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July 15, 2009 Jay Finegan, 287-1445
Rep. Andre Cushing Named to National Committee on Economic Development

AUGUSTA – Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree has named State Rep. Andre Cushing to an influential committee at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The appointment, which takes effect immediately, will bring Rep. Cushing into contact with state legislators from around the nation to share approaches and solutions to economic development issues.

Rep. Cushing (R-Hampden) will join the NCSL’s Standing Committee on Labor and Economic Development. “I’m honored by this appointment and by the opportunity to represent Maine at the national level,” he said. “Sharing information with legislators from other states can help us in dealing with problems here in Maine. The best ideas don’t always come from the federal government. I think the most innovative solutions often come from the states.”

Rep. Cushing, a first-term lawmaker, serves as the ranking Republican on the Legislature’s Labor Committee. The NCSL’s Labor and Economic Development Committee covers state and federal issues related to labor, employment, workforce and economic development, international trade and cultural affairs. The Committee’s jurisdiction also includes pensions, Social Security, employment training and right-to-work laws.

The NCSL, based in Denver, is a bipartisan organization that advocates for the interests of state governments before Congress and federal agencies.

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