Sunday, August 5

Registration

11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Buses will depart
from the Westin
Copley Place

Learn about Massachusetts's landmark Community
Preservation Act, passed in 2000, and how it leverages
state and local funds to acquire land for historic
preservation, open space and affordable housing.
Participants will discuss the law's effect with community
leaders and see first hand how a walkable community
provides housing, cultural and recreational opportunities to
its residents. To obtain more information, contact Douglas Shinkle.

Weighing the Pros and Cons: What's the Role of States in
Divestment?

For Video of this session, please click here (174 MB; 1:14)

Growing concern over genocide in Sudan has prompted states
to divest in companies doing business with Sudan and other
terrorist sponsoring nations. Supporters hail state measures as
an appropriate moral stand, while others contend that state action
is unconstitutional and will harm investors in the long run.  This
session will examine the pros and cons of divestment and its
impact on state investments.

Moderator: Senator Verna Jones, Maryland
Vice Chair, NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee

Speakers:

Dan O'Flaherty
Vice President, National Foreign Trade Council
Washington, D.C.

Adam Sterling
Director, Sudan Divestment Task Force
Washington, D.C.
 Presentation/Handout

Victoria Willard
Managing Director, State Retirement & Pension System of Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland

Charting New Trade Policy:  The “Bipartisan Trade Deal,”
TPA, and the States

The president's authority to fast-track trade agreements through
Congress has expired, but many pacts remain unfinished.
A “Bipartisan Trade Deal” alters areas of interest to states –
labor, procurement, and environment – but with what effect on
the U.S. trade agenda?  Review the status of issues of interest
to states and learn what's on the horizon for the U.S. trade
agenda before considering NCSL policies on Free Trade &
Federalism, NAFTA, and Gaming & GATS.

Moderator: Representative Steve Conway, Washington
Chair, NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee

Speakers:

John Magnus
President, TRADEWINS, LLC
Washington, D.C.
 Presentation/Handout

Doug Goudie
Director of Trade Policy, National Association of Manufacturers
Washington, D.C.

Jeff Vogt
Global Economic Policy Specialist, AFL-CIO
Washington, D.C.

NCSL Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is comprised of the overall standing committee
officers and the legislator chair and staff chair, or their designee, of each
standing committee.  Members will review the committees' plans for the
Annual Meeting, preview any policies anticipated for debate, and make
determinations regarding joint and re-referral of the policy resolutions if
necessary.

Monday, August 6

Third Annual Bipartisan Bike Ride

Pedal your way through history during the third annual NCSL
Bipartisan Bike Ride. Free loaner bicycles will be provided on
a first-registered, first-served basis, and new helmets will be
distributed to all participants. More information on the bike
route and sponsors will be forthcoming.

7:00 am - 5:00 pm
North Lobby

Registration

Continental Breakfast

Committee Business Meeting

Presiding: Representative Steve Conway, Washington
Chair, Labor and Economic Development Committee

Click here to view the policies (identified by the graphic)

General Session- The Big Squeeze: The Challenges to Higher
Education

American higher education has been the envy of the world. But new
pressures--a generation of new students that include many minorities,
rising costs and strained state funding--are risking not only the
tradition of quality, accessibility and excellence, but America's place
in the global economy.

Speakers:

The Honorable Hank Brown, University of Colorado President
Former U.S. Senator

The Honorable Jim Hunt, Former Governor of North Carolina
The James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership
and Policy and The Institute for Emerging Issues
North Carolina

The Honorable Sara Martinez Tucker, Under Secretary of Education,
U.S. Department of Education
Washington, D.C.

Working Lunch: The Creative Economy Advantage:
How States are Cashing in on Culture
(Joint with the Women's Legislative Network)
Luncheon Sponsored by: Americans for the Arts

It’s no secret that states officials compete with each other to attract
businesses and high paying jobs to their states.  But the secret to
success may lie in the ability to nurture and draw knowledge-based
workers since many of these jobs follow the workforce.  This
session will look at how some states have accomplished this by
developing the creative economy and what the impacts have been. 

