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September 11, 2009 Jay Finegan, 287-1445
Rep. Phil Curtis Named to National Panels on Elections, Legislative Effectiveness

AUGUSTA – State Rep. Phil Curtis has been named to influential national committees that deal with legislative effectiveness and elections under the auspices of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree announced the appointments recently.

Rep. Curtis (R-Madison) will join the NCSL’s Standing Committee on Legislative Effectiveness and the Committee on Redistricting and Elections.

“I’m honored by these appointments and look forward to working on these issues with legislators from other states,” said Rep. Curtis, assistant leader of the Republicans in the Maine House of Representatives. “The idea is to pool our knowledge base and share best practices. With the upcoming 2010 Census, the Committee on Redistricting and Elections will have some very interesting discussions.”

The Redistricting and Elections Committee studies legal, technical and political issues affecting redistricting of state legislative and congressional districts, including demographic trends that impact state policymaking. It also deals with the conduct of elections and the regulation of campaign finance. The committee is the conduit for state legislative communication with the U.S. Census Bureau and the Voting Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The NCSL Legislative Effectiveness Committee examines strategies, practices and procedures for making legislators, staff and legislatures more successful. The issues include education and training for legislators and legislative staff; legislative structure and management; rules and procedures; leadership; information technology; and ethics.

Rep. Curtis noted that one of the strengths of the NCSL is its firm support for state sovereignty. “At a time of growing federal encroachment on states’ rights, we’re fortunate to have this strong advocate for federalism,” he said.

The NCSL, based in Denver, is a bipartisan organization. Its committees have no actual legislative authority. Instead, they attempt to educate Congress and federal agencies as to state concerns regarding the most pressing state issues.

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