FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information:
July 20, 2009 Jay Finegan, 287-1445
Rep. Wes Richardson Named to Communications Committee at National Organization

AUGUSTA – State Rep. Wes Richardson has been appointed to serve on the Standing Committee on Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The appointment was made recently by House Speaker Hannah Pingree.

Rep. Richardson (R-Warren), 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. “I believe that the really innovative thinking is happening at the state level versus Washington.”

The NCSL’s Standing Committee on Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce has jurisdiction over state-federal relations with regard to electronic commerce, banking, insurance, securities and other financial sector issues. It also deals with interstate commerce, taxation of electronic transactions, telecommunications and interstate business activity.

The committee’s broad charter allows it latitude to explore an expansive set of contentious issues, such as Internet regulation, insurance redlining, credit cards and credit bureaus, insurance fraud and natural disaster insurance.

In general, the committee is responsible for protecting states’ interests in federal decisions regarding those areas. It serves as a forum for legislators and legislative staff to exchange information on state policy approaches and to identify emerging issues of importance to state legislatures.

Rep. Richardson said the NCSL assignment is a good fit with his work in the Maine Legislature, where he is the ranking Republican on the Insurance and Financial Services Committee.

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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