Moderator: Representative Sheryl Allen, Utah
Immediate Past Chair, NCSL Economic Development, Trade &
Cultural Affairs Committee

Speakers:

Jay Dick
Director of State and Local Government Affairs, Americans for the Arts
Washington, D.C.
 Presentation/Handout

Jane Preston
Director of Programs, New England Foundation for the Arts
Boston, Massachusetts
 Presentation/Handout

Family Leave Made Practical

Federal and state family leave laws have been helpful for families
welcoming a new child or dealing with an illness.  The downside is
that many employees can’t afford to take time off without pay. 
The session will examine state initiatives, explore funding
mechanisms and discuss business concerns related to paid family leave.

Moderator: Nelson Fox, Ohio
Staff Chair, NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee

Speakers:

Representative Steve Conway, Washington
Chair, Labor and Economic Development Committee

Rona Sherriff
Consultant, Senate Office of Research
Sacramento, California
 Presentation/Handout

Lisa Horn
Manager, Health Care
Society for Human Resource Management
Alexandria, Virginia
 Presentation/Handout

Rachna Choudhry
Coordinator of Policy & Advocacy, Work & Family
National Partnership for Women and Families
Washington, D.C.

Public Hearing: The Future of the Nation's Middle Class

Witnesses testifying before the Committee will have an opportunity
to discuss state and federal policy issues facing the middle class,
like employment services, health care coverage, collective
bargaining, unemployment insurance and asset building, as well
as provide insight on what state legislators can do to address them.

Presiding: Representative Steve Conway, Washington
Chair, NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee

Overview provided by:
Heather McCulloch
Principal, Asset Building Strategies
San Francisco, California
 Presentation
 State Policy Options for Building Assets

Witnesses (in order of appearance):
- Click Here to view testimonies; David Kittle's Testimony
        - For audio of this session, Click Here (115MB, 1:40)

- Fran Bernstein, AFSCME
- Kevin Reynolds, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
   *ICSC Handout
- Desiree Hoffman, SEIU
- David Crowe, Ph.D., National Association of Home Builders
- David Wluka, National Association of Realtors
- David Kittle, Mortgage Bankers Association
- Jay Wickersham, American Institute of Architects
- Diane T. Georgopulos, American Institute of Architects
- Naomi Walker, AFL-CIO
- Madye Henson, United Way

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee will review policies reported from the
standing committees and determine the calendar for 
Wednesday's business meeting.

Grand Slam at Fenway Park
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Family Friendly Fenway Tours
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm: Main Event

Tuesday, August 7

Continental Breakfast

Our Place in History

David McCullough, America's most celebrated historical
author and twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize, has a unique
perspective  on America’s history and its place in the world.
Learn about the  extraordinary men who founded this nation
and set it on a course of greatness.

State Economic Development in Research and Biotechnology

Biotechnology is a major sector in economic development,
encompassing medical, chemical, pharmaceutical and
agricultural research.  Biotechnology industries are found in
every state, employ 1.5 million workers, and generate millions
of additional jobs.  This session explores Texas' state-of-the-art
cancer research initiative.

Moderator: Gilbert Loredo, Texas
Staff Vice Chair, NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee

Speakers:

Senator Kirk Watson, Texas

Representative Jim Keffer, Texas

Employment Issues for Returning Veterans

Federal law protects the jobs of those called to active military
duty for a specific period but doesn't guarantee positions or
benefits. Many states are considering initiatives on employment,
supplemental rehabilitation health benefits, tuition assistance
and job training programs to aid veterans on their return to the
community. This session will explore these state and federal initiatives.

For audio of this session, Click Here (96.1 MB, 1:24)

Moderator: Representative Brent Yonts, Kentucky
Vice-Chair, Labor and Economic Development Committee

William Offutt
Executive Director, HireVetsFirst Campaign
U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans' Employment and Training Services
Washington, D.C.
 Presentation/Handout

Gina Klaus
Employment Coordinator
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service
Washington, D.C.
 Presentation/Handout

William Greer
Administrative Support Director/CFO, Department of Workforce Services
Salt Lake City, Utah

Exhibit Hall Lunch

Issue Forums:

• Climate Change: A World View -- Room 259AB
  

  Greenhouse gas emissions are a problem for nations
  throughout the world. The international
  Intergovernmental  Panel on Climate Change has
  issued a report on options to  address energy supply,
  transportation, industry, agriculture  and other concerns
  that affect emissions, with a wealth of scientific
  information and a discussion of how policies work or don't.
  
