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In 1993, the Wheeler Center held a
conference on legislative reform, which had a number of
productive results. We
think now is an appropriate time to hold another such
conference, this time focusing on a number of basic
structural questions, including term limits, annual
sessions, professional legislators, reapportionment, and
more. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to
rethink procedures and practices with the clear aim of
improving them. We invite you to join us.
The forum will begin with
a lunch on Monday, with one of the foremost authorities
on legislative matters, Alan Rosenthal, Rutgers
University, keynoting. Monday evening's keynote
will be presented by William Pound, Executive
Director of the National conference of State
Legislatures. Former legislators Mignon Waterman and
Lorents Grosfield will speak, as will former
Secretary of State Bob Brown. Longtime political
observers Jerry Calvert of MSU in Bozeman, and
Craig Wilson, MSU-Billings, will also help frame the issues and offer
well-informed insights, ideas and suggestions. Panel presentations will be followed
by in-depth discussion sessions.
This conference is open to the
general public and participation is encouraged. The conference
will be of particular interest to current and former
legislators,
city and county officials, the business and education
communities, state agency
personnel, representatives of the judiciary, legislative
staff, lobbyists and all others who have a role in
making Montana's legislature work. Please join us for this very important
discussion. |
