Category: West

The post <strong>In Memoriam: Bobby Silverstein (1949-2022)</strong> appeared first on CSG West.

After ten years of service in the Idaho Legislature, Representative Clark Kauffman, CSG West Chair, will be departing the legislature at the close of this term, which ends November 30. CSG West had a recent opportunity to interview Representative Kauffman about his experience as a legislator and as CSG West Chair, his advice to incoming legislators, and thoughts on the most important issues facing the West.

The CSG West family extends its gratitude to Representative Kauffman for the leadership, character, and service that he demonstrated. We wish him and his wife, Debbie, success in all their future endeavors.

There are a substantial number of first-time lawmakers that will begin serving in 2023. What advice would you offer a freshman legislator?

I think if you’re a freshman coming in, you need to realize that you look at life and legislation through a certain set of lenses. Don’t be afraid to explore what other people’s lenses are. There are just so many sides to every issue. Don’t be in a hurry to put a stake in the ground on an issue until you have really taken the time to vet it and look at it from everybody’s different lenses. You might be surprised… you might find out you don’t really know what you’re talking about.

Prior to your legislative service, you served on several local and state boards in Idaho. What motivated you to run for the legislature in 2012?

In those local positions I dealt with the legislature on issues that were important to transportation or to agriculture, so I was somewhat familiar with it. When redistricting occurred, there was an open seat in my district and several of the sitting legislators in the area came to me and said, “it’s your turn.” In my involvement with transportation and agricultural advocacy groups, I believed that my skill set would serve the needs of District 25. My farm was at a point that I thought I would have the time to , and I threw my hat in the ring. It was a close election in the primary, but it seemed like the timing was right and an opportunity was there.

Can you comment on your experience being an officer of CSG West? Is there a memorable moment that stands out?

That’s been a highlight of the whole 10 years I’ve been in. I thought it was really a great experience to host the Annual Meeting in Boise. I think we had good speakers, good attendance, and good weather. If there was a highlight, that would be it – having a successful Annual Meeting in my home state.

Is there anything else that you’d like to share about your experience with CSG West?

The thing I want everybody to know about CSG West is that the staff meets 110% or more of expectations. I’ve had nothing but admiration for the work that you do – and how you get it done so efficiently and quickly. My hat goes off to the staff of CSG West.

What would you describe as the most important issue shaping the West right now?

There’s probably five or six “number ones,” but for me, drought is a major issue. The population continues to grow and there’s only so much water. I think that CSG West starting the Colorado River Forum is going to payoff big time in the future. I’m excited about that. It covers a great number of our western states from Montana to Mexico. If the folks that are impacted don’t start visiting with each other, there’s never going to be happiness.

At this year’s Annual Meeting your colleagues offered their comments and best wishes as you prepare for your next chapter. A theme that ran through their remarks, regardless of party affiliation, was the value you place on building relationships. Can you comment on that?

That’s certainly the way I want to be remembered… being fair and open to everybody’s opinions. Not that you’re going to agree, but that you don’t have to be disagreeable when you don’t agree. I just think living life that way is a lot more productive. For me, it’s so I can go to sleep at night without holding animosity towards anybody. I took how I wanted to live life with me when I went to the legislature. I didn’t change or become something different.

The post <strong>Farewell From the Chair: A Conversation with Idaho Representative Clark Kauffman</strong> appeared first on CSG West.

The members of the CSG West Legislative Service Agency and Research Directors (LSA/RD) Committee assembled in Bend, Oregon, September 28-30. Led by Joe Kolman, Research Director of Montana Legislative Services, and Jessica Geary, Director of the Alaska Legislative Affairs Agency, the respective chair and vice chair of the LSA/RD Committee, the directors discussed challenges facing state legislatures, shared best practices, and brainstormed innovative solutions. 

Looking for new innovations and ways of operating

The role of a nonpartisan agency leader is unique, as such, participants focused on problem-solving everyday situations they face through a case study simulation led by Charlotte Carter-Yamauchi, Director of the Hawaii Legislative Reference Bureau. They also focused on the intersection of information technology and the legislative process in a roundtable discussion led by Brett Hanes, Legislative Administrator, Oregon. 

The group explored other emerging issues and shared ideas for:

Public comment procedures, including methods of bringing a broader array of voices to their respective legislative chambers through digital access while maintaining proper security measures. 

Implications of unionizing nonpartisan LSA offices, as well as the challenges and opportunities this would bring to legislatures.

Employee exchange programs as a means for staff to do deep dives into how other states are tackling shared public policy questions and as an opportunity for continued professional development. 

Managing member engagement and protocols on virtual committee meetings, as well as accommodating staffers who want to continue working remotely.

Managing through “The Great Resignation”

“The Great Resignation” has made headlines in the wake of the pandemic, as employees have voluntarily resigned from their jobs at markedly elevated rates since the beginning of 2021. State legislatures have not been immune. Directors shared ideas for staff recruitment, retention, reward, and recognition, and several key themes emerged. Among these were leveraging online resources for recruitment, providing ongoing professional development or education reimbursement, incentivizing broader talent pools with relocation and tenure bonuses, and creating office-specific branded collateral to improve marketing outreach.  

