PARK CITY — Mitt Romney kicked off a private but high-powered Deer Valley conference Thursday, with speakers like David Axelrod and Sen. Rand Paul.

The conference is touted as a way to find solutions to some of the nation's most pressing problems. But it also represents Romney's first public appearances since the election. It was a bit of a family affair up near the Stein Erikson Lodge, with Tagg Romney really in charge of it all: an invitation-only event plus $5,000 entrance fee.

The private event — KSL, along with other media outlets, could not gain access — featured big-name speakers like David Axelrod, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Senators Rand Paul and Paul Ryan, Erskine Bowles, and Alan Simpson.

The topics, according to Josh Romney, include worldwide economic competition and global warming.

"It's really a focus on the country, how the country needs to improve," he said. "What we need to do to remain competitive and strong, and what we need to do to not go down the path we seem to be headed on right now."

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Romney planning high-profile retreat in Park City

Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is bringing high-profile political figures, business leaders and campaign donors to Utah this summer for a retreat to discuss "key opportunities."

Romney said immigration was a focus Thursday morning, specifically hi-tech companies asking for a balance between securing the borders and cultivating immigrants who contribute to the U.S. economy.

"We're bringing them into this country, we're educating them, then forcing them to go back to their home countries," Romney said. "We need to increase the immigration status for a wider group of people to help us grow and become a stronger nation."

Conference attendees include powerful people, some of whom could be future candidates for president of the United States. They will be encouraged to take the issues forward and do something about them.

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