Intergovernmental task force looks for ways to collaborate

Bryan Desloge to Task Force on Intergovernmental Affairs: “Government works best when it works from the bottom up.” 

NACo President Bryan Desloge testified June 21 at the inaugural meeting of the bipartisan Task Force on Intergovernmental Affairs, which focuses on balancing the interests between federal, state, local and tribal governments.

The task force, initiated by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is chaired by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah). Most members of the task force previously served in state or local government, including Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), a former member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), a former member of the Fairfax County, Va. Board of Supervisors.

Ryan opened the hearing by noting that “in recent years, the principle of federalism has slowly eroded.” He added, “Government works best when it works from the bottom up.”

Desloge, commissioner from Leon County, Fla., testified on behalf of NACo. He expressed counties’ optimism “about the opportunities this task force presents for collaboration,” and reminded task force members that local elected officials “remain the best equipped to understand the impact of legislation or regulations on county economies and budgets, and ‘one size fits all’ approaches rarely work for local governments.”

Other representatives from the National Governors Association, the National League of Cities and the National Conference of State Legislatures also testified.

Each member of Congress, made brief opening statements, followed by questions for each member. Discussion focused on ways Congress can involve state and local governments in their decision-making.

Bishop encouraged members to seek areas of collaboration and agreement, worrying that if the committee gets “bogged down in money matters and policy issues, we’re never going to achieve anything.”

Bishop said he hopes to build on the first meeting and work toward bipartisan legislation the group can introduce to improve the intergovernmental collaboration process. Future task force meetings and topics have not yet been announced.  

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House Intergovernmental Affairs Task Force

Chairman: Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah)

Advisory Council to the Task Force

National Association of Counties (NACo)

National Governors Association (NGA)

Council of State Governments (CSG)

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)

National League of Cities (NLC)

U.S. Conference of Mayors

International City/County Management Association (ICMA)