Winter Meeting recap.

• Position: News & Numbers

Members of six of GFOA's standing committees convened in the nation's capital January 22-23 for the annual Winter Meeting. The committees met to discuss topical issues of interest to local and state governments and to review recommended practices. Nearly 175 members from across the United States attended the two-day meeting.

The standing committees approved five recommended practices and two public policy statements, which were approved by the Executive Board during its meeting in March. To learn more about these items, visit the GFOA Web site at www.gfoa.org.

The new Committee on Economic Development and Capital Planning convened for the first time in Washington. After receiving its charge from GFOA President Ed Harrington, President-Elect Nancy Zielke, and Chair Kenneth Rust, the committee divided into the three subcommittees--economic development, capital planning, and major projects. The committee is working to develop resources and guidance for GFOA members in the areas of economic development and capital planning.

During the general session breakfast, GFOA President Ed Harrington thanked committee members for their participation at the meeting, and stressed the importance of their engagement in bringing forth recommended practices that help the entire GFOA membership. Harrington then introduced the event's keynote speaker, Amy Walter of Cook Political Report and CBS's Face the Nation.

Walter provided an overview of the nation's political climate heading into this year's presidential election. Her discussion occurred just prior to the New Hampshire primaries, and she focused on the dynamics swirling around the then-crowded field of candidates for the Democratic nomination for president and how the election was likely to impact the congressional agenda. Walter said that regardless of who ultimately emerged as the Democratic nominee, the presidential campaign would be hard fought. She based this assessment on the fact that the...