2007 Year in Review It is not what we have that will make us a great nation; it is the way in which we use it. - Th eodore Roosevelt, July 4, 1886 Th e Council of State Governments-WEST A Message from CSG-WEST Offi cers 2008 CSG-WEST Offi cers Left to right: Sen. Tom O’Halleran, Arizona; Sen. Lesil McGuire, Alaska; Rep. Jeff Morris, Washington; Rep. Jose Campos, New Mexico In the fall of 1947, political leaders from the western states met in San Francisco for the purpose of establishing the Western Offi ce of Th e Council of State Governments. Around the table there was an acknowledged need for the West to follow the lead of the South, the Northeast and the Midwest to form a regional association of state political leaders to provide a platform and a voice for the unique needs of the western states in post-war America. Th e minutes of the meeting from that fi rst year provide a vivid example of how ideas and best practices are shared among states as Senator Vincent Th omas from California reported on the success of the San Francisco Trade Zone and emphasized that trade zones would be of value to the entire West, not only in San Francisco, but in Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle. Th is spirit of cooperation and collaboration among states who share borders as well as a common culture provides the best reason why CSG-WEST has been the longest continuously serving organization for political leaders in the West. Th e Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming provided a spectacular place to celebrate the 60th anniversary of CSG-WEST, and as you review the activities that took place there and throughout 2007 as reported in this Year in Review, you will see the opportunities provided for western state legislators to listen and learn from each other. We look forward to continuing that tradition of service and appreciate your support as CSG- colleagues and friends. WEST Sincerely, 2007 Year in Reviewin 2007Year Senator Lesil McGuire, Alaska Representative Jose Campos, New Mexico CSG-WEST Chair CSG-WEST Chair-Elect 1 Senator Tom O’Halleran, Arizona Representative Jeff Morris, Washington CSG-WEST Vice Chair Speaker Pro Tempore CSG-WEST Immediate Past Chair CSG-WEST 2007 Executive Committee Th e Executive Committee serves as the board of state and legislators appointed by the presiding directors for CSG-WEST, reviewing the work and legislative offi cers of member states. activities of policy committees, adopting policy Th e Executive Committee of CSG-WEST works positions and annually selecting participants for the with staff and offi cers of the Western Governors’ Western Legislative Academy. Association, Western Municipal Conference Th e committee is comprised of CSG-WEST offi cers and Western Interstate Region of the National and program leaders, western legislators serving in CSG Association of Counties to build consistent and national leadership positions, the presiding legislative creative advocacy of the West’s interests by political offi cers and ranking minority leaders of each member leaders at the state and local level. Program Participants Pam Inmann, Executive Director of Western Governors Association in Denver, Colorado, talked about issues that western governors and state legislators could work on together. Alberta Minister-Counsellor Murray Smith (top left); Rob Merrifi eld (top right), Member of Parliament and Co-chair of the Canada-U.S. Interparliamentary Group from Ottawa; and Joan McIntyre, Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, shared perspectives on western provincial/state opportunities for cooperation. Luis E. Ramirez Th omas (top), Chair of the Travel and Immigration Committee of the Border Trade Alliance in Phoenix, Arizona, and Canadian Consul General CSG- Marc LePage (right) of San Francisco, California, shared perspectives on North American collaboration. WEST 2007 Year in Reviewin 2007Year CaliforniaCalifornia SenatorSenator MikeMike MachadoMachado (top) and Bill Vickrey (right), Administrative Director of the 2 California Courts Judicial Council of California, talked about western state legislative-judicial Jay Jensen, Director of the Western Forestry Leadership relationships. Coalition, talked about the eff ect of the western bark beetle. CSG-WEST 2007 Executive Committee Meetings-at-a-Glance May 26 - San Francisco, California September 19 - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming • Selection of Western Legislative Academy • Opportunities to Collaborate with Western Class of 2007 Governors’ Association • Western Legislative Conference Policy Agenda • CSG-WEST Programs and Projects Reports Setting Sessions • North American Cooperation • North America Competitiveness • Shooting Star Presentation • State Legislative / Judicial Branch Relations • Nominating Committee Report • Western