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NBCSL Visits April 2013 A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS “TECHING” IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL: Changing the Face of America’s Communities THE BAR HAS BEEN SET: THE MEDICAID ONLINE VOTER UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY EXPANSION BALL IS IN REGISTRATION: AND INNOVATION IN YOUR COURT THE FUTURE ARRIVES ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS APR 2013 HIGHLIGHTS 07 FEatURE ARticlE By Michael K. Powell, President & CEO, National Cable and Telecommunications Association CONTENTS “Teching” it to the Next Level: Changing the Face of America’s Communities 07 09 PERspEctiVES By Stefanie Brown James, Vestige Strategies, LLC The Bar Has Been Set: Utilizing Technology and Innovation in Electoral Campaigns 12 PERspEctiVES By Assemblymember Holly J. Mitchell (CA) Online Voter Registration: The Future Arrives 14 PERspEctiVES By Joy Johnson Wilson, Health Policy Director and Senior Federal Affairs Counsel, National Conference of State 12 Legislatures The Medicaid Expansion Ball is in Your Court 17 PERspEctiVES By Kristal Lauren High, Editor in Chief, Politic365.com Tech Engagement in the Age of Obama FEATURED TOPICS 14 19 SPOTLIGHT: CORpoRatE RoUNdtaBLE Data, Diabetes, and Disparities: Two local programs leverage technology in innovative ways to reduce healthcare disparities By Noreen M. Clark, Ph.D., Director, National Program Office, Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes; Myron E. Wegman Distinguished University Professor, Director, Center for Managing Chronic Disease, University of Michigan 22 LEGISLATIVE SCOOP NBCSL’s Legislative Priorities Take Washington: NBCSL Visits the White House, Exchanges with Members of Congress By Ajenai Clemmons 25 LEgislatoR Highlights NBCSL Members Supporting Technological Innovation 40 28 EdUcatioN Cyberbullying in the Classroom and Beyond: Solutions for State Lawmakers 02 TO OUR READERS By Lauren E. Williams By Lauren E. Williams 32 BUsiNEss, FINANcial SERVicES, AND INSURANCE 03 PREsidENT’S MEssagE E-Commerce and State Tax Reform By Rep. Joe Armstrong (TN) By Michael Belitzky 05 FROM thE EXECUtiVE 36 ENERGY, TRANspoRtatioN, AND thE ENVIRONMENT DIREctoR Growing a Sustainable Economy What Happens when By Brandt Thorington Technology Meets Opportunity in the Hands 40 NBCSL EVENts of a Young Adult? NBCSL’s 36th Annual Legislative Conference Highlights By LaKimba B. DeSadier By Lauren E. Williams 2013 – 2015 NBCSL TO OUR READERS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Rep. Joe Armstrong (TN) President Sen. Catherine Pugh (MD) President-Elect Rep. Gregory Porter (IN) Vice-President Rep. Alan Williams (FL) Secretary Rep. Laura V. Hall (AL) Financial Secretary Rep. Howard Mosby (GA) Treasurer PolicYMAKing FOR Sen. Hillman Terome Frazier (MS) Parliamentarian the DigitAL Age Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler (GA) Chaplain Rep. Barbara W. Ballard (KS) Past President Almost everything we do involves technology. REGIONAL CHAIRS Rep. Ernest Hewett (CT) From the simplest act of buying shoes to the more complicated Chair, Region I Rep. Ron Waters (PA) task of filing taxes, we seem to log on to a computer, swipe a Chair, Region II card, or use a phone application every day. We tend to welcome Del. Nathaniel T. Oaks (MD) Chair, Region III these advances because it can mean that we spend less time Rep. Karen Camper (TN) getting more accomplished. However, as with everything else in Chair, Region IV Rep. John R.C. King (SC) life, there are adverse outcomes to our increased use. Chair, Region V Sen. Gloria Butler (GA) Chair, Region VI Some argue that our quality of life has been negatively Rep. Willie J. Perkins, Sr. (MS) impacted by a constant barrage of information. We have short Chair, Region VII attention spans, spend more time texting instead of engaging in Rep. Ken Dunkin (IL) Chair, Region VIII conversation, and constantly place our personal data at risk due Sen. Charleta B. Tavares (OH) Chair, Region IX to online privacy concerns. Furthermore, technology has yet to Rep. Regina Barrow (LA) be fully adopted by (and made accessible to) everyone. Chair, Region X Sen. David Haley (KS) Chair, Region XI Understanding that our lives will continue to be impacted by Rep. Angela Williams (CO) innovations in technology, it is important to examine policies Chair, Region XII surrounding technology and the different ways in which it EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS can (and will) touch our communities. In this issue, we cover LaKimba B. DeSadier various topics related to advances in technology, including the Executive Director, NBCSL Cleo Washington encouraging results of online voter registration, the emerging Chair, Corporate Round Table concerns surrounding cyberbullying, and the potential effects of Allyson Sneed Chair, African American Legislative Staff e-commerce. We also discuss the ever-present Digital Divide and Coordinating Committee its impact on the future of our communities. PUBLISHER: National Black Caucus of State Legislators Regardless of how we use and view technology, state legislators EDITOR: Lauren E. Williams, MPA, NBCSL