockingly, the same factors that led to the mortgage related sub-prime crisis are fueling a 'super sub-prime' situation in connection with the federal government's finances. The difference is that the situation in connection with the federal government is at least 25 times as big." Read the full entry.

PDC Concludes in Atlanta with Labor Secretary Elaine Chao

AGA’s 57th Annual Professional Development Conference & Exposition concluded Wednesday afternoon with the passing of the gavel from Immediate Past National President Richard Fair, CGFM, CPA, to the incoming National President Sam Mok, CGFM, CIA.

The closing address was presented by U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao who began by complimenting AGA on its choice of National President. Mok served as the chief financial officer at Labor until last year. “Sam’s legacy and his work continue at the Department of Labor,” Chao said.

The first Asian-American woman to serve as a cabinet secretary, Chao is also the last of the Bush administration’s original cabinet secretaries to remain in office. She is the longest-serving secretary of Labor since World War II. Read more about Chao's remarks and view photos from the PDC's last day.

Business Journalist Kurt Eichenwald on the Lessons of Enron

Kurt Eichenwald, business reporter and best-selling author of Conspiracy of Fools, which recreates the 2001 implosion of Enron, the once-mighty energy giant, opened the last day of AGA’s PDC with lessons learned from the scandal.

Eichenwald told the crowd Wednesday morning that while the Enron appeared to be a crime story, it was actually a lesson in the fundamental flaws in the mechanics of finance and capitalism and the failure of finance professionals to stand up to the company. Read more about Eichenwald's comments.

Read about David Walker's remarks.

Read about Andrew Young's remarks.