RACSS 2012 Legislative Summit Agenda and Handouts

August 6 - 9, 2012
Chicago, Illinois

• Legislative Summit Resources Page (all available presentations and handouts)
• RACSS Home Page

Monday, Aug. 6 | Tuesday, Aug. 7 | Wednesday, Aug. 8 | Thursday, Aug. 9

Monday, August 6, 2012

Registration

General Session: Diane Swonk, Chief Economist, Mesirow Financial

Diane Swonk, chief economist for Mesirow Financial has been named one of the top economic forecasters in the country by the Wall Street Journal. She acts as advisor to Federal Reserve Board and regional Reserve Banks, and is one of the most respected economists in the world and among the most quoted economists in the financial press.
 

Records Retention: What to Keep and How to Keep It

Joint with RACSS, Legislative Research Librarians and the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries

Legislative documents are generally considered public records and as such, must be preserved. But not all documents are the same. Staff working papers, emails and internal communications may have different requirements. This session will look at the requirements for preserving legislative documents to ensure appropriate use and legal compliance.

Moderator:
Mark Mitchell, RACSS Chair, Committee Administrator, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky

Speakers:
Walker Reagan, Division Director, Research Division, North Carolina  -  Presentation
Kristin Ford, Legislative Librarian, Legislative Reference Library, Legislative Services Office, Idaho  -  Presentation
Sonia Gavin, Legislative Information Resource Manager, Legislative Reference Center, Montana  -  Presentation
 

RACSS Dutch Treat Dinner

Join fellow research and committee staff from around the states for a fun and informal evening at our annual Dutch Treat Dinner. Guests and spouses are welcome. Meet at 7:15, at Trattoria No. 10, 10 N. Dearborn St., Chicago.

Tuesday, August 7

RACSS Roundtable: Looking Ahead: Nonpartisan Staff Roles

Nonpartisan staff offices have faced significant challenges in the last decade, as the legislative environment has become more partisan and resources more scarce. Join RACSS officers in an informal discussion about how staff roles have evolved and will continue to adapt in the future.

Facilitator:   
Walker Reagan, Division Director, Research Division, North Carolina General Assembly

Speaker:
Brian Weberg, Director, Legislative Management, NCSL

General Session: Peter Hart and Neil Newhouse, Two of the Nation's Leading Pollsters

Peter Hart and Neil Newhouse are two of the nation's leading pollsters. Newhouse is a partner and co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies, a firm that The New York Times describes as "the leading Republican polling company" in the country. Peter Hart is "the foremost Washington pollster for the Democratic Party," according to the National Journal and is chairman of Peter D. Hart Research Associates.

Legislative Staff University: Communication Tools for Navigating Uncertainty

Legislative staff today work in an environment driven by too much information, too little time, too few personal interactions. How can you be certain the things you say are understood and responded to appropriately to achieve intended results? Learn from Laree Kiely—a distinguished professor, CEO and participant in the Legislative Staff Management Institute—how to better understand, listen to and communicate with lawmakers and staff alike for a more productive workplace.

Speaker: Laree Kiely, Kiely Group, California

RACSS: Issue Orientation Programs for Legislators

Getting new legislators up to speed on the issues they’ll face and keeping experienced members informed can be a challenge in the hurried days prior to session but it’s important that legislators are able to hit the ground running on day one of their legislative sessions. This program showcases orientation programs from several states.

Moderator:
Sabrina Lewellen, Constituency Services/Research & Special Projects Manager, Arkansas Senate

Speakers:
Pepper Sturm, Chief Deputy Research Director, Legislative Counsel Bureau, Nevada  -  Presentation
Karl Aro, Executive Director, Dept. of Legislative Service, Maryland  -  Presentation
Mike Nugent, Division Manager, Research & Legislation, Legislative Services Office, Idaho  -  Presentation

Opening Reception: Museum of Science and Industry

Chicago stands tall as the city of big shoulders—a city known for its renowned architecture, captivating museums, beloved sports teams, wonderful shopping, great food and beautiful lake shore. At this opening event, you’ll have exclusive access to the largest science center in the Western Hemisphere and experience fascinating, world-class exhibits. During your exploration of the museum, you will get a “taste” of what makes Chicago famous—food, fun and music. A traditional “Taste of Chicago” will showcase all the famous eats and tunes from the Windy City, from deep dish pizza to the classic Chicago style hot dog, from jazz to gospel to rock.

