"Unlike [the Heritage Foundation's conference, the Kennedy School's] is designed from the beginning to be a wide introduction to the major issues addressed in Congress," he said. "Any examination of their speakers' list will reveal a very partisan atmosphere."

According to a statement released by the Heritage Foundation yesterday, speakers will include conservative talk show host, Rush Limbaugh, former Bush drug czar William J. Bennett and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Jack Kemp.

"The scheduling of the Heritage Foundation's conference at the same time [as the Kennedy School's] reflects the polarization in Washington D.C.," said Steve Singer, director of communication for the Kennedy School.

Singer said he fears the opportunity for Democrats and Republicans to meet on a non-partisan level will be lost at the Heritage conference.

"Most of the work in Washington D.C. is partisan, so the Kennedy School conference was the only opportunity for [members of rival parties] to meet each other," he said. "The difference between the two programs is ours is a bi-partisan introduction to Congress while theirs is a conservative orientation."

The Kennedy School Conference has featured a wide range of speakers and topics of discussion, Singer said.

Past speakers at the Kennedy School conference have included President Neil L. Rudenstine, Weiner Professor of Public Policy David A. Ellwood, President of the Children's Defense Fund Marian W. Edelman and former Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander