By Mick Bullock
More than 5,000 state legislators, legislative staff, federal officials and others from across the country and world are heading for Seattle for the annual NCSL Legislative Summit Aug. 3-6.
I know what you’re thinking: Wow, Seattle. Now that is an awesome town to host a meeting.
Great food and great scenery. D I mention the great coffee? Yes coffeeholics like myself will enjoy the aromas of the bean but, more important, the stellar line-up of this year’s Legislative Summit programs and speakers.
Distinguished speakers such as Robert Gates, the 22nd secretary of Defense; best-selling political author Jon Meacham; Piper Kerman, author and inspiration for the award-winning Netflix series “Orange is the New Black”; all-time “Jeopardy” champion Ken Jennings; Bill Kristol, editor and publisher of The Weekly Standard; and the automobile industry’s only futurist, Sheryl Connelly.
And that’s not all.
More than 100 sessions are scheduled ranging from criminal justice to education, health care to taxes, technology to transportation, and much more. There will be something for everyone. Additional sessions also include hot topic policy issues surfacing around the country. Some increasingly popular sessions include police body cameras, legalizing marijuana, the sharing economy (e.g., Uber and Zipcar) and transportation funding, to name a few.
And let’s not forget the important business that takes place on Thursday. Legislators will vote on vital policies, the NCSL budget and new incoming leadership at the annual business meeting. The policies set the framework for the States’ Agenda, which guides NCSL’s advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., for the coming year.
So now you see why I am so excited about the coffee… I will need it to keep up with all of the many things going on at this year’s Legislative Summit.
It’s not too late. Pack your things and come on over to what is sure to be a great week of coming together for open discussions of the issues that face states across the nation.
See ya’ll in Seattle!
Mick Bullock serves as director of public affairs in NCSL’s Washington, D.C., office. Before joining NCSL, Bullock served as spokesman for Mississippi’s Phil Bryant both as state auditor, lieutenant governor and as governor.
Email Mick.