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CSG Champions Excellence
A “family of state officials,” CSG champions excellence in state governments to advance the common good
by Joel Sams
Encompassing four regions, 50 states, all three branches of state government and nearly 15,000 members, The Council of State Governments can be described many ways. It’s a convening organization that brings state leaders together to discuss issues of mutual importance. It’s a depository for research on policy topics including education, health care and criminal justice. It’s a mechanism for interstate partnerships and collaborative relationships. But while the impact of CSG is complex and far-reaching, its mission is simple. Through idea sharing, collaboration and problem-solving partnerships, CSG champions excellence in state governments to advance the common good.
DONNA BULLOCK PENNSYLVANIA STATE REPRESENTATIVE
IDEA SHARING Sharing ideas across all three branches of state government is central to the mission of CSG. Through national and regional conferences and policy academies, CSG convenes state leaders to discuss issues, share best practices and build relationships that span geographical and political lines. In 2019, attendees of the CSG National Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, enjoyed robust discussion on a broad range of topics. Members of the CSG National Task Forces — The Future of Work and Healthy States (pp. 28-31) — gathered to survey emerging trends and best practices. With four subcommittees each, the task forces explore topics like telemedicine, electronic health records, social determinants of health, the gig economy, equity and inclusion, artificial intelligence and much more. Throughout the year and during the national conference, CSG Policy Academies offer indepth perspectives on critical policy topics facing the states. In 2019, CSG policy academies included Medicaid 101, Growing Green: Marijuana Policy in the States, Privacy and Cybersecurity, and The Energy Landscape, each sharing ideas of critical importance throughout the states. (For a preview of 2020 policy academies, see p. 24.) In addition to convening state leaders for events, CSG shares extensive policy research resources. The CSG Justice Center shares extensive research on issues including recidivism reduction, mental health, reentry and employment following incarceration and much more. CSG Justice Center publications are available at: csgjusticecenter.org/jc/publications. Pennsylvania state Rep. Donna Bullock says CSG initiatives like the Henry Toll Fellowship (p. 22) and the Future of Work National Task Force have made her a better legislator. Interacting with colleagues from a variety of political backgrounds in a safe environment honed her communication skills and opened new avenues to share ideas. “CSG understands the value in idea sharing,” Bullock said. “CSG creates multiple platforms to engage state government officials from three branches of government to share ideas, vet those ideas, and improve upon those ideas. In the Toll Fellowship, legislators and other state government officials create a culture of trust and organic idea sharing. Toll Fellows learn that good policy and legislative ideas can come from anyone — a staffer, a legislator from another state, someone from another side of the aisle. CSG participants bring these ideas back to their states and everyone benefits from the diversity and experience that CSG brings together. “Through CSG initiatives, I found a safe place to be heard, to listen and to take deep, deep dives into very sensitive conversations. This has tremendous value. I learned that sometimes a good idea doesn't mean anything if you approach it wrong, if your colleagues don't hear you and you can't get the votes. It's not just about the idea; the process and how you include others matter too.”
how to get involved
Email membership@csg.org Visit csg.org
DAN LOGSDON | NCIC DIRECTOR
COLLABORATION In addition to sharing ideas, CSG helps states take action by fostering collaboration on a host of issues. The CSG National Center for Interstate Compacts (NCIC) offers one example of collaboration. NCIC is a policy program developed by CSG to assist states in developing interstate compacts, which are contracts between states. State governments often prefer to direct themselves collaboratively when addressing problems that span boundaries, and compacts have proved to be an effective mechanism for states to jointly problem-solve, often avoiding federal intervention. NCIC serves as an information clearinghouse, a provider of training and technical assistance and a primary facilitator in assisting states in the review, revision and creation of new interstate compacts to solve multi-state problems, including issues surrounding occupational licensure. Over the past 60 years, the number of jobs requiring an occupational license, or government approval to practice a profession, has grown from about 1 in 20 to nearly 1 in 4. Because licensing requirements are often significantly varied from state to state, workers can face barriers when moving across state lines. CSG has encouraged collaboration in this area by helping form interstate compacts, which create reciprocal professional licensing practices between states while ensuring the quality and safety of services and safeguarding state sovereignty. “CSG is the only national organization with demonstrated expertise in this area,” said NCIC Director Dan Logsdon. “Since our founding, CSG has always been involved with creating interstate compacts. These are powerful adaptive tools for states to come together and offer win-win solutions that are state-driven.” Shared State Legislation, or SSL, is another effort by which CSG brings states together to collaborate on policy ideas. Launched in 1941 as Suggested State Legislation, today’s SSL is both a member-driven process and an annual publication detailing topics of current importance to the states. The CSG SSL Committee, comprised exclusively of state officials, meets annually to review legislation adopted in the states. The committee then selects legislation to be included in the annual SSL volume. These volumes are published online for dissemination to state leaders and staff. “SSL is a direct example of how CSG helps states work together,” said CSG Policy Analyst Sierra Hatfield. “The committee is comprised of members from all 50 states in each section of the legislature, so it’s very representative of the people on the ground dealing with these issues.”