  Speaker:
  Dr. Ronald Prinn, EPCO Professor of Atmospheric Science,
  Director, Center for Global Change Science at MIT
  Massachusetts

• Exotic Mortgages --Room 253A
  [CLE]
  Low interest rates and so-called exotic mortgages have
  made it easier to own your own home, but foreclosure
  rates are climbing, and unscrupulous mortgage lenders
  have scammed homeowners. Hear about states' efforts
  to protect homeowners.

Special Briefings:

• Early Investments in Economic Development: The Impact
  of Early Childhood Initiatives and the U.S. Economy
  Today and Tomorrow -- Room 210B
  

  States are dramatically increasing their investments in early
  childhood – with 31 states increase funding for prekindergarten
  in 2006. Also, new research is documenting the economic value
  to the states and the nation of children growing to be
  productive adults. This session will highlight state activity
  to get children off to a good start and report on the economic
  economic returns of pre-K.
  
  Speakers:
  
  James Rohr, Chairman and CEO, The PNC Financial Services Group
  Pennsylvania
  
  Dennis Winters, Chief, Office of Economic Advisors
  Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development 

• The State Economic Outlook with David Wyss -- Room 210C
  While most state budgets are solid, state revenue
  performance  may be starting to slow down. Hear from one
  of the nation's leading economists.

Speakers:

Senator Robert Burns, Arizona

Delegate Sheila Hixson, Maryland

David Wyss, Chief Economist, Standard & Poor's
New York

• The Heat Is On: States Take on Climate Change
  Room 210A
  
  Moderator: Laura DeVivo, Office of the Speaker of the House,
  North Carolina
  
  Speakers:
  
  Senator Ellen Anderson, Minnesota
  
  Peter Riggs, Director, Forum on Democracy and Trade, New York

Wednesday, August 8

Walk for Wellness
(Sponsored by the National Caucus of Native American State
Legislators, National Black Caucus of State Legislators, National
Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, National Asian Pacific
Americans Caucus of State Legislators and the Women's
Legislative Network)

The Walk for Wellness is dedicated to raising awareness of the
devastating effects of heart disease, diabetes and obesity, while
drawing special attention to the health disparities that exist in
minority and underserved communities. By August 3rd, register
yourself by sending an email with your name and contact information.

Continental Breakfast

Registration

General Session and NCSL Annual Business Meeting

New Orleans Mardi Gras and All that Jazz Brunch

Our New Orleans-style jazz brunch will have you wishing you
were in the Big Easy. Feast on familiar Creole favorites like gumbo,
red beans and rice, beignets, bananas foster, grits and grillades.
All is set in a French Quarter atmosphere with a roaming jazz band
that will get your toes tapping. Saints alive, it’s fleur de-licious!
From the Sugar Bowl to Mardi Gras to Jazz Fest, New Orleans is
always a gracious host. Feel the excitement, and get ready to
head way down yonder--Louisiana is expecting you in 2008!

Issue Forums:

• Building a Workforce for the 21st Century -- Room 204B
  (Joint Session with the Education Standing Committee)
  Businesses have difficulty finding qualified workers to fill high
  paying jobs. The National Center on Education and the Economy
  has ideas about what should be done.

Speakers:
Robert Black, Dean, Government Audit Training Institute
Washington, D.C.

William Brock, Former U.S. Secretary of Labor
Washington, D.C.

Marc Tucker, President, National Center on Education and
the Economy
Washington, D.C.

• Employer Provided Health Care Competitive (Dis)Advantage
  Room 208
  The cost of providing health care for employees has driven
  some businesses out of the market, while others have
  managed to provide affordable health care coverage and
  maintain a healthy bottom line. Explore employers' responses
  to the rising cost of providing health care to America's workforce.
  
