Report

 

DELEGATION MEMBERS AND STAFF

From August 8-11, 2011, three Vice-Chairs from the Canadian Section of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (IPG) – the Honourable Wayne Easter, P.C., M.P., the Honourable Michael L. MacDonald, Senator, and Mr. Brian Masse, M.P. – led a delegation to the 2011 Legislative Summit of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in San Antonio, Texas. Other members of the delegation were the Honourable Jim Munson, Senator, and Mr. Merv Tweed, M.P. The delegation was accompanied by the Canadian Section’s Executive Secretary, Ms. Angela Crandall, and its Senior Advisor, Ms. June Dewetering.

THE EVENT

Founded in 1975, the NCSL is a bipartisan organization serving the legislators and legislative staff of the 50 US states as well as its commonwealths and territories. The NCSL provides research, technical assistance and a venue for the exchange of ideas on state issues. It also advocates state interests before the US Congress and federal agencies.

The NCSL is governed by a 61-member Executive Committee, and – at present – it has 12 standing committees comprised of legislators and legislative staff. These committees are:

·Agriculture and Energy

·Budgets and Revenue

·Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce

·Education

·Environment

·Health

·Human Services and Welfare

·Labor and Economic Development

·Law and Criminal Justice

·Legislative Effectiveness

·Redistricting and Elections

·Transportation.

As well, there are currently a number of Executive Committee task forces:

·Energy Supply

·Federal Deficit Reduction

·Federal Health Reform Implementation

·Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

·Immigration and the States

·International Relations

·Military and Veterans Affairs

·State and Local Taxation of Communications and Electronic Commerce.

DELEGATION OBJECTIVES FOR THE EVENT

The interaction with state legislators enables members of the Canadian Section of the IPG to achieve better the aim of finding points of convergence in respective policies, initiating dialogue on points of divergence, encouraging exchanges of information and promoting better understanding on shared issues of concern. Moreover, the meetings with state legislators provide members of the Canadian Section with an important means to give input to, and gather information about, state-level issues that affect Canada.

In light of the nature, scope and importance of the bilateral relationship, it is anticipated that the Canadian Section of the IPG will continue its participation at NCSL’s annual legislative summit.

ACTIVITIES DURING THE EVENT

In general, the meetings at the 2011 Legislative Summit occurred in the following topic areas:

·agriculture and rural development

·banking and financial services

·budget and tax

·civic education

·economic development and trade

·education

·elections and redistricting

·energy and electric utilities

·environmental protection

·government

·health

·human services and welfare

·immigration

·insurance

·international

·labour and employment

·law and criminal justice

·leadership

·legislatures

·media public affairs

·natural resources

·pensions

·protecting democracy

·telecommunications and information technology

·transportation.

In addition to committee and task force meetings in the subject areas noted above, the following plenary sessions were held:

·The Climb to Success: Going from Good to Great

·Fed Up: The Relationship Between the States and the Federal Government

·Politics, Policy and Polls: What Americans Think Today.

This report summarizes the discussions that occurred at the plenary as well as selected committee and task force sessions.

THE FUTURE OF BIOFUELS

Brian Duff, US Department of Energy

·biomass is important for the United States’ energy, national and economic security; there are relationships among these three types of security

·biomass is also important from environmental and quality of life perspectives

·each year, the United States spends billions on foreign oil

·biofuels contribute to the economic prosperity of the United States

·ethanol is a transition fuel; it is not a silver bullet

Brian Conroy, BP Fuels

·the main forces driving the adoption of biofuels include energy security, climate change and rural development

·a variety of government policies support biofuels growth

·in the lower hemisphere, sugar cane is a common feedstock for biofuels; in the northern hemisphere, switch grass is a relatively common feedstock

·there are two basic policy categories:

Øfoundational – provide a long-term framework; examples include the low-carbon fuel standard in California and the federal renewable fuel standard

Øtransitory – provide a short-term framework; examples include tax incentives for investors as well as for producers and users, crop assistance and loan guarantees

·the biofuels industry needs commercial banks to finance projects

·the biofuels industry needs policy stability; in that context, policies should be long term

·the United States needs a broadly based energy industry with participants of all sizes

·regarding permitting, which is a challenge, transparency is needed

·it is very important that infrastructure exists to move biomass and biofuels from the point of production to users

·since water is an important part of the biofuels process, access to water, water regulations, wise use of water, etc. are needed

INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND THE US STATES

Ken Allred, Legislative Assembly of Alberta

·Alberta and the United States continue to work together to advance the economic interests of both

·Alberta was the first Canadian province to promote free trade with the United States; the North American Free Trade Agreement, which is the successor to the trade agreement between Canada and the United States, has been the catalyst for Canada, the United States and Mexico to keep trading, even during economic downturns