Bark Beetle Assessment • School Trust Lands: Th e Utah Experience Member Participation Rep. Jose Campos (NM) SpeakerSp Pro TemporeTe CheriC Jahn (CO) SenateSenate MajorityMajority Leader Gary Stevens (AK) Rep. Jackie Dingfelder (OR) Rep. Mel Brown (UT) Rep. Janice Rep. Marcus Oshiro (HI) Arnold-Jones (NM) CSG- HouseHouse MinorityMinority LeaderrLeaderr WEST Tom Taylor (NM) 2007 Year in Reviewin 2007Year Rep. Ronda Rudd Menlove (UT) Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis (ID) Sen. Carlene Walker (UT) 3 Senate President Ben Altamirano (NM) Sen. Kate Brown (OR), Rep. Jeff Morris (WA) CSG-WEST 2007 Executive Committee Member Participation Sen. Carolyn Allen (AZ) Rep. Dell Raybould (ID) Rep. Maxine Bell (ID) Rep.Rep. RichRich Willss (ID) Rep.Rep. JimJim KeaneKeane (MT) Rep. John Coghill (AK) Sen. Grant Larson (WY) Sen. Paula Sandoval (CO) CSG- WEST Sen. Lesil McGuire, Alaska Senate President John Schiff er (WY) 2007 Year in Reviewin 2007Year Houseuse MinorityMinority Leader MartyMarty Martinn (WY) Sen. Mary Jane Garcia (NM) 4 Rep. Th omas Garcia (NM) Rep. Dave Quall (WA) CSG-WEST 2007 Executive Committee SenatorSen SeSenator LesilLe McGuire, AK ToTom O’Halleran, AZ CSG-CS WEST Chair CSCSG-WEST Vice Chair Representative Representative Jose Campos, NM Jeff Morris, WA CSG-WEST Chair-Elect CCSG-WEST Immediate Past Chair Alaska Idaho Oregon Lyda Green, President of Senate Robert L. Geddes, President Pro Tempore Peter Courtney, President of the Senate Gary Stevens, Senate Majority Leader Bart M. Davis, Senate Majority Leader Ted Ferrioli, Senate Republican Leader Gene Th erriault, Senate Minority Leader Clint Stennett, Senate Minority Leader Kate Brown, Senator Lesil McGuire, Senator Lawerence E. Denney, Speaker of the House Jeff Merkley, Speaker of the House John Harris, Speaker of the House Wendy Jaquet, House Minority Leader Wayne Scott, House Republican Leader Beth Kerttula, House Minority Leader Maxine T. Bell, Representative Jackie Dingfelder, Representative Mike Chenault, Representative Th omas F. Loertscher, Representative Utah John Coghill, Representative Dell Raybould, Representative John L. Valentine, President of the Senate David Guttenberg, Representative Richard Wills, Representative Mike Dmitrich, Senate Minority Leader Arizona Montana Carlene M. Walker, Senator Timothy S. Bee, President of Senate Mike Cooney, President of the Senate Greg J. Curtis, Speaker of the House Marsha Arzberger, Senate Minority Leader Corey Stapleton, Senate Minority Leader Ralph Becker, House Minority Leader Carolyn S. Allen, Senator Kim Gillan, Senator Mel R. Brown, Representative Tom O’Halleran, Senator Scott Sales, Speaker of the House Ronda Rudd Menlove, Representative Jim Weiers, Speaker of the House John Parker, House Minority Leader Stephen H. Urquhart, Representative Phil Lopes, House Minority Leader Jim Keane, Representative Washington California New Mexico Lisa Brown, Senate Majority Leader Don Perata, President Pro Tempore Ben D. Altamirano, President Pro Tempore Mike Hewitt, Senate Republican Leader Dick C. Ackerman, Senate Minority Leader Michael S. Sanchez Frank Chopp, Speaker of the House Elaine Alquist, Senator Senate Majority Floor Leader Richard DeBolt, House Minority Leader Michael Machado, Senator Mary Jane M. Garcia, Senate Majority Whip Jeff Morris, Representative Fabian Nuñez, Speaker of the Assembly Stuart Ingle, Senate Minority Floor Leader Dave Quall, Representative Michael N. Villines Timothy Z. Jennings, Senator Wyoming Assembly Minority Floor Leader Gay G. Kernan, Senator Ben Lujan, Speaker of the House John C. Schiff er, President of the Senate Hector De La Torre, Assembly Member Ken Decaria, Senate Minority Floor Leader Pedro Nava, Assembly Member Th omas C. Taylor House Minority Floor Leader Grant Larson, Senator Colorado Jose Campos, Representative Roy Cohee, Speaker of the House Joan Fitz-Gerald, President of the Senate Janice E. Arnold-Jones, Representative Marty Martin Peter C. Groff , President Pro Tempore Gail Chasey, Representative House Minority Floor Leader Th omas A. Garcia, Representative Ex-Offi cio Members Ken Gordon, Senate Majority Leader CSG- Andrew McElhany, Senate Minority Leader Danice Picraux, Representative Dave Henderson Brandon Shaff er Jeannette O. Wallace, Representative Oregon Legislative Administrator WEST Senate Assistant Majority Leader Nevada Pamela Varni, Executive Director Paula E. Sandoval, Senator Alaska Legislative Aff airs Agency William J. Raggio Reviewin 2007Year Andrew Romanoff , Speaker of the House Senate Majority Floor Leader Cheri Jahn, Speaker Pro Tempore Dina Titus, Senate Minority Floor Leader Mike May, House Minority Leader Barbara E. Buckley Bernie Buescher, Representative Speaker of the Assembly Hawaii John Oceguera Colleen Hanabusa, President of the Senate Assembly Majority Floor Leader Fred