 National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C. Vol. 31, No. 5 * March 15, 1999 Previous story | Table of Contents | Next story 1999 Legislative Conference By Beverly Schlotterbeck
There was a new look and a new attitude on display at NACo’s 1999 Legislative Conference. For starters, the general sessions’ staging took on an upbeat, contemporary feel. Red, white and blue light washed over NACo’s set in the Hilton Ballroom stage. An I-Mag screen, high and square above the center of the stage, shot speakers’ faces above the audience for all to see. The new attitude was best evidenced by events that anchored the front and back ends of the formal conference. NACo officers visited Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, Feb. 25, in an effort to persuade him to support the appointment of county officials to the Internet tax advisory commission. On Feb. 28, NACo’s Board of Directors unanimously approved joining the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) in a lawsuit seeking to stop the Internet commission from meeting as currently constituted. On Tuesday, March 2, NACo President Betty Lou Ward presided at a joint news conference with USCM announcing the lawsuit.
Attorney General Janet Reno packed them in at the Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee meeting. She used the opportunity to throw her support behind the committee’s efforts to pump up the county role in early childhood development. The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Steering Committee saw a visit from Rep. David Minge (D-Minn.), the ranking minority member on the House General Farm Commodities Subcommittee. He expressed Congress’ frustration with the many, and often competing, voices of the agriculture community. EPA Administrator Carol Browner took some time out Saturday afternoon to update the Environment, Energy and Land Use Steering Committee on current EPA activities and to promote the Clinton/Gore Land Legacy budget proposals.
Congress was also well represented during the general sessions. Delegates heard from Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), who heads the Congressional Arts Caucus. She spoke of the value that arts activities can have in helping to solve problems at the local level, especially when used with children. Party leaders, Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), chairman of the Republican Policy Committee and Rep. Martin Frost (D-Texas), who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, told delegates about their party’s agendas for the 106th Congress. One of the general sessions highlights was a debate between conservative Bay Buchanan, who stood in for her brother Pat, and liberal Bill Press. The debaters brought boos and cheers from the audience, which in the end, gave both a standing ovation. The general sessions were also the setting for awards and proclamations. Broward County, Fla. received the first NACo Arts and Culture Award. The award was established by NACo President Betty Lou Ward to spotlight the importance of the arts in America’s counties. Reps. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) received NACo’s Legislators of the Year award at the March 1 luncheon. The award recognized their successful efforts in passing the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, or TEA-21. NACo also signed a joint proclamation with the Census Bureau, formally recognizing the partnership between NACo and Census 2000. |
