June 22, 2007
History in the Making: Today’s Revolutionaries Head to Boston
State legislators to cultivate seeds of democracy planted by their forefathers
DENVER – More than two centuries ago, a thriving port city provided the backdrop for a group of visionary leaders to make history by standing up to a government that had overstepped its bounds. This summer, history may repeat itself.
 Surrounded by such revolutionary sites such as Faneuil Hall, the Old South Meeting House and the Old State House, state legislators will meet this summer in Boston to craft policies to help strengthen the nation and to defend the sovereignty of states against an encroaching federal government.
“State legislators are modern day revolutionaries,” said NCSL Executive Director William Pound. “As was the case in 18th century Boston, so much of history today is made in the nation’s statehouses. Our Legislative Summit serves to foster that debate and strengthen our states individually and our nation collectively.”
Thousands of state legislators, legislative staff and national policy experts will be on hand at the National Conference of State Legislatures' 2007 Strong States Strong Nation Legislative Summit August 5-9 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi headlines an impressive list of speakers at NCSL’s Legislative Summit. Pulitzer Prize winning author David McCullough, Standard and Poor’s chief economist David Wyss and former White House advisors Andrew Card and David Gergen and internet guru Jimmy Orr will be there. Attendees will also hear from William Brock, former Secretary of Labor, former senator and representative from Tennessee, and former Chair of Republican National Committee.
Legislators from all 50 states and from around the world will attend more than 200 policy sessions on the most pressing state policy issues including:
- Real ID: Sticker Shock Over Driver’s Licenses
- The Heat Is On: States Take on Climate Change
- Federal Immigration Reform: What’s in it for the States?
- State Health Reform: A Universal Approach
- Fit or Flabby? Fresh or Fatty? School Wellness Legislation
- Exotic Mortgages
The 2007 Legislative Summit is also the venue for state lawmakers to affect policy in the nation’s capital. NCSL’s 11 Standing Committees will debate and vote on policy positions that will guide the organization’s advocacy on state legislatures’ behalf in Washington, D.C.
“Just like their forefathers, state legislators of today must be vigilant against preemption of state sovereignty,” Pound said. “Only nowadays the government we need to be fearful of isn’t across the Atlantic, it’s across the Potomac.”
Credentialed members of the media are encourage to attend NCSL’s 2007 Strong States Strong Nation Legislative Summit. There is no fee for journalists to attend, but registration is required. Act soon to guarantee a hotel room at our conference rate.
Register now and view a complete, searchable agenda at www.ncsl.org/annualmeeting.
The National Conference of State Legislatures is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staff 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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