To learn more about interstate compacts, visit: csg.org/NCIC. To learn more about SSL, visit: csg.org/SSL. how to get involved
CSG founded by Toll.
Henry Wolcott Toll, a Colorado state senator, created the American Legislators' Association Washington, D.C., office opened.
Illinois state Sen. T.V. Smith III becomes first CSG national chair. Midwestern Legislative Conference (MLC) established. State Government News (now Capitol Ideas) first published.
The Book of the States first published.
Eastern Regional Conference (ERC) established. CSG Suggested State Legislation (now Shared State Legislation) program launched. Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) and CSG West established. New CSG Headquarters building in Lexington, Kentucky, dedicated.
PARTNERSHIPS Through affiliation with CSG, 10 national organizations of state officials share ideas and combine efforts to accomplish mutual goals. Affiliates contribute specialized expertise, information and resources to the overall mission of CSG. In turn, affiliates can tap into CSG's products and services and utilize a forum for bringing issues to a broader, collective state audience. “Being part of the CSG family is an invaluable partnership,” said Cherise Imai, executive director of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3). “It allows us to shift some of the administrative tasks so our small organization can operate effectively and efficiently. It also allows us to tap into the extensive resources at CSG’s disposal and to get issues in front of a nationwide audience of state leaders.” Together, these organizations advocate for state and local governments at the federal level, speaking with a collective voice to strengthen the critical role of states and municipalities in our federalist system of governance and to advance solutions to the challenges we share. to help craft solutions that work. Our goal is to deliver value to the states by empowering and inspiring state officials to find creative, innovative and cost-effective ways to craft public policy that will make an impact. I encourage every appointed and elected state government official to engage with us and find out the difference CSG can make for them and their state.” CSG is also a proud member of a network of nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations that represent state and local governments, known as the Big 7. In addition to CSG, the group is comprised of the following organizations:
INTERNATIONAL CITY-COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES
NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS
“Being a public servant has always been challenging but the complexity of today’s issues makes it even more so,” said CSG Executive Director/CEO David Adkins. “CSG brings state officials together to learn from each other and
CSG AFFILIATES INCLUDE:
»American Probation and Parole Association » Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies » Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission » National Association of State Facilities Administrators » National Association of State Personnel Executives » National Association of State Technology Directors » National Emergency Management Association » National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators » State International Development Organizations » Women In Government
CSG Associates Program established.
CSG Henry Toll Fellowship established.
Alumni: 1,326 American Probation and Parole Association affiliates with CSG.
CSG West's Western Legislative Academy established. ERC's Robert J. Thompson Eastern Leadership Academy established. CSG Justice Center becomes a national resource. CSG Center of Innovation established.
MLC Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development established. CSG's National Center for Interstate Compacts established. SLC's Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills established. CSG national headquarters rededicated and a new address adopted: 1776 Avenue of the States.
WISCONSIN REPRESENTATIVE
What inspired you to run for public office?
I was initially involved with my local chamber of commerce. My husband and I own a John Deere implement dealership in a small community. Anyone from small, rural areas knows you get involved in everything. I first ran for local municipal office and served on the city council to encourage investment in our downtown infrastructure project. After four
years, I ran for mayor on a platform of establishing more comprehensive planning across all areas of city government.
After 10 years of city government service, I thought I had fulfilled my civic duty, but six years later, the local state Assembly seat
opened up, and I was encouraged to run. I realized it was a great opportunity to continue to serve my neighbors and use my experience at the local level to be their voice in Madison. I thought state government should do a better job of under standing local needs and communicating with their partners at the local level. I take pride in my commitment to visit all my local municipalities at least once each session.
