Deschutes Public Library is pleased to welcome James Foster, author of Bong Hits 4 Jesus and Professor of Political Science at OSU-Cascades, for a presentation at the Sisters Public Library on Sunday October 21, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. Foster’s presentation is part of the Know Politics series being offered at Deschutes Public Library during the month of October.

During his presentation, Foster will address the perennial controversy of the role that government plays in managing and regulating the American economy. According to Foster the debate revolves around Keynesian v. laissez faire approaches or the “FDR's activist New Deal v. a limited night watchman state.” “In constitutional terms, since the late 1930s the US Supreme Court defined commerce broadly to defer to and to legitimize sweeping congressional legislation,” says Foster. Foster thinks that may all be changing and he asserts that the outcome of the National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius: the “Obamacare” case will be an indicator of how things will change.

Foster specializes in constitutional law and earned his B.A. in Political Science from Lewis and Clark College. He earned his Masters in Political Philosophy from UCLA and his Ph.D. in Public Law and Judicial Politics from the University of Washington. He has been widely published in a variety of legal journals, reviews and books. Jim regularly teaches classes on constitutional law, judicial politics, and gender and law. He has been a member of multiple professional organizations and been the recipient of appointments, grants and awards.

For more information about this or other library programs, please visit the library website at www.deschuteslibrary.org. People with disabilities needing accommodations (alternative formats, seating or auxiliary aides) should contact Liz at 312-1032.