  Moderator: Representative Steve Conway, Washington
  Chair, NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee
  
  Speakers:
  Jonathan Gruber, Ph.D.
  Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  Cambridge, Massachusetts
  
  Chip Kahn
  President, Federation of American Hospitals
  Washington, D.C.
   Presentation/Handout
  
  Robert Graboyes, MSHA, Ph.D.
  Senior Health Care Advisor
  National Federation of Independent Business 
  Washington, D.C.
   Presentation/Handout
  
  Jo Ann Volk
  Legislative Representative, AFL-CIO
  Washington, D.C.
   Presentation/Handout

Issue Forums:

• International Trade and the Services-Based Economy
  Room 204B
  The president's authority to negotiate trade agreements
  expires this summer while many pacts remain unfinished.
  This session will review the status of global and bilateral
  agreements of interest to state legislators.
  
  Moderator: Representative Sheryl Allen, Utah
  
  Speakers:
  
  Chris Melly
  Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Services
  Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
  Washington, D.C.
   Presentation/Handout
  
  Robert Vastine
  President, Coalition of Services Industries
  Washington, D.C.
  Presentation
  
  

  Jeff Vogt
  Global Economic Policy Specialist, AFL-CIO
  Washington, D.C.

• The Benefits and Pitfalls of Privatization --Room 205A
  Conducting government services by outside contractors
  has been going on for decades. How do legislatures
  exercise oversight under privatization?
  
  Presiding: Karl Spock, Senior Manager,
  Sunset Advisory Commission
  Austin, Texas
  
  

  Speakers:
  
  Dennis Houlihan,
  AFSCME International
  Washington, D.C.

  Geoffrey Segal
  The Privatization Center
  California

  Gary VanLandingham, Director
  Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
  Florida

4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Room 102A

NCSL Economic Development Partners

Sound state economic development strategies lead to
success for businesses, communities and families. Examine
components of economic development strategies that this
working group has identified as universally important.

Presiding: Representative Terri Austin, Indiana

Thursday, August 9

8:00 am - 11:00 am
North Lobby

Registration

General Session Breakfast: The American Presidents

As Americans prepare to elect the 44th president of the United
States in 2008, two distinguished presidential advisors will give
their insights into what makes a president great. David Gergen,
advisor to Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton, and Andrew
Card, who worked for Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush and
the current president, will share an insider’s look at the White House.

Policy Forum:

Immigration Reform: The federal ship has sunk – 50 lifeboats
are in the water
[CLE] --Room 210A
(Sponsored by the NCSL Task Force on Immigration and the States)
Despite the promising Grand Bargain in the Senate,
Comprehensive Immigration Reform was abandoned at the federal
level, and many indicators suggest that a renewed federal attempt
to deal with this complex and emotional issue will not occur until
after the 2008 presidential elections. So what happened to the reform?
What role did the media play? And most importantly, how will states
react in the continued absence of a much needed federal solution?

Legislative Staff Luncheon: Politics and the Internet

It's the newest, most innovative and interactive way to
communicate. Learn how to use this new medium to make
government more accessible from Jimmy Orr, the man named
by the World Forum on E-Democracy as one of 25 people
changing  the world of the Internet and politics. Orr was
White House e-communications director under President
George Bush when he  created "Ask the White House" and
increased hits from one million to  more than 20 million.
Now he’s doing it for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Extraordinary Sessions:

• A Press Conference with Benjamin Franklin -- Room 210B
  Meet Ben Franklin in his Boston home town and learn
  first hand the enduring legacy of one of America's
  most remarkable Founders. You'll be able to ask him
  questions, too. Don't miss this opportunity to meet this
  scientist, philosopher, publisher and patriot on the
  300th anniversary of his birth.
  
  Speaker: Ralph Archbold, as Ben Franklin, Pennsylvania
  
• Positive Approaches to Difficult People -- Room 210C
  

  (NCSL gratefully acknowledges the support of the
  USDA Graduate School for this session.)

  Find out from one of the nation's leading experts how to
  deal effectively with the difficult people in your life.
  Whether it's a personal or professional relationship,
  noted author and trainer Alexander Hiam will show you
  the way to turn troublesome relationships into positive ones.
  
  Speaker: Alexander Hiam, Author, Trainer,
  Artist & Entrepeneur, Trainer's Spectrum, Massachusetts

Harbor Front Finale with the Boston Pops
6:30 pm: Pre-Concert Party
8:00 pm: Concert