Guest speakers Scott McCown and John Sharp lead a discussion focused on school finance and taxation.

John Sharp is chairman of the Texas Tax Reform Commission, a bipartisan group working to modernize the state tax system and provide long-term property tax relief and sound financing for public schools. Prior to serving as Texas comptroller from 1991 to 1999, Sharp was a member of the Texas Railroad Commission, the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives. Sharp is currently a principal with Ryan & Company—a state and local tax consulting firm.

Scott McCown is director of the Austin-based Center for Public Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan, nonprofit policy research organization dedicated to improving conditions for low-income Texans. Before his work at the center, McCown served 14 years as a state district judge. During his tenure, he presided over all of Texas' public school finance cases from 1990 to 2002. McCown is regarded as an expert on school finance and child welfare.