·North America needs to be a competitive force in the global marketplace

·in June 2011, more jobs were created in Alberta than in the rest of Canada combined

·international trade, which is responsible for more than one third of Alberta’s gross provincial product, is an important element of the province’s economy

·Alberta’s economy is resource-based, and the Athabasca oil sands are the province’s main economic driver; Alberta has been a producer of conventional oil and gas for decades

·Alberta’s oil sands contain 99% of the province’s oil and 95% of Canada’s oil

·for a number of US communities, the development of Alberta’s oil sands has led to jobs, tax revenue and economic growth

·Canada supplies more than 22% of the oil imported by the United States, but new transmission capacity is needed, including the proposed Keystone XL pipeline; the US State Department is currently reviewing the Keystone XL proposal

·Alberta’s oil sands represent

Øenergy security – Canada is the only major oil exporting nation other than Norway that is “safe”

Øjob opportunities – Alberta will face labour shortages as early as next year, and the province will need to hire skilled workers from outside the province, thereby providing a good opportunity for Americans to work in Canada

·Alberta is producing oil in an environmentally responsible manner, and all land that is disturbed by oil sands projects must be returned to its natural state

·Alberta is demonstrating leadership in terms of environmental stewardship

·up to 90% of the water used in the operation of many oil sands projects is recycled

Luciano Nunes Santos Filho, UNALE

·Brazil is the largest country in  South America, has a stable political situation and faced the 2008 global financial and economic crisis from a position of strength; it was among the last nations to feel the effects of the crisis and among the first to experience economic recovery

·Brazil has significant mineral and petroleum reserves as well as tourism potential resulting from the coast, tropical weather and national parks; moreover, much of the country’s land is capable of cultivation

·Brazil is the third-largest major exporting nation in the world, behind the United States and the European Union

·together, the United States and Brazil are responsible for 70% of global production of ethanol; sugar cane is a prevalent feed stock in Brazil

Al Busyra Basnen, Indonesian Consul General in Houston

·Indonesia is resource-rich, with a strong, multi-party democracy, a young population and high internet usage

·trade is an important part of Indonesia’s economy, and economic diplomacy is an important element of Indonesia’s foreign diplomacy, especially in relation to trade

·Indonesia is committed to developing better trade relations with countries around the world

Alexander Forshin, Russian Council of the Federation

·trade missions enable countries to learn about each other, and to establish business linkages in areas that include innovation and that lead to increased trade

·trade and cooperation between Russia and the United States have been successful in such areas as nanotechnology

·Russia has been unjustly accused of Imperialism

Reinhold Bocklet, Bavarian Legislature

·German companies have emerged from the global financial and economic crisis in a strong position

·for six consecutive years, including 2008, Germany was the primary global exporter; this position was lost in 2009, when China became the largest global exporter; now, the United States also exports more worldwide than does Germany

·exports continue to be an important source of strength for the German economy; Germany sees open markets and clear rules for trade as preconditions for economic growth and employment in all countries

·Germany supports successful completion of the Doha Round of World Trade Organization negotiations

·in 2010, Germany had a trade surplus of 153 million euros, the sixth-largest surplus since economic data began to be recorded

·historically, Germany emerges from a crisis in a relatively strong position; one reason for this outcome is the excellent relations between Germany and the United States:

Ø while the two countries are independent of each other, they have very strong and reliable ties

ØGerman-American direct investment is strong, with implications for jobs, productivity and the exchange of technology; the United States is the most important destination for German foreign direct investment and, at the end of 2008, direct investment by German companies in the United States totalled more than $200 billion, and about 3,000 German subsidiaries employed more than 650,000 American employees in their operations

Øthe exchange rate between the euro and the US dollar is stable, which facilitates planning

·China has become a major trading partner for Germany; China has relatively high rates of economic growth, and the middle class is emerging and growing

·during times of crisis, German companies typically maintain their capacity despite reduced demand, and jobs are not lost; moreover, investments in research and development are, at a minimum, maintained

·recently, the value of Bavaria’s exports to the BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – grew by 47% on a year-over-year basis; exports to China alone grew by 61%, making that country the third most important export market for Bavarian products in 2010, behind the United States and Austria

·from 2009 to 2010, the value of Bavaria’s exports of goods to the United States rose by about 23%

·launched in 1999, the “Invest in Bavaria” initiative is designed to make Bavaria attractive for foreign companies; since then, negotiations have occurred with more than 100 US companies regarding operations in Bavaria and about 50% of the approximately  850 US companies with operations in Bavaria are in high-technology sectors

·in 2010, Bavaria’s most important goods exports were food and beverages, automobiles, electronic products and machinery

