March 2011 WINNING THE FUTURE THROUGH INNOVATION, EDUCATION, AND JOB CREATION Education Reform in a Changing Economy Is Now the Time to Push for Transportation? The Impact of the Euro on the US Dollar and Employment HIGHLIGHTS 06 FEATURE ARTICLE By Secretary Hilda L. Solis, U.S. Department of Labor Winning the Future through Innovation, Education, and Job Creation 09 PERspECTIVES By Rep. Joe Armstrong (TN), NBCSL President-Elect Health Reform: Making a Difference in the Lives of MAR African Americans 11 PERspECTIVES By U.S. Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver, II (MO), 2011 Chairman, Congressional Black Caucus In Support of Community Development Block Grants CONTENTS 14 PERspECTIVES By Rep. Gregory W. Porter (IN) 06 Education Reform in a Changing Economy 18 PERspECTIVES By Dr. Joe Leonard, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Agriculture His Truth is Marching On: African American Farmers and the Pigford II Settlement FEATURED TOPICS 20 LEGIslATOR HIGHLIGHTS 14 NBCSL Members Balancing Budgets and Benefits 23 NBCSL EVENTS 34th Annual Legislative Conference Highlights By Kimberly Strickland 31 NBCSL EVENTS The Third World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures in Dakar, Senegal 48 By Reginald M. Abreu 37 SPOTLIGHT: CORPORATE ROUNDTAblE Start Smart for Your Baby®: Promoting Education and Accessibility for Healthier Babies By Dr. Mary V. Mason, Centene Corporation 40 SPECIAL MEssAGE FROM AN NBCSL PARTNER 51 Redrawing Democracy: Race, Redistricting, and the 2011 Redistricting Cycle By Kristen Clarke, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund 43 LAW, JUSTICE, AND ETHICS Showing You the Money: A Closer Look at Cost-Cutting through Prison Privatization By Ajenai Clemmons 46 FROM THE HIll A New Semester in Washington TO OUR READERS 02 By Brandt Thorington By The Editorial Team 48 ENERGY, TRANspORTATION, AND THE ENVIRONMENT 03 PRESIDENT’S MEssAGE Is Now the Time to Push for Transportation? By Rep. Barbara W. Ballard (KS) By Colin Wellenkamp 04 FROM THE EXECUTIVE INTERNATIONAL AffAIRS DIRECTOR 51 Moving From High The Impact of the Euro on the U.S. Dollar and Employment Unemployment to By Reginald M. Abreu Employable and Employed 53 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES American Workers Will Repealing Health Reform Truly Benefit Americans? By LaKimba B. DeSadier By Deana McRae 2011 – 2013 NBCSL TO OUR READERS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Rep. Barbara W. Ballard (KS) President Rep. Joe Armstrong (TN) President-Elect Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland (PA) Vice President Sen. Constance Johnson (OK) Secretary Sen. Catherine Pugh (MD) Financial Secretary INNOVATION IN Rep. Howard Mosby (GA) Treasurer A TimE OF AUSTERITY Sen. Hillman Terome Frazier (MS) Parliamentarian Americans have always been able to handle austerity and even adversity. Rep. Helen Miller (IA) Prosperity is what is doing us in. -- James Reston Chaplain This is not the first time the nation has had to go through challenging REGIONAL CHAIRS economic experiences. Nevertheless, listening to the heartbreaking Rep. Ernest Hewett (CT) Chair, Region I stories resulting from lost jobs, foreclosures, and a lack of adequate Assem. Nick Perry (NY) health insurance makes one wonder when the country will fully recover. Chair, Region II We are in the midst of the first economic crisis of this century. Many Del. Nathaniel T. Oaks (MD) Americans, because of the prosperous 80s and 90s, have had a difficult Chair, Region III time adapting to the current austere conditions caused by the Great Sen. Yvonne Miller (VA) Chair, Region IV Depression of 2007. However, there are many Americans alive who can Rep. Larry Womble (NC) recall the Great Depression of the 1930s, and from that experience, they Chair, Region V remind us that, “this too shall pass.” Rep. Mia Jones (FL) Chair, Region VI While our history indicates hope for the future, the current state of Rep. John Rogers (AL) Chair, Region VII affairs must be addressed this year. In practically every state legislature, Rep. Bill Crawford (IN) budget cut priorities are being pitted against the government programs Chair, Region VIII that support individuals and families most affected by the economic Sen. Shirley Smith (OH) crisis. Legislators are faced with making difficult decisions about the Chair, Region IX best ways to address state deficits as well as the needs and requests of Rep. Tracy Steele (AR) Chair, Region X constituents who voted for them. The critical issue at hand is how to Sen. David Haley (KS) keep the delicate balance between the two. Chair, Region XI Sen. Bettye Davis (AK) It is clear that in 2011, NBCSL members will have to work hard with their Chair, Region XII colleagues at all levels of government and on both sides of the aisle to generate innovative solutions to these complicated circumstances. More EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS importantly, legislators will need to address their communities’ needs LaKimba B. DeSadier Executive Director, NBCSL notwithstanding state budget requirements. In this issue of The Legis- Terri Lee lator, we explore a few of these issues, specifically employment, educa- Chair, Corporate Round Table tion, healthcare, transportation, re-districting, in addition to national Foster Stringer Chair, Labor Round Table and international economic trends. These topics are a representative snapshot of issues that policymakers will face as they move forward with Jennifer E. Williams Chair, African American Legislative Staff the business of stemming the effects of this economic crisis. Coordinating Committee PUBLISHER: National Black Caucus of State Legislators Many hard decisions will be made in the nation’s statehouses during the EDITOR: Kimberly Strickland, NBCSL current legislative sessions. State legislators should always remember MANAGING EDITOR: CommonHealth ACTION™ that despite these difficulties, this is not a time for partisanship and bick- DESIGN: Conceptual Geniuses™ ering. Through productive collaboration, elected officials can improve 444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 622 Washington, DC 20001 conditions that will serve the needs of their constituents while laying the 202.624.5457 | 202.508.3826 fax groundwork for innovation and growth as the economy recovers. www.nbcsl.org © 2011 National Black Caucus of State Legislators The Editorial Team 2 THE LEGISLATOR | March 2011 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? IT is up to us to leave our own legacY I would like to thank the National American state legislators met our mission and goals. We are Black Caucus of State Legislators to discuss the formation of the grateful for the commitment for entrusting me with this posi- National Black Caucus of State and continued support from the tion and extend my appreciation Legislators. These state legis- Corporate Roundtable and and gratitude to my predecessor lators determined there was Labor Roundtable. Representative Calvin Smyre little on the NCSL agenda that I look forward to the work we (GA), for his hard work, dedica- addressed the issues and concerns have ahead of us by continuing tion, and exemplary leadership. of African American constituents. to fulfill the expectations The National Black Caucus After much deliberation, they bequeathed to us by our founding of State Legislators elected and created a new organization, members. Where do we go from entrusted eight state legislators the National Black Caucus of here? It is up to us to leave our with the title of President. These State Legislators. own legacy. We can do so by fine men and women include: Since the birth of the National making a commitment to live Rep. Matthew McNeely (MI), Sen. Black Caucus of State Legislators, up to those expectations and Clarence Mitchell, III (MD), Rep. 35 years ago, the organization has continue to make a difference in David P. Richardson, Jr. (PA), grown from a membership of 18 the lives of our constituents. Sen. Regis F. Groff (CO), Rep. state legislators from 11 states to Lois DeBerry (TN), Rep. James a membership of over 600 state L. Thomas (AL), Rep. Mary H. legislators from 44 states, the All of my best, Coleman (MS), and Rep. Calvin District of Columbia, and the U.S. Smyre (GA). It is truly an Virgin Islands, collectively serving honor and privilege to serve over 50 million Americans. This as the ninth President of the is a remarkable achievement, an Rep. Barbara W. Ballard (KS) National Black Caucus of State achievement that not only demon- President, NBCSL Legislators, and with your help strates the growth of African I look forward to leading this American legislators in the outstanding organization. United States, but also the growth The history of the National of our organization. I am so Black Caucus of State Legislators proud to be a part of the National is uplifting and inspiring. It all Black Caucus of State Legislators. began at the National Confer- I would like to thank our ence of State Legislators (NCSL) Executive Director LaKimba annual meeting in 1977 at the DeSadier and her staff for their Pontchartrain Hotel in Detroit, hard work and whose dedication Michigan. Eighteen African and expertise help us accomplish THE LEGISLATOR | March 2011 3 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MOVING FROM HIGH UNEmplOYMENT TO EmplOYAblE AND EmplOYED AmERICAN WORKERS The plight of the American worker continues to grow more difficult and challenging as the federal and state governments work to navigate the US economy out of recession. While various approaches to reducing unem- ployment are debated, it is clear that states must translate federal policy objectives into viable state strategies that will get people back to work. In late January,