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FY 2003 APPROPRIATIONS FINALLY CLOSED OUT
Congress ended its long-delayed approval of all FY 2003 appropriations measures on February 13 with bicameral approval of H.J.Res.2, an omnibus spending bill totaling $397.4 billion. The legislation successfully ends NCSL's quest for substantial start-up funding ($1.5 billion) to implement the Help America Vote Act and for keeping the state highway obligation ceiling ($31.8 billion) at the FY 2002 level. The legislation also substantially boosts special education and Title I funding by using an advance funding gimmick: $2.2 billion of H.J.Res.2 funding is "advanced," therefore counted for FY 2003 but not released until FY 2004. Because an across-the-board cut of 0.65% is applied to all but a few programs, many discretionary state assistance programs are reduced from FY 2002 levels. The State Criminal Alien Assistance Program suffered a 56% reduction, making it the most notable cost shift enacted for FY 2003. Mass transit grants and the Community Development Block Grant also felt hefty double-digit reductions as labor and job training programs were also cut.
NCSL CALLS FOR ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGES
On January 8, President Bush released a $674 billion package of tax cuts and unemployment assistance designed to accelerate an economic recovery. Oklahoma Senator Angela Monson, NCSL's President, recently testified before the Senate Finance Committee in support of a state-federal partnership to spur consumer spending and capital investment and to encourage job growth while not constraining state budgets further through unfunded federal mandates and national expectations. Here is the press release on the hearing.
COMMITTEE HOSTS SUCCESSFUL FALL FORUM
The 2002 Fall Forum marked the first meeting of the new Economic Development, Trade, & Cultural Affairs Committee. Members of the Committee convened a meeting of the Cultural Policy Working Group and sponsored a session focusing on the use of new information technologies to rural areas. During the Committee Business Meeting, the Committee reviewed the state-federal policies within its jurisdiction and held a mini-briefing on the states' role in international trade agreements.
PLANNING FOR SPRING FORUM MOVES FORWARD
Plan on attending the upcoming Spring Forum in historic Boston, Massachusetts, April 24-27. This meeting is sure to be packed with exciting and relevant sessions meant to highlight significant issues on the current legislative calendar. The Business Meeting will be especially important due to the large number of current policies that are up for renewal. Please visit the Meeting's website and plan on attending this very important meeting.
FELLOWSHIPS SUPPORT PUBLIC OFFICIALS FOR HARVARD HOUSING SEMINAR
The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University announced that the deadline for accepting applications to the Fannie Mae Foundation/Kennedy School of Government Fellowship program has been extended to March 31, 2003. The Fannie Mae Foundation Fellowship Program is intended to enhance the management and decision-making skills of senior public and nonprofit officials committed to improving affordable housing opportunities in the US. Fellows attend one of two Senior Executives in State and Local Government programs scheduled for June 8-28 and July 6-25. Visit Fannie Mae Foundation website for more information and an application.
NAME THIS NEWSLETTER
The Officers and Staff for the Economic Development, Trade & Cultural Affairs Committee welcome input and recommendations for a creative and appropriate name for this periodic newsletter. Submit your thoughts to Nick Steidel (nick.steidel@ncsl.org) Regrettably, the Committee is not able to offer a cash prize for the winning suggestion, but public acclaim is assured. |
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2002-2003 Officers
Chair
Representative S. Weston Broom
Louisiana
Vice Chairs
Representative Sheryl Allen
Utah
Sentor Richard Kneeland
Maine
Senator Larry Mumper
Ohio
Representative Peter Lewiss
Rhode Island
Represenative Opio Toure
Oklahoma
Staff Chair
Mr. John Rappa
Connecticut
Staff Vice Chairs
Ms. Hanna Shostack
New Jersey
Ms. Anna Blackshaw
California
Committee Staff
Jeremy Meadows
Committee Director
202-624-8664
jeremy.meadows@ncsl.org
Mandy Rafool
Program Principal
303-856-1506
mandy.rafool@ncsl.org
Nick Steidel
Research Analyst
202-624-8673
nick.steidel@ncsl.org
Offices
Headquarters
7700 East First Place
Denver, Colorado 80230
State-Federal Relations
444 North Capitol Street, NW
Suite 515
Washington, DC 20001 |
