NCSL 2000 Annual Meeting Summary.

• Position: National Conference of State Legislatures

State legislatures, the most revitalized governmental institutions in America, are poised on the brink of the 21st century to build on the groundbreaking ideas that have emerged from their capitols over the Last 25 years.

More than 7,400 legislators, legislative staff and others interested in moving America forward into the new century met for six days in Chicago, to examine the issues most critical to the people and to set a course of action for the next 25 years. Lawmakers will face new challenges as Congress and the Supreme Court continue to shift responsibilities from the federal government to the states.

"With a new century, lawmakers face significant challenges, and with them unprecedented opportunities to build America's future," said Indiana Representative and former NCSL President Paul Mannweiler.

Those opportunities include developing an approach to electronic commerce that balances the concerns of consumers, businesses and states; making continued progress in curbing juvenile crime; tackling suburban sprawl in a measured way; strengthening legislative ethics; enhancing consumer privacy; reforming education so that children can meet the challenges of a new century; ensuring that patients get the health care they need; and working to streamline taxes so citizens get the kind of government they want at a price they can afford.

Legislators attended more than 160 sessions, including presentations on transportation, on-line voting, prescription drug costs, child care, school violence, cyber crime, welfare reform and children, the economic outlook, and use of cell phones while driving. Meeting participants shared ideas and built upon state experiences on topics such as welfare reform, the tobacco settlement, civic education, state and local partnerships, campaign finance, redistricting, biotechnology, the economy, and much, much more.

The nation's legislators also took key votes during the meeting on issues concerning trade with Cuba, telecommunications tax and e-commerce.

NCSL Executive Director William Pound said the annual gathering of lawmakers, the largest in the country, plays a significant role in helping state lawmakers establish programs and policy.

"As America's forum for ideas, NCSL's Annual Meeting provides legislators with an opportunity to develop local solutions to national problems. Often the policies implemented by today's state legislature are the policies debated by tomorrow's Congress," Pound said.

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