need to be cognizant of its influence on society. Just as often MANAGING EDITOR: CommonHealth ACTION™ as our devices are updated, rapid improvements in technology DESIGN: Conceptual Geniuses™ require us to revisit our perspectives and fine tune our 444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 622 Washington, DC 20001 approaches to policymaking for the digital age. 202.624.5457 | 202.508.3826 fax www.nbcsl.org © 2013 National Black Caucus of State Legislators Material contained herein does not necessarily represent the position of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. All material in The Legislator is protected by copyright. No part of the text or images may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval Lauren E. Williams, MPA system, or transmitted in any form or by any means Editor without the prior and express permission of the publisher. For permission to reprint articles, please contact NBCSL at [email protected] 2 THE LEGISLATOR | April 2013 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ChooSing to AdvAnce: MAKing TechnologY Available for All The seamless integration of technology into our everyday lives is seemingly a given. We sync our legislative and professional calendars to our phones and use email reminders to make sure we get from point A to point B on time. We use GPS features to guide us around states and read legislation easily on our tablets and smartphones. So much of our work at the statehouse and in our districts is improved through the advancement of technology, but this resource is still not realized by all. In fact, access to technology, rural and inner city areas, remain to pay for this access has not. be it at a desk or in the palm of a problem. Increased technology Poverty rates for Blacks and our hands, is still a challenge for infrastructure throughout the Hispanics still greatly exceed the tens of millions of Americans, nation is underway. As lawmakers national average. In 2010, 27.4% and is acute among minorities, continue to work with public of Blacks and 26.6% of Hispanics low-income communities, and and private partners, intentional were poor, compared to 9.9% of senior citizens. Although we placement of this infrastructure non-Hispanic Whites and 12.1% have taken great steps to close can help to provide a more of Asians.1 Furthermore, the the digital divide in the United immediate solution. However, median household income for States through lower cost services, even if universal access is Blacks in the United States was cheaper mobile devices, tailored achieved, barriers of personal $32,229 in 2011 as compared to broadband plans, and greater choice may still prohibit minority the national median of $50,054.2 educational outreach, the fact and low-income communities This is a nearly $18,000 gap. A still remains that everyone cannot from total adoption. These digital divide will continue to take full advantage of technology. barriers include cost, relevancy, exist within our communities if and literacy. If all Americans there are no financial resources Why is that? Barriers to full are to have access to technology to help pay for it. technology adoption still exist. innovation, we must address each one of these issues concretely. Poor and low-income families These barriers are a matter of are like all families—they make both infrastructure and personal While the overall access to financial choices. Many of these choice. Physical barriers, such as technology has improved, the choices fall between much limited broadband coverage in ability of all America’s families needed staples for everyday THE LEGISLATOR | April 2013 3 survival and non-staples such services is not the sole answer processes. Their usefulness is as new technologies, clothing, to closing the remaining digital a given. However, this question entertainment, and the like. In divide. The gap will not be closed remains; how will we ensure that a struggling economy, “luxury” by a multimillion dollar literacy all Americans understand, use, items will always be passed over campaign or a slew of fresh and can afford them? We must for necessities, no matter how new content aimed at minority begin these discussions at our “discounted” or “financially communities. As state legislators statehouses and resolve these manageable” they are perceived and leaders in our communities, issues in our communities. to be. When deciding between a we must understand that the gallon of milk or new technology, solution lies in a combination for poor families, the choice is of these initiatives. Public policy clear. does not exist within a vacuum and must be formulated through Rep. Joe Armstrong (TN) Technology must also be made recognition of all related factors. President, NBCSL relevant and understandable to users. An April 2012 Pew Study It is our obligation to pass and found that among adults who implement sweeping policies do not use the Internet, almost that not only broaden access, half of them choose not to go but also make it easier for our online because they don’t think constituents to embrace, use, and the Internet is relevant to them. ”reach” these resources as well.
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