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July 20, 2009 Jay Finegan, 287-1445
Rep. Wright Pinkham Named to National Panel on Criminal Justice

AUGUSTA – State Rep. Wright Pinkham has been named to serve on the Standing Committee on Law and Criminal Justice at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The appointment, by House Speaker Hannah Pingree, will position Rep. Pinkham to influence policy at state and federal levels.

Rep. Pinkham (R-Lexington Township), a third-term legislator, said he is honored by the appointment and by the opportunity to represent Maine at the national level. “This particular committee deals with some of the most critical issues in the country, and I’m looking forward to sharing ideas and solutions with legislators from other states,” he said.

NCSL's Law and Criminal Justice Committee addresses underlying principles for a balanced state-federal system and takes policy positions to preserve state sovereignty and set a high standard for preemption of state laws. The committee's broad jurisdiction includes the constitution and constitutional law, civil rights and liability issues. It also deals with capital punishment, corrections, crime victims, drug crime, juvenile justice, law enforcement and criminal sentencing.

“One of the strengths of the NCSL is its stalwart support for state sovereignty,” said Rep. Pinkham. “At a time of growing federal encroachment on states’ right, we’re fortunate to have this strong advocate for federalism. I believe that the most innovative and imaginative thinking is happening at the state level, not in Washington.”

Rep. Pinkham currently serves on the Maine Legislature’s Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee. That panel deals with claims against the state, liquor laws, gambling, harness racing and off-track betting. Its jurisdiction also encompasses election laws, campaign financing, voter registration, initiatives and referenda and veterans' programs.

The NCSL, based in Denver, is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues; and it advocates for the interests of state governments before Congress and federal agencies.

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