Quotes from NCSL's "Strong States, Strong Nation" 2005 annual meeting.

• Position: AS THEY SEE IT

"I probably get more spare than anyone."

--Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who noted that he was intrigued by one spare e-mail that, for a few dollars a month, promised to pay his legal bills.

"It's a little ironic to have a university president interviewing the most famous college dropout in the world ..."

--University of Washington President Mark Emmert, as he prepared to interview Bill Gates.

"I don't know if financial people ever relax."

--Michael Calvert, Nebraska's legislative fiscal director, in the Associated Press, on an NCSL report showing higher revenues and reserves for states, but with a cautious eye on future revenues.

"Most states have experienced deep budget crises and the federal government has exacerbated their woes by creating too many unfunded mandates. Legislators accurately say the federal government exports the federal deficit to the states through programs like No Child Left Behind, increased security and a bevy of complicated health-care funding formulas and rules."

--Seattle Times editorial on the NCSL "Strong States Strong Nation" meeting.

"States are the laboratories. Let us experiment."

--Wyoming Senator Charlie Scott, in the Associated Press, on a NCSL policy resolution that calls on Congress to give states more control...