·in recent decades, Bavaria has balanced the promotion of industry and high-technology research with the preservation of traditional, small-scale farming and the cultural landscape

·while such German companies as Audi, BMW and Siemens are important in international trade, so too are Germany’s small and medium-sized businesses

TRADE 101: A LEGISLATOR’S GUIDE TO TRADE

William Ramos, US Department of Commerce

·US companies are successful at exporting; that said, only 1% of US companies export, and 58% of these export to only one country

·in the 2010 State of the Union address, President Obama announced the National Export Initiative (NEI), with a goal to double US exports by the end of 2014

·95% of the world’s consumers live outside the United States; US businesses need to go where the customers are

·the NEI has eight priority areas:

Øimprove trade advocacy and promotion – including through trade missions and shows, the “gold key” and customized business matchmaking initiatives, and the market development cooperation program

Øprovide federal export assistance – including through the Small Business Administration, the US Department of Agriculture and the Export-Import Bank of the United States

Øundertake trade missions – facilitate one-on-one meetings with foreign business contacts

Øengage in commercial advocacy – help to level the playing field for US companies competing for international contracts

Øprovide export credit – fill market gaps when the private sector is unable or unwilling  to provide adequate credit

Øengage in macroeconomic rebalancing – work with other countries to ensure that the global economy shifts to more diversified sources of economic growth

Øreduce trade barriers and enforce trade rules vigorously – including in relation to the protection of intellectual property rights and relief from unfair trade practices

Øpromote services exports – design and implement specific advocacy and trade promotion efforts for services

·travel and tourism exports are every bit as important as the export of goods

Bobby Richey, US Department of Agriculture

·exports contribute significantly to farm cash receipts; consequently, it is important to keep markets open and exports flowing

·the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service:

Øprovides global market intelligence

Ønegotiates lower tariffs and the removal of trade barriers

Øengages in market development

Øprovides export financing programs

Øcollects trade data

Ømonitors and enforces trade agreements to which the United States is a party

Øtakes other actions designed to “level the playing field”

·the Foreign Agricultural Service is a partner with the US agricultural industry through:

Øcooperator groups that represent various agricultural sectors

Øwork undertaken with state departments of agriculture and regional trade groups

Eric Hutchings, Utah House of Representatives

·while Utah is not typically considered to be a big exporter, the state’s exports are significant and growing in value; moreover, unlike most US exporters, which export to only one country, exporters in Utah export to many countries

·former Governor Huntsman understood trade, and the state of Utah decided that it wanted to trade and that it wanted to be good at it

·exports are associated with significant employment growth

·exporting is all about relationships, and you need to know the people in order to get into their markets; key questions are: who knows you, who do you know, and who knows that you understand them?

·there is a need to “increase the size of the pie,” and exports are a great way to “grow the size of the pie”

·the Utah International Relations and Trade Commission, which acts like a marketing “arm” to the Utah legislature, meets quarterly to identify resources and developments, such as trade agreements

·in addition to the Utah International Relations and Trade Commission, Utah benefits from: the Governor’s Office of Economic Development; World Trade Center Utah; the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy; the Utah Office of Tourism; and universities and colleges that may partner with foreign educational institutions

Roy Takumi, Hawaii House of Representatives

·in the United States, the federal government has the right to conduct foreign affairs and commerce

·procurement is under the jurisdiction of state legislatures

·a number of US governors did not sign the procurement provisions of the 2005 Central American Free Trade Agreement, as doing so would not have been in the best interests of their states

Senator Michael L. MacDonald, Senate of Canada

·the Canada-US relationship is defined not only by trade but also by tourism, friendships and families that cross the shared border; the bilateral relationship is unique, strong and long-established, and leads to prosperity and jobs in both nations

·the trade relationship between Canada and the United States, which is the largest and closest in the world, is critically important for the health and prosperity of the citizens, businesses and economies of both countries

·in 2010, Canada-US bilateral trade had an estimated value of almost $645 billion, which is more than $1.7 billion worth of goods and services, or about $1 million every minute, crossing the shared border every day

·Canada is the largest export market for US products overall, and 35 US states have Canada as their primary foreign export destination

·according to a 2009 study, more than 8 million American jobs depend on trade with Canada, which is more than 4% of total US employment, or 1 in 23 jobs;  any government actions in either country that affect bilateral trade would mean US job losses and would have negative implications for Canadian employment as well

·most of the jobs related to Canada-US trade are in services: finance, insurance, legal, managerial, advertising and other professional services

·the Canada-US relationship is strong, despite the global financial and economic crisis and the impact it had on trade flows, but it could be stronger

·the 10-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks is drawing near, and each country has learned a great deal about the priority that should be given to security; both Canada and the United States place a high priority on security, and Canada knows that a threat to either country is a threat to both

