July 19, 2004
Lawmakers Kick-Off Most Substantive Political Convention of the
Summer
Public policy Olympics to focus on the New Legislative
Reality
SALT LAKE CITY - Billed as the most substantive political convention of
the summer, the National Conference of State Legislatures
kicked-off its 29th Annual Meeting today.
"NCSL's Annual Meeting will be the public policy Olympics of 2004,"
said Utah Speaker and NCSL President Marty Stephens. "The Annual
Meeting will provide lawmakers the tools to enact innovative public policy
solutions to the challenges that face them in the new legislative
reality."
While the presidential nominating conventions later this summer will
focus on boosting their respective candidate's poll numbers, legislators
attending NCSL's Annual Meeting will be rolling up their sleeves and
tackling the public policy challenges facing today's state
legislatures. State lawmakers and legislative staff from around the
country and the world today began debating and exchanging ideas at more
than 150 policy sessions.
"Like the Olympics, the program for the NCSL Annual Meeting diverse,"
said NCSL Executive Director William Pound. "On issues from Medicaid
to terrorism, NCSL presents lawmakers and staff a diverse range of
opinions on a wide range of public policy issues."
More than 4,000 people, including 1,000 state legislators, are on hand
for the weeklong "statehouse Olympics". Additionally, NCSL's
Annual Meeting boasts perhaps one of the largest international delegations
in Salt Lake City since the 2002 Winter Olympics with 16 nations
represented at the meeting. Nearly 100 delegates from legislative
bodies in China, Germany, Nigeria, Taiwan, South Africa, Madagascar,
Mexico and others are on hand to exchange ideas with their American
counterparts.
NCSL's Annual Meeting is held in a different location each year.
This is the first time that Salt Lake City has hosted the
event. Analysts estimate the NCSL Annual Meeting will
generate more than $5.8 million worth of economic activity during this
week. Seattle, Washington will host the 2005 Annual
Meeting.
Activities of the NCSL meeting will continue through Friday, July 23 at
the Salt Palace Convention Center.
NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and
staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research,
technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas
on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected
advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal
system.
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