dr. laffer mention as far as empowerment zones, at the local level, we try to create those. with take the opportunities given us by federal government to create empowerment and opportunity zones. but the problem is there are so many regulations on where they can be. it took us at hall county about two months to figure out well, we knew where we wanted them to go, but they didn't fit the federal regulations on where they thought they might go. but i tell you, we would know better where to put the empowerment zones than the federal government would. >> right. >> so many times we're missing out on opportunities because they look at us in a schematic of census tracks, but they don't see the faces of the people we see every day looking for jobs. and they tell us that, you know, we have to move the empowerment zone five miles this way. but we know five miles the other way there is a business waiting to come. so for us we don't see it in terms of black and white. and i'll be honest with you. to have more race-based regulation is not the way to go. i think to have more race-based re

dr. laffer livers in nashville, tennessee. he was a consultant to the secretary of defense and you get the feeling this guy knew his stuff, huh? he was a member of ronald reagan's policy advisory board. and he he was a member of the executive committee in 1984. he was an adviser to prime minister margaret thatcher in the uk during the 1980s during that time that solid ified her s the iron lady. [ applause ] >> is there anything that you want to add to that? >> no, you were pretty thorough. >> i was a professor at the university of chicago. >> all right. actually it is -- right? >> executive vice president at the national black chamber of commerce. honed her business and development skills over several years with the minority chamber of commercial and as an owner of individual yo stores. signature annual convention in addition to her daily responsibilities for the organizations. personnel budgets and she has coordinated and supervised dedicated to african-american business development. >> thank you, that was good. [ applause ]

dr. laffer, we have the spot for you right next to mr. johnson.ryone knows i'm congressman allen west from florida's congressional district 22. thank you. and we will get right to the meat of why we are here because i think this is a critical topic that we have to talk about. and i got this little book here that every now and then i go back and read, and it's call rediscovering black conservatism, it was published in 2009, and written by lee h walker. over the past 30 years, billions of dollars have been poured into black communities across the country in hope of curing a host of well-documented social economic problems, including failing schools and inadequate housing, crime and drug abuse, black on black killings, unemployment and more. despite the efforts of many local institutions agencies and school leaders, grass root organizations and community residents, the problems remain. in many instances, these problems have grown worse. i believe it will take new ideas and new voices to find solutions. and that is exactly why we are here today. we ar

dr. laffer. [applause] >> is there anything you want to add to that?> no, you're pretty kind to me, charles. >> will add handsome, too. >> was a professor at the university of chicago. >> we won't hold that against you. kay debow, cofounder national black chamber of commerce, actually it's ms. kay debow alford now, is that right? [inaudible] >> executive vice president of national black chamber of commerce, also cofounded nbcc in 1993, on her business over several years and administration with the minority chamber of commerce also as an owner of a successful franchise and independent video stores, earned a national and international respect and corporate circles for her stewardship of the chamber's signature annual convention in addition to their responsibilities, for the organization, personnel budget, administration, newsletter and event planning. she supervised every aspect of the world's largest and most influential convention dedicated to african-american business development. kay debow alford. [applause] >> thank you. that was good. that was perf