·the last decade has been characterized by a significant focus on security, trade and the interface between them; both are important, and one need not be sacrificed for the sake of the other

·an important step forward occurred on February 4, 2011, when Canadian Prime Minister Harper and US President Obama announced the perimeter security and economic competitiveness agenda, one aspect of which is trade facilitation

·while trade facilitation is always important, it may be particularly the case now in light of President Obama’s NEI, announced during the January 2010 State of the Union Address; some commentators believe that Canada – and a seamless, smoothly functioning yet secure shared border between Canada and the United States – will be important if the United States is going to attain the goal of doubling its exports by the end of 2014

·to put the importance of the perimeter security and economic competitiveness agenda into perspective, consider the integrated nature of the Canadian and American economies and a significant number of businesses, as well as the importance of global supply chains for a great many North American businesses

·trade facilitation is an important goal, but the flow of goods and people across the common border must occur in a way that is secure for both Canada and the United States

·security will always be a top priority, but it is possible to have both a high level of security and efficient and cost-effective movements of people and goods across the common border

·efficiency at the shared border is perhaps a somewhat higher priority now than was the case in earlier times, given that both Canada and the United States are continuing to recover from the worst financial and economic crisis since the Great Depression

·the perimeter security and economic competitiveness agenda also includes a Regulatory Cooperation Council that will work to align Canadian and American regulatory approaches and a Beyond the Border Working Group that, among other things, will present a joint action plan designed to realize the goals of the agenda, probably early in the fall of 2011

·as a general principle, internal trade barriers are obstacles that limit the ability of a resident or business in one part of a country to work or do business in another part of a country

·internal trade barriers can be direct, such as taxes or fees, or indirect, such as rules or regulations; as well, they can be natural, such as distance or language, an unintended consequence, such as health and safety standards for product packaging and distribution, and/or intentional, such as government procurement practices

·most internal barriers to trade in Canada take the form of regional programs or different rules and regulations between and among provinces/territories that have the result of distorting markets

·in Canada, it is generally acknowledged that, with Confederation, attempts were being made to build a national economy while using the strengths of the various regions of Canada to provide comparative advantages and to experience the gains of interregional trade; at the same time, Canadian federalism was designed to respond to Canada’s diverse people, geography and economy, with inevitable differences about specific social, economic and political arrangements

·Canada’s Constitution Act, 1867 prohibits explicit barriers to trade and commerce between provinces/territories and, more recently, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms supports labour mobility by assuring residents that they have the right to move and earn a living anywhere in Canada

·on July 18, 1994, Canada’s first ministers signed the Agreement on Internal Trade, or AIT, which aims to reduce and eliminate barriers to the free movement of people, goods, services and investments across provincial/territorial borders within Canada; in particular, the agreement’s provisions establish:

Ødispute-resolution procedures;

Øgeneral rules that prevent governments from putting new trade barriers in place and that require a reduction in existing barriers in areas covered by the agreement; and

Øspecific obligations in respective of procurement, investment, labour mobility, consumer-related measures and standards, agricultural and food goods, alcoholic beverages, natural resources processing, communications, transportation and environmental protection

·measures related to the regulation of financial institutions, culture or cultural industries, and – subject to certain conditions – regional economic development are explicitly excluded from the AIT, as are Aboriginal peoples; existing Aboriginal and treaty rights are not affected by the agreement, and the agreement does not preclude the federal government from taking actions to protect national security or to maintain international peace and security

·in December 2003, Canada’s premiers created the Council of the Federation to:

Østrengthen provincial and territorial cooperation;

Øtake the lead on such issues of common interest to all partners as health care and internal trade as well as the fiscal imbalance; and

Ø promote intergovernmental relations based on respect for Canada’s Constitution and diversity within the Canadian federation

·in recent years, Canada’s premiers, through the Council of the Federation, have had a particular interest in trade, including with the United States; examples of this interest include:

Øin July 2008, a press release that mentioned global trade in such international markets as the United States, the European Union and China

Øin 2009, a June press release that identified “deep concern” about the Buy American rules in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and, in August, a press release in which premiers focused on strengthened Canada-US relations

Øin 2010, a February mission to Washington that was focussed on trade and border issues and that included meetings with US governors and members of the Obama Administration as well as, in August, a press release that  mentioned international trade with the European Union and Asia-Pacific nations

Ømost recently, in July 2011, the release of the Council of the Federation’s provincial trade strategy in which the premiers expressed their commitment to developing a framework agreement with the federal government regarding their involvement in the negotiation of international trade agreements that concern matters within their Constitutional jurisdiction

·historically, Canada’s provinces/territories have had only an advisory role in federal negotiations resulting in bilateral, regional or multilateral trade agreements, since Canada’s Constitution gives the federal government the sole jurisdiction in a number of areas, including the regulation of trade and commerce.

