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September 3, 2009 Jay Finegan, 287-1445
Rep. Dave Cotta Named to National Committee on Budgets and Revenue

AUGUSTA – Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree has named Rep. Dave Cotta to an influential committee on government finances at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The two-year appointment to the Budgets and Revenue Committee, which takes effect immediately, will bring Rep. Cotta into contact with state legislators from around the nation to share approaches and solutions to financial problems.

“The Budgets and Revenue Committee provides a forum for legislators to share information,” said Rep. Cotta (R-China), a second-term legislator. “In this era of revenue shortfalls and very tight state budgets, I’m looking forward to discussing financial strategies with legislators who are experiencing the same kind of budget problems Maine is facing.”

The NCSL’s Budgets and Revenue Committee is one of 11 standing committees. It is responsible for protecting the states’ interests in federal decisions regarding fiscal matters, including annual action on the federal budget. It also examines federal and state policies with fiscal implications, including: funding for services and programs; budget processes; tax and revenue systems; and unfunded mandates.

In the Maine Legislature, Rep. Cotta is the ranking Republican on the State and Local Government Committee, which has jurisdiction over a wide range of governmental activities. They include state contracts and fiscal procedures; state government organization; oversight of state officials, state employees and property; administrative procedures; boards and commissions; notaries public; capitol area planning; county and regional government; county budget process; and municipal and local government.

Rep. Cotta said one of the strengths of the NCSL is its firm support for state sovereignty in the face of growing federal encroachment on states’ rights. The NCSL, based in Denver, is a nonpartisan organization. Its committees have no actual legislative authority. Instead, they attempt to educate Congress and federal agencies about state concerns regarding the most pressing issues.

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