Employee burnout can also be a significant issue for teams after long legislative sessions. Thus, the group shared strategies to promote self-care and reduce stress. Some examples included staff appreciation weeks, shout-outs and appreciations during meetings, flex time after long work-days, and all-staff service-learning days to boost ties with the community.

Marketing legislative research

With modes of communication shifting increasingly towards the digital and short-form realm, the directors tackled the question of how to promote research to legislators in a way that is engaging and accessible. Megan Bolin, Deputy Director of the Utah Office of Legislative Research & General Counsel, and Misty Mason-Freeman, Director of the Oregon Legislative Policy and Research Office, presented strategies in their states, including tailored outreach to newly elected members and an emphasis on streamlining request processes to provide information to legislators more efficiently. Chair Kolman offered experience from Montana that incorporate data visualization in policy briefs and publications, which his team has found to be a valuable resource in enhancing legislators’ and the public’s understanding of policy questions. 

Navigating communications in challenging times

The group considered the challenges to legislative institutions and nonpartisan offices posed by the era of increased political polarization and a year of high member turnover. The directors discussed ways to incorporate new member orientation programming, create clear communication channels with leadership, and regain trust from members in the nonpartisan nature of their work.  Misty Mason-Freeman, Director of the Oregon Legislative Policy and Research Office, and Jill Reinmuth, Staff Director of the Washington Office of Program Research, highlighted innovations in their offices pertaining to language access services and post-pandemic hybrid workflows.  

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CSG West thanks everyone who traveled to Bend to engage with peers and for their work in states to maintain the strength of legislative institutions. Special thanks to Chair Kolman and Vice Chair Geary for presiding over a successful meeting and to Brett Hanes and Misty Mason-Freeman for serving as 2022 state hosts. 

The 2023 LSA/RD training seminar will convene next Fall in Montana.   

The post <strong>Seizing Opportunities, Overcoming Obstacles: Insights from the Legislative Service Agency & Research Directors Annual Training Seminar</strong> appeared first on CSG West.

CSG West leadership, membership and staff are mourning the sudden loss of Colorado House Minority Leader Hugh McKean. During his tenure in the Colorado General Assembly, Leader McKean was an active participant in the organization’s programs and championed collaboration on key issues facing the West.

Over the last two years Leader McKean served as co-chair of our Westrends Board, which brings together policymakers to address economic and demographic trends affecting the quality of life in the region. He served superbly in this role, providing insights and appreciation for the unique issues that define the West. Leader McKean was also intrigued in the U.S. – Mexico binational relationship and in building partnerships that would further the common interests of both countries.

Leader McKean was widely respected by his peers from across the Western region. He was intentional in working across party lines, which is much needed in our current body politic. An alum of the Western Legislative Academy Class of 2019, he  embodied the tradition of leadership for which this program strives.

CSG West expresses its sincere condolences to the family of Representative McKean. His vision, knowledge, and curiosity will be deeply missed.

Leader McKean will lie in state at the Colorado Capitol today, with public viewing from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend funeral services for Leader McKean on Saturday, November 12, at 11:00 a.m. The services will take place at Resurrection Fellowship Church, 6502 E. Crossroads Blvd., Loveland, Colorado, 80538.

The post CSG West Mourns the Loss of Colorado House Minority Leader Hugh McKean appeared first on CSG West.

White House officials recently convened a meeting with bipartisan state legislative leaders, discussing efforts to address what was described as a “national mental health crisis.” The meeting focused on joint federal and state actions to implement 988 crisis line services, part of a comprehensive strategy announced in May.

Dialogue included state-led initiatives to support call center operations, incorporating follow-up behavioral health care, and broadening accessibility to services. State legislators also discussed current challenges presented by mental health workforce shortages. 

Among the participating legislators was Utah State Senator Daniel Thatcher, who in 2014 initiated the idea for a three-digit crisis line in his state. After garnering support from a range of federal and state officials, legislative colleagues, and healthcare workers, Senator Thatcher’s proposal resulted in the creation of the national 988 hotline this year. 

The White House meeting was held in conjunction with Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, as suicides in the United States accounted for more than 45,000 deaths in 2020, and preliminary data suggest increased numbers in 2021.

A readout from the meeting, including western legislators in attendance, can be accessed here. For additional reading about Utah’s role in creating the 988 crisis line, click the story below. 

Utah’s Involvement in the Three-Digit Mental Health Hotline: The Origin Story of 988

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For the first time, the four Upper Colorado River Basin states of Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico recently began formal meetings with six tribes to jointly negotiate water management of the Colorado River.

The thirty federally recognized tribes along the Basin hold rights to roughly 25% of its water supply. Historically, the river’s water management decisions have been led by federal and state governments without formal input from tribal leaders.

State and tribal negotiations will seek to establish a framework for future river operations, which are currently shaped by the 2007 Interim Guidelines set to expire in 2026. This becomes increasingly relevant as significant conservation measures have been implemented to combat the region’s drought crisis, which tribal leaders assert they have not been adequately consulted.

Click below to learn more about the historic negotiations and their potential impact on water policy in the Basin.

Learn More

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