| for
members only |
April
2002 |
 |
Cong.
Burr |
Cong.
Etheridge |
NCCBI's
Legislative Conference, the unofficial opening of the annual
General Assembly session, will be held Thursday, May 30, at the North Raleigh Hilton from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Legislative Reception will be held the evening
before at the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena.
The cost for members to attend both events is $100. |
Register
to attend the conference
Legislative Conference eyes
state, national issues
NCCBI’s annual Legislative Conference will take on a
more national perspective this year, with a briefing by an
official of the National Conference of State Legislatures on
fiscal trends in other states and a keynote luncheon address
by two members of the state’s congressional delegation. The
conference will be held on Thursday, May 30, at the North
Raleigh Hilton.
The Legislative Conference has become widely accepted as the
unofficial kick-off of each year’s General Assembly session
– the meeting at which business and elected leaders gather
to assess political trends and exchange information on topics
vital to the state’s economy. The session will officially
convene at noon on May 28 for a ceremonial session, but
won’t get down to business until after the NCCBI conference.
Cong. Bob Etheridge (D-2nd) and Richard
Burr (R-5th) will be the luncheon speakers at
the Legislative Conference, which will be held on May 30 at
the North Raleigh Hilton. They are expected to address a range
of federal issues important to North Carolina’s economy.
Etheridge, a three-term Democrat from Lillington, serves on
the House Science and Agriculture committees. A former state
superintendent of public instruction, Etheridge also is
co-chairman of the Democratic Caucus’ Education Task Force.
Burr, a four-term Republican from Winston-Salem, is vice
chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and also
serves on the International Relations and Select Intelligence
committees. Before going to Washington, Burr was in business
with Carswell Distributing.
Earlier in the day, Legislative Conference attendees will hear
from Corina Eckel, group director of fiscal affairs at
the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The Legislative Reception will be held the evening before the
conference, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Raleigh Entertainment
and Sports Arena. The reception, which usually is attended by
dozens of legislators, is very popular among NCCBI members
because it offers them an opportunity to speak candidly and
directly with elected officials in a friendly, casual
environment.
The conference will open at 8:30 a.m. with a continental
breakfast and will get under way with a 9 a.m. welcome message
from NCCBI Chair Jim Hyler. During the morning, the
conference will hear from several state government officials,
including:
 House Speaker Jim
Black (D-Mecklenburg) and Senate President Pro Tem Marc
Basnight (D-Dare), speaking on major trends in the General
Assembly from the perspective of the legislative leadership.
State Budget
Officer David McCoy, who will give Gov. Mike
Easley’s perspective on the budget outlook.
State
Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett, on
transportation challenges facing the state.
Sen. David Hoyle
(D-Gaston) and Rep. Gene Arnold (R-Nash), addressing
the drive to impose limits on the length of legislative
sessions – the topic that will be NCCBI’s top priority in
this year’s session.
NCCBI Chair Jim
Hyler of Raleigh, the First Citizens Bank executive, who
will moderate the conference and open the proceedings with a
welcome message, will also address the gathering as chair of
the Governor’s Commission on Promoting Government
Efficiencies. He’s expected to report on progress his panel
has made so far in identifying ways state government can lower
operating costs.
Former NCCBI chair
Gordon Myers of Asheville, the Ingles Markets executive,
who will speak in his capacity as chair of the state Economic
Development Board as well as give a report on recommendations
derived from the Workforce Development Summit he led recently
in Greensboro.
House Minority
Leader Leo Daughtry (R-Johnston) and Senate Minority
Leader Patrick Ballantine (R-New Hanover), who will
present the Republican perspective on major legislative
issues.
State Treasurer
Richard Moore, who will address investment and other
financial issues facing the state.
State Secretary of
Health and Human Services Carmen Hooker Odom, who will
address Medicaid issues and their impact on the state budget
and health care providers.
NCCBI President
Phil Kirk, who will provide concluding comments before the
session adjourns for the luncheon program.
The cost of attending the reception and conference is the same
as last year -- $100 for NCCBI members and $120 for
non-members. The cost of attending just the reception is $35
for members, $45 for non-members. The cost of attending just
the conference is $80 for members, $100 for non-members.
NCCBI members should watch their mail for a brochure arriving
soon containing complete information about the conference and
a fax-back registration form. Members also can register to
attend the event at the NCCBI web site.
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