Wednesday, December 11

9:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Staff Sections

Task Forces
Ancillary Groups
Workshops
Lobbying

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Speaker:

Rod PAIGE, U.S. Secretary of Education

5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

Steering Committee

6:15 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Opening Reception at the Hyatt Regency

Thursday, December 12

8:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

The economic downturn is testing the state-federal partnership. For the most part, state legislatures so far have coped with their budget gaps on their own. Although the federal government shows no interest in a major package of fiscal relief for the states, there are several things it could do-for example, relieve current mandates, live up to previous funding commitments and avoid additional cost shifts-that could be beneficial. This panel will focus on three related questions: (1) what short and long term strategies are state legislatures using for balancing their budgets; (2) what did the federal government do to alleviate the state fiscal crisis during 2002; and (3) what do state legislators and legislative staff want from the federal government in the way of fiscal relief.

Moderator:

David BRODER, The Washington Post

• Legislative leader
• Legislative fiscal chair
• Legislative fiscal officer
• One or two members of Congress
• Academic/think tank person

10:00 a.m. - 12 noon

These briefings, workshops and sessions will be sponsored by the new committees, either singly or jointly. New committee officers will preside. The sessions will either look ahead to state and federal issues for 2003 or highlight initiatives completed during 2002.

Session of note:

Wetlands and Non-Point Source Pollution

Sponsored by the Agriculture and Rural Development and Environment and Natural Resources Committees

12 noon - 1:15 p.m.

Plenary Program:

A Look at the New, Improved Committee Structure

NCSL's new streamlined committee structure integrates consideration of state and federal issues and makes the organization more accessible and understandable. This program will outline the elements of the new structure and provide participants a chance to ask questions about the new committees.

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Connecting Rural Areas to New Opportunities

The bounty of information technology is especially important in rural areas, setting the stage for new business growth and connecting residents to telemedicine and distance learning, among other benefits. Yet a digital divide has emerged in the U.S., where telecommunications and other technology infrastructure in rural areas is lagging behind urban centers. This session will investigate creative ways states can help plan and fund new opportunities for rural connections.

Senator Carol FUKUNAGA, Hawaii

• Brad Ramsay, General Counsel, National Association of Regulatory and Utility Commissioners, Washington, D.C.
• Delegate Harvey MORGAN, Virginia
• Leroy WATSON, Director of Legislative Affairs, U.S. Grange Association, Washington, D.C.

Representative Maxine BELL, Idaho and Chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Call to Order; Introductions; Review of Issues and Lobbying Policies in Committee's Jurisdiction

The new Agriculture & Rural Development Committee will be inheriting the work and achievements of the Rural Development Task Force. During this brief time, the Committee will review the Task Force's work, generally discuss the status of state and federal rural policy, and hear reports on the intergovernmental Rural Summit held in Airlie, Virginia in November 2002.

New York Senator Nancy Larraine Hoffmann, who brought the idea for this policy to the former AFI Agriculture & International Trade Committee at the Denver Annual Meeting will reintroduce the policy and initiate a brief discussion on the merits of the policy.

Brainstorming for 2003 Meetings

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Location:
Senate Caucus Room
Russell Senate Office Building

The Caucus Room is an example of the Beaux Arts style of architectural design. Grand and richly detailed, the room provides a dignified environment in which important political meetings and social functions are held.

View an image of the Senate Caucus Room

Friday, December 13

8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

Special Briefings

9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Special Briefings for the 8:00 a.m. and the 9:30 a.m. sessions include:

• Streamlining State Sales Tax Systems
• Homeland Security
• Wither Welfare Reform
• Implementing the No Child Left Behind Act

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Analysis of the 2002 Elections

A prominent observer of the political scene analyzes the state and federal elections and what they may mean for the nation's approach to public policies.

12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Policy Forum: Debate and Voting on Official Policy Statements and Resolutions

12:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Opening Program for the Fiscal Chairs
Economic Outlook

David WYSS, Chief Economist, Standard and Poors, New York