·that said, the federal government consults provincial/territorial representatives periodically throughout the year: formally, through the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Committee on Trade, and informally, through ad hoc discussions, as required; as well, there has been some provincial participation in federal trade missions, and Canada’s larger provinces have separate trade offices and conduct provincial trade missions.

·in order to provide some measure of protection, when Canada’s federal government concludes agreements that involve an area of provincial/territorial jurisdiction, the government usually includes a clause that informs the signatory parties that the Government of Canada may experience difficulty in implementing at least some of the agreement’s commitments, since provincial/territorial cooperation may first be required; some trading partners have felt, and may continue to feel, that this type of clause is inadequate

·as negotiations increasingly involve areas of provincial/territorial or of shared federal-provincial/territorial jurisdiction, the provinces/territories are playing an increasing – and an increasingly important – role in international trade negotiations

·two recent examples of enhanced provincial/territorial involvement in international discussions undertaken by Canada’s federal government are:

Øthe 2010 Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America on Government Procurement, according to which – and on a temporary basis – the provinces and some Canadian municipalities agreed, for the first time, to allow US firms to bid on provincial or municipal procurement contracts; provincial participation, and provincial consent, were essential requirements in order for the agreement to be signed

Øin the context of the comprehensive economic and trade agreement currently under negotiation between Canada and the European Union, European negotiators have indicated their desire to include government procurement at the provincial and municipal levels in the agreement; Canada’s provinces are relatively active participants in these discussions

·the involvement of provinces/territories in the actual negotiation of trade agreements may be particularly important if the agreements address non-tariff barriers to trade, as they increasingly do, since these types of barriers often fall under provincial/territorial jurisdiction

·in terms of communication with US federal government and state legislators, a line made famous by the late Tip O’Neill, former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, is important: “All politics is local”

·in that context, each US legislator – each governor, each member of a state legislature and each member of the US Congress – must understand, in terms that are specific to his or her district and/or state, what perimeter security and trade facilitation with Canada will mean to him or her and to his or her constituents:

Øhow will perimeter security result in better security?

Øhow will a more efficient and cost-effective border lead to more jobs?

Øwhat Canadian companies currently operate in that district and/or state, how many Americans are employed by these companies, and by how much might improved trade and a smoother border lead to growth for these companies and, consequently, job creation?

BULLYING, SCHOOLS AND MENTAL HEALTH

Joseph Wright, George Washington University and Children’s National Medical Center

·attention to bullying is a component of violence prevention

·a public health approach to the prevention of bullying could be useful:

Ødefinition of the problem

Øidentification of the problem

Ødevelopment of a response

Øimplementation of the response

·bullying can be defined as a form of aggression where one or more children repeatedly and intentionally intimidate, harass or physically harm a victim who is perceived to be unable to defend himself or herself; thus, three key elements of the definition are:

Øthe behaviour is repeated over time

Øthere is an intent to harm

Øthere is an imbalance of power

·there are two forms of bullying:

Ødirect or physical bullying, which is relatively more likely to occur with males but is increasing in prevalence with females, includes pushing, slapping, punching, spitting and tripping

Øindirect or relational bullying, which is relatively more likely to occur with females, includes threats, teasing, rumours or innuendo, stealing or extortion and shunning or exclusion

·levels of reported bullying increase through the eighth grade, and then self-reported victimization declines; observed victimization increases linearly through the sixth grade and suggest the existence of much higher rates of victimization than is self-reported

·when the role of bystanders is included in the analysis, 77% of third through sixth graders are observed to be involved in “the bullying circle”

·“the bullying circle” includes the following steps:

Østart the bullying and take an active part in it

Øtake an active part in the bullying but do not start it

Øsupport the bullying but do not take an active part in it

Ølike the bullying but do not display open support for it

Øwatch what happens but do not take a stand

Ødislike the bullying and think that ought to help, but do not do so

Ødislike the bullying and either help or try to help the child who is being bullied

·bystanders who witness bullying may feel:

Øafraid

Øpowerless to change the situation

Øguilty for not intervening in an effort to stop the bullying

Ødiminished empathy for the victim over time

·an emerging issue of concern is the link between bullying behaviour, especially among young school-aged children, and the subsequent development of serious assault behaviours and deleterious consequences

·bullying is the tip of the “intentional injury iceberg” and is a “gateway behaviour”

·in terms of school shootings:

Øschool shooters rarely act impulsively; instead, they plan

Øbefore most incidents, other people knew the student was considering a violent attack at the school

Ømany shooters had experienced long-standing bullying and harassment, and had engaged in “worrisome” behaviour prior to the attack

