July 22, 2004
What You May Have Missed Thursday at NCSL's Annual Meeting
Tidbits, news fillers and other items from NCSL's 2004 meeting in
Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE CITY- Legislators were challenged and rewarded at NCSL's
Annual Meeting Thursday in Salt Lake City. Here are some things you might
have missed.
Stephen Covey author of the Seven Habits of Highly Effective
People challenged legislators to strive not for compromise, but for a
higher middle ground. His inspirational speech encouraged lawmakers to
leave a legacy that matters. Other notable speakers included former
Congressman Asa Hutchinson, who now serves as undersecretary at the
Department of Homeland Security, former Congressman Bob Barr and
Eugene Hickok of the U.S. Department of Education, who spoke on the
No Child Left Behind Act . . . Delegates sat in on sessions focusing on
pharmaceuticals, Medicare, obesity, gay marriage, state lotteries, clean
air and the 10th anniversary of the NAFTA agreement.
Two legislative leaders received the annual Excellence in Legislative
Leadership Award during the legislators' lunch. Connecticut House
Minority Leader Robert M. Ward and South Carolina Speaker
David H. Wilkins were given the award in front of the peers. Each
lawmaker received a $5,000 donation for the charity of their choice.
Minority Leader Ward chose the North Branford Scholarship Fund and
Speaker Wilkins' prize will be awarded to the Myers Center.
Dozens of women legislators had breakfast with Utah Gov. Olene
Walker Thursday morning at the Governor's mansion . . . In a Women's
Legislative Network survey, respondents were asked why women feel less
included in leadership decisions. Allowed to chose more than one reason,
87 percent said there are too few women legislators; 85 percent said some
men forget to include women; 81 percent said some men discount women's
advice; 79 percent said not enough women are in leadership; 53 percent
said some women are too focused on women's issues; and 35 percent said
some women are less willing to compromise.
The final event of the day was a social event at the Olympic Oval,
where U.S. athletes won 10 Olympic medals and eight world records were set
in the 2002 Olympic Games . . . Friday is the final day of the meeting.
The day features a discussion on the 2004 national elections by Weekly
Standard Editor William Kristol and CNN political analyst
Donna Brazile . . . State legislators will vote on policy
resolutions on Friday, which will determine NCSL's lobbying positions
before Congress.
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