RACSS Business Meeting

RACSS members hold their annual Business Meeting, to elect officers, present the Legislative Staff Achievement Award and plan activities for the coming year. Breakfast will be provided.

Presiding:
Mark Mitchell, RACSS Chair 2011-2012, Committee Administrator, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky  -  Agenda

Salute to Legislative Staff: Strong Stewards: A Tribute to Legislative Staff

Speaker: Mary Crane, Mary Crane and Associates, New York

Helping the Public: Constituent Services Programs

Joint with RACSS, Leadership Staff Section and Personal Staff Network

Thousands of citizens turn to their legislators when they encounter problems with government or businesses. Consequently, many legislative staff agencies and personal staff are called on to help constituents on behalf of those legislators. Several states have established constituent services programs to help citizens and maximize limited staff resources. Learn about the challenges and best practices in providing constituent services.

Moderator:
Bryant Howe, Deputy Director, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, Utah

Speakers:
Beverly Mobley, Legislative Counsel Bureau, Nevada  -  Presentation, Handout 1, Handout 2
Sabrina Lewellen, Constituency Services/Research & Special Projects Manager, Arkansas Senate  -  Presentation
Mark Gordon, Director, Communications and Public Affairs, Senate Republican Staff, Illinois  -  Presentation

General Session on Jobs

John Engler, former Michigan governor and current head of the Business Roundtable; Douglas Oberhelman, CEO of Caterpillar Inc.; and Edward B. Rust Jr., CEO of State Farm Mutual and vice-chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; will participate in a lively discussion on the different roles government and businesses can play in creating jobs.

NCSL Business Meeting

General Session: Doris Kearns Goodwin, Acclaimed Historian and Pulitzer Prize Winner

Doris Kearns Goodwin, acclaimed historian, Pulitzer Prize winner, prolific author and captivating speaker, has written books on Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, the Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys, Lyndon Johnson and Abraham Lincoln. This year, she will be speaking on Teddy Roosevelt—legislator, president, bigger-than-life hero—and the leadership lessons we can learn from a time of economic and political turmoil that reverberate today. 

Researching the History or Intent of Legislation

Joint with RACSS, Legislative Research Librarians, and Legal Services Staff Section

Legislative history is important in determining why a law was passed and what legislators meant by the language they used. Legislative history and intent is used by courts to establish the intended meaning of language in the law and ensure its correct implementation. This session provides guidelines for researching state legislative history and intent.

Moderator:
Mary Camp, LRL Chair, Director, Legislative Reference Library, Texas

Speakers:
Eddie Weeks, Legislative Librarian, Tennessee General Assembly  -  Presentation and Handout
Deborah Haskins, Assistant Director, Office of Legislative Legal Services, Colorado  -  Handout 1, Handout 2, Handout 3, Handout 4
Mark Kuster, Attorney, Legislative Council, Texas  -  Presentation 

Avoiding Bias and Preparing Balanced Research

Joint with RACSS and Legislative Research Librarians

Nonpartisan staff pride themselves on maintaining a neutral position in their work but preserving that balance has become more difficult in today’s supercharged political environment, where the line between opinions and facts can become blurred. This session will look at the challenges and discuss best practices to maintain nonpartisan integrity.

Moderator:
Pepper Sturm, Chief Deputy Research Director, Legislative Counsel Bureau, Nevada

Speakers:
Eddie Weeks, Legislative Librarian, Tennessee General Assembly  -  Presentation
Sharon Wenger, Principal Analyst, Legislative Research Department, Kansas  -  Presentation and Handout
Jerry Howe, Managing Policy Analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, Utah  -  Presentation

Closing Reception: Millennium Park

What better way to say farewell to the City by the Lake than an evening of great music and fine food in this 25-acre park along Lake Michigan’s shoreline—a center for world-class art, music, architecture, gardens and landscape design? Guests will savor and sip some of Chicago’s best offerings from its many culturally diverse neighborhoods such as Greek Town, Little Italy and Ukrainian Village. While sitting under the stars, listen to an exclusive performance by the toddling town’s best-known musicians. Get ready for an evening of culinary and musical delights set against the picturesque skyline in one of the city’s top tourist attractions.