Øin two thirds of the attacks studied, the shooter had felt persecuted, threatened, attacked or injured before the incident

·there is a need to address bullying in the context of the prevention of violence; bullying is a subset of intentional interpersonal injury, and it is associated with higher rates of weapon-carrying, frequent fighting and injuries

·based on survey data, those who are bullied have more headaches (16% versus 6% for not bullied), sleep problems (42% versus 23%), abdominal pain (17% versus 9%), moderate depression (49% versus 16%) and strong depression (16% versus 2%)

·depression and ideas of suicide are relatively common outcomes of being bullied, and the association is stronger if bullying has been indirect rather than direct; direct bullying is significantly linked to depression and ideas of suicide in girls only

·frequent childhood victimization predicts later psychiatric problems in females

·the “emerging frontiers” in terms of bullying include:

Ødirect bullying by girls

Øbullying video games

Øcyber bullying

·in a survey of middle-school students, 18% had been cyber-bullied at least once in the last two months, with girls having experienced such bullying at twice the rate of boys, and 11% had cyber-bullied others at least once, with girls expressing a relatively higher rate

·in terms of the “who” or the perpetrator of cyber bullying, the “offender” from highest to lowest prevalence in terms of surveyed victims of cyber bullying was:

Øanother student

Øa stranger

Øa friend

Øa sibling

·in terms of the method of cyber bullying among surveyed victims of cyber bulling, the method was:

Øinstant messaging

Øa chat room

Øemail

Øa website

Øother

Øtext messaging

·strategies and tactics in terms of primary prevention of bullying include:

Øprevent the development of bullying behaviours

Øreduce the opportunities for bullying

Ølessen social acceptance and dismissal of bully victimization

·in terms of primary prevention, which is the best approach, the focus should be:

Øparenting

Øchanging the environment in which bullying occurs

Øadjusting social values regarding the non-acceptance of bullying

·while most states have laws on bullying, the laws vary in their definitions, policy requirements and recommendations regarding:

Øreporting

Øinvestigation

Øparental notification

Ødiscipline for those who bully

Øtraining

Øprevention

Jennifer Dounay Zinth, Education Commission of the States

·model state legislation on bullying:

Ødefines bullying, and that definition includes cyber bullying

Øprohibits bullying, including cyber bullying

Øinforms students, parents, staff and others of the existence of an anti-bullying policy

Øenables parents and requires staff to report suspected bullying

Øprovides immunity and prohibits retaliation when bullying is reported

Ørequires administrators to investigate reports of bullying

Øencourages or requires anti-bullying education

·several aspects of model legislation involve no cost or a low cost, including:

Ødefining bullying

Øprohibiting bullying

Øinforming people about the existence of an anti-bullying policy

Øenabling individuals to report suspected cases of bullying

Øproviding immunity and prohibiting retaliation

Ørequiring the investigation of reports

·anti-bullying education could involve moderate or high costs

THE CLIMB TO SUCCESS: GOING FROM GOOD TO GREAT

Jim Collins, Author

·if all the United States has is great business corporations, it is only a prosperous nation; to have a great nation, the United States also needs great education, arts organizations, police, homeless centres, government agencies, legislative leadership, etc.

·if trust in great institutions is lost, failure will occur

·“good” is the enemy of “great”

·greatness is not primarily a consequence of circumstances; rather, it is based on choices and discipline

·a culture of discipline leads to greatness, and disciplined people behave in disciplined ways

·a person or institution can fall from great to good to mediocre to poor to irrelevant; in that context, it is important to understand why great people and institutions fail in order that mistakes can be avoided

·it is possible to look great on the outside but be sick on the inside

·there are five stages of decline:

ØStage 1 – Hubris Born of Success

ØStage 2 – Undisciplined Pursuit of More

ØStage 3 – Denial of Risk and Peril

ØStage 4 – Grasping for Salvation

ØStage 5 – Capitulation to Irrelevance or Death Movements

·a bad decision taken with good intentions is still a bad decision

·most businesses are only average

·there are five levels of leadership:

Øhighly capable individual – makes productive contributions through talent, knowledge, skills and good work habits

Øcontributing team member – contributes individual capabilities to the achievement of group objectives and works effectively with others in a group setting

Øcompetent manager – organizes people and resources toward effective and efficient pursuit of predetermined objectives

Øeffective leader – catalyzes commitment to, and vigorous pursuit of, a clear and compelling vision, thereby stimulating higher performance standards

Øexecutive – builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will

·the difference between the fourth and the fifth levels of leadership is humility

·great leaders are committed to “doing the work to get the job done,” and they do not care who gets the credit; to them, what matters is what gets accomplished

·“power” should not be confused with “leadership”