What policy areas are you most passionate about?
Early childhood education and the importance of supporting children and their families is a policy area I’m particularly passionate about. I co-founded and continue to serve as a co-chair of the bipartisan Wisconsin Legislative Children’s Caucus. The purpose of the caucus is to cultivate a legislature dedicated to advancing promising, evidence-informed public policy that improves the life of every Wisconsin child. We also work to provide education to members on trauma informed care and adverse childhood experiences each session.
I have worked hard to raise awareness for organ donation because of a per sonal experience my family had. Each year, I introduce a resolution to
recognize April as Donate Life Month. In the past, I have also sponsored legislation that created the organ donation check-off on our driver's license renewal forms, as well as crafted legislation to create the Donate Life license plate in Wisconsin.
Also, in my 16 years in the Wisconsin Legislature, I have developed an appreciation of the role regulation plays. As co-chair of the Joint Commit tee for Review of Administrative Rules, I have seen the important role rules play, even more so than new laws, in our lives, businesses and local governments. The Wisconsin Legislature has a robust oversight process and I have used that position to improve the interaction with the public and state agencies.
You are serving as the 2020 CSG National Chair. Can you share the value of being a part of CSG and how it helps you as a representative in your state?
I believe the leadership development and networking opportunities are very important, not only for me but for my colleagues as well. My original connection with CSG was through CSG Midwest’s leadership program, the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Develop ment (BILLD). Through that connection, I’ve had regular attendance at the regional and national conferences and have been able to share current issues and policy options with legislators from across the country. I’ve also been part of selection committees and have seen so many colleagues grow into leaders after their involvement.
I’ve been able to learn so much from my involvement in committees like the Midwest-Canada Relations Committee and the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus. CSG has provided me with the great opportunity to participate in travel delegations to Germany, Canada and Israel as members of these committees, exposing me to experts, fresh per spectives and new friends.
2020 celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. There have been many influential women in state government in the past 100 years. Why should women get involved and stay involved in the political system?
Wisconsin is a civically engaged state and values being involved in our communities and local projects. I believe it is important to see women in politics because half of the electorate is women. In the past few years, it has been encouraging to see more women join me and have a voice at the state level. Wisconsin ranks in the middle in terms of percentages of women in our state legislature but we’re very proud to have a majority of women serving on our state’s high est court. In fact, Wisconsin has the highest percentage of women on our supreme court of any state other than Oregon (we share that distinction with them). As we celebrate these achievements, I think it’s important that we look back and thank the women who fought for our right to vote and our right to have a seat at the table.
Moving forward, as we get closer to gender parity in politics, I think it is important to get everyone involved, regardless of sex. When we bring differing perspectives and experiences to the table to deter mine public policy, we use each individual’s strengths and insights to create laws that can have the greatest effect on society. Our form of democracy is designed with the understanding that every person is both unique and equal, making our republic stronger through its diversity of thought, culture, histories and experiences.
Even with those strides, as a former female mayor, I know there is still more to be done to embolden women to get involved. It’s still uncommon to see women in executive roles, which is why I am happy to be serving my term as national chair alongside Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly.
Asked
&Answered
1
What’s something you keep in your office and why?
Most importantly, family pictures, especially the photos of my three grandchildren. I also have a University of Wisconsin football helmet and mementoes of my foreign travels. I’m always ready to go on a trip anywhere and look forward to going to each of the regional conferences for CSG and meeting state and regional leaders.
2
What is Wisconsin’s best kept secret?
Ripon, Wisconsin, which is in my Assembly District, is home to the birthplace of two important groups still involved in modern politics. The Republican Party was founded in Ripon after a meeting in a little school house on March 20, 1854 was convened to voice residents' opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Additionally, Carrie Chapman Catt, a woman influential in the national woman suffrage movement, lived in Ripon and founded the League of Women Voters.
3
As a former first grade teacher, what do you think is the most important thing we should teach our children?
Patience, resilience and perseverance. The math and reading will happen, but success in life, I believe, comes from setting goals, seeing set-backs as opportunities and sometimes rolling with the punches.
4
What is something that you like to do with your grandchildren?
Anything — my grandchildren all live overseas, so I don’t get to be with them much. When I do, it’s nice to have some quiet time, sit and read with them or listen to them tell me their stories and recount their activities. Their company just makes me smile.
