Senator Debra Plowman to Represent Maine Senate on National Committee on Legislative Effectiveness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 27, 2007

AUGUSTA – Senator Debra Plowman (R-Hampden) could play a major role in developing proposals and policies that would improve the operations of legislative chambers across the country.

Sen. Plowman, a second term State Senator, has been appointed to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) Standing Committee on Legislative Effectiveness. Her membership on the committee, which is one of NCSL’s 11 standing committees, would extend through 2008, unless she is reappointed at that time.

NCSL, based in Washington, D.C., is a bipartisan organization that brings leaders from all over the United States together to explore and develop sound policy proposals to improve the governing of a state, as well as the relationships between state and federal government. Each of NCSL’s 11 standing committees are composed of state legislators from across the country who are asked to bring their chamber’s perspective to the discussions surrounding the issues of their particular committee. In the past, members of these committees have testified at hearings before the US Congress and have met with federal agency officials.

As a member of the Legislative Effectiveness Committee, Sen. Plowman will join leaders from across the country in exploring a wide range of topics. Issues that her committee will examine include: legislative ethics, expenditures, operations, rules and procedures, and staff. Other topics will concern media relations, public information, separation of powers and term limits. Her committee will meet three times over the course of the year; in Washington, D.C., Boston, Massachusetts, and Phoenix, Arizona.

Sen. Plowman was very excited about her appointment to NCSL’s Legislative Effectiveness Committee. “I am looking forward to joining legislators from different states to delve into this very important topic,” she said. “The operations of the legislative branch have a profound impact on the citizens of a state, and I am very interested in discussing and proposing ways to improve that relationship.”

Sen. Plowman represents District 33, which includes Carmel, Charleston, Corinna, Corinth, Dexter, Dixmont, Etna, Exeter, Garland, Glenburn, Hampden, Kenduskeag, Levant, Newburgh, Newport, Plymouth and Stetson. She can be reached in Augusta at 287-1505, in Hampden at 862-4506, or by e-mail at debraplowman@cs.com.

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