·leadership exists only when people follow someone when they have the freedom to not follow that individual

·great leaders build a culture of discipline

·disciplined action is not about what is done; instead, it is about discipline to not do something or to cease doing it

·discipline should be “married” to creativity to make great things happen

·when the right people are “in place” and it does not matter who gets the credit, great things can happen

·a good company can return to greatness through many people working together

·the “signature” of mediocrity is chronic inconsistency

·truly great businesses are led by someone whose goal extends beyond just making money

BANKING REGULATION AND THE DODD-FRANK ACT

Buzz Gorman, Conference of State Bank Supervisors

·the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is the primary regulator of banks chartered under the National Bank Act

·with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the US Congress rebalanced state-federal interaction regarding banking

·when the states identify gaps in consumer protection, they can act

·pre-emption determinations are now to be made on a case-by-case basis

SITING RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES: ROADBLOCKS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Robert Orndoff, Dominion

·the utilities industry is the least innovative industry in the United States; the industry needs to invest in research and development in order to increase efficiency

·the existence of shale gas in a number of states is putting downward pressure on the price of natural gas

·there are a number of siting challenges:

Øcosts of new generation

Øcompeting priorities

Øfederalism

Ølimited means and costly policy ends

John Lichtenberger, Sunedison

·regarding siting, collaboration and consultation are needed, and these activities should occur up front and with all relevant stakeholders

·there are “rich” opportunities to develop renewable energy sources across the United States; for example, brownfields provide opportunities

CAUCUS STRATEGIC PLANNING

Christopher Rants, The Legacy Foundation

·when engaging in strategic planning, participants should leave the workplace in order to remove distractions; for example, they should take a retreat

·an external facilitator should be used by companies engaging in strategic planning, since he or she would not have a vested interest in the outcome

·every participant in a strategic planning exercise should “buy into” the process, even if not the result

Anna Fairclough, Member of the Alaska House of Representatives

·no legislator can be successful alone; there is a need to partner in order to gain support

·a facilitator needs to have credibility with participants

·the world has become a place of 3-5 second sound bites

Marilyn Lee, Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives

·it is important to stay focussed on priorities

·success is perhaps greater when proposals are designed in such a manner that they have the support of the majority

STRONG LEADERSHIP TURNING AROUND LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS

Jon Schmidt-Davis, Southern Regional Education Board

·low-performing schools sometimes share common characteristics, a number of which are deep-seated and will take a great deal of effort to fix:

Øteachers offer instruction that is not engaging

Øthe school is in chaos

Øeveryone has low expectations of everyone else

Øthere is a culture of fear, a lack of trust and an absence of hope

Øall systems are broken

·“turnaround principals” may share certain characteristics:

Øcourage

Øintelligence

Øemotional intelligence

Øhope

Øenthusiasm

Øgood communication skills

·there are a number of policy levers for “turnaround principals”:

Øgive turnaround jobs to experienced professionals

Ørequire and provide intensive and extended training

Øidentify leaders with values, beliefs and courage

Øreduce funding inequities

Øgive principals more autonomy and authority over personnel decisions

Øimprove the overall quality of teachers

Øgive turnaround leaders the authority to make big changes

Øset expectations that are high but not impossible, and hold people to account

Øsupport the leader as part of a team

Øsupport a turnaround for the long term

Richard Middleton, San Antonio Independent School District

·language difficulties and poverty can affect the productivity of students

·empowering parents can improve student outcomes

·there is a need for “spirited” principals who are supported and for challenging curricula

·educational institutions should ensure that they are connected to businesses, so that learning can be connected to making a living

·support systems should tolerate failures, which can be used as opportunities from which to learn and make changes

·there is a need to create an environment of excellence; that said, it should be remembered that test scores are only one part of the “puzzle”

·education should begin no later than age 4

FAMILY ECONOMIC SUCCESS

Patrick McCarthy, Annie E. Casey Foundation

·legislators must make decisions today that will have impacts for years to come

·legislators must focus on two things simultaneously – today and the future – and these things are often in tension

·predictors of a child’s future include whether he or she grew up in:

Øa household with adequate income

Øa strong family

Øa location that is a good place in which to live

·growing up in poverty has fiscal and human costs

·in the United States, the child poverty rate in 2009 was the same as that in 1990; the recession eliminated improvements in the child poverty rate since 1990

·the indicator for a child at risk of poverty is the unemployment of a parent; in the United States, in 2010, 11% of all children – or 7,757,000 children – had at least one parent who was unemployed

·4% of all US children, or 5,288,000 children, have been affected by foreclosure since 2007; as well, children have been forced out of rental homes because the landlord has been affected by foreclosure

·children who grow up in low-income families are less likely to “navigate” life’s challenges successfully and to achieve future success

·early investments in children are critical, and achieving better outcomes with respect to children is the most effective way in which to create better productivity and prosperity

·a two-generation investment strategy includes a number of elements:

Øparents should be helped to allow them to put their families on a path to economic success

Østrategies should be established to enhance a child’s overall development

Øunemployment insurance structures should be strengthened and modernized

Øforeclosure prevention should be promoted

Øprograms that supplement poverty-level wages, offset the high costs of child care, and provide health insurance for parents and children need to be preserved

Øsavings and asset protection should be promoted

Øresponsible parenthood should be promoted

Øaccess to prenatal care for pregnant women should be expanded

Øit should be ensured that children are developmentally ready to succeed in school

Øreading proficiency by the end of the third grade should be promoted

·although policy makers face difficult budget decisions, they must put strategies in place – and act on those strategies – to ensure a more vibrant society for children

FED UP: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Rick Perry, Governor of Texas

·the “bulk of the work” gets done at the state level

·states are positioned to deal with the problems that they face

·each state has the right to govern its affairs in its own unique way and to explore its own solutions

·jobs are not a statistic; rather, they are a way of life, and they bring security and opportunities

·policy makers should make decisions that ensure that the greatest number have the most opportunities to improve their lives

·governments do not create jobs; jobs are created by businesses

·it is not possible to tax and spend the way to prosperity

CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU: THE UNIQUE BUREAU

Gail Hillebrand, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

·in addition to the federal government, US state legislators and regulators play a role in protecting consumers

·local and state legislators and policy makers often see problems first

·states are key partners and key sources of information

·the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has five statutory objectives:

Øensure that consumers have timely and understandable information to enable them to make responsible decisions about financial transactions

Øprotect consumers from unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices as well as from discrimination

Øreduce outdated, unnecessary or overly burdensome regulations

Øpromote fair competition by enforcing federal consumer financial laws consistently

Øadvance markets for consumer financial products and services that operate transparently and efficiently in an effort to facilitate access and innovation

·the CFPB helps to make consumer financial markets “work” by making rules more effective, by consistently and fairly enforcing those rules, and by empowering consumers to take more control over their economic lives

·consumers should be able to see the price and risks up front, and should be able to make product comparisons with relative ease

Robert Cook, Hudson Cook

·at this stage, it is too early to know how the CFPB will operate

·there is a lack of US Congressional budget oversight with respect to the CFPB

·with the CFPB, power is concentrated in a single director; this situation is rare for a government agency

·the CFPB has the ability to define who or what it regulates, and how it regulates; this ability is relatively unique

·the CFPB has broad regulatory powers, including definition of the term “abusive”

·there are many regulatory authorities at the federal and state levels

·although the CFPB will be data-driven, the uses to which the data will be put is unclear

·the CFPB has made significant efforts to reach out to the industry, and has a very impressive staff recruited from the regulatory, consumer advocacy and industry “worlds”

·the CFPB is a game-changer for industry, which will have to think carefully about product development and marketing

·new financial products should provide benefits, be fair and balanced, have clear and simple contracts, and have disclosures that are clear, concise, accurate and large enough to be read

·federal pre-emption has been restricted by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

Buzz Gorman, Conference of State Bank Supervisors

·the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requires the CFPB to coordinate and collaborate with state regulators in three areas:

Øsupervision of state-chartered banks of a certain asset size

Øsupervision of non-bank covered entities

Øregistration of covered entities

·it is critically important that communication, collaboration and cooperation occur, and that efforts not be duplicated

·regarding pre-emption:

Øthe Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act “re-sets” the state-federal balance in a variety of areas, including consumer financial protection

Øoperating subsidiaries of banks are not covered

THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

Stephen Lucas, University of Wisconsin

·public speaking is a form of empowerment

·oratory has seen vast technical changes, yet public speaking survives

·the most important thing is content, or the message; speakers must have something to say

·the message should be adapted to the audience and to the occasion

·the message is enhanced by good delivery of it; the manner in which the message is delivered can make an enormous difference

·there is no single effective delivery style

·speakers should try to deliver the right words to the right people at the right time in the right place

·public speaking is culture-specific

THE CRITICAL LINK BETWEEN HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE ECONOMY

Kenneth Poole, Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness

·higher education leads to higher lifetime earnings

·higher education can contribute to economic development in a number of ways:

Østudent learning

Øbasic and applied research

Øcommunity engagement

Øworld-class talent

·higher education reform should focus on:

Øaccess

Øaffordability

Øquality

Øaccountability

Østudent preparation

Øcompletion rates

Øengagement

·employers want employees who are able to solve problems

·the research agenda should be tied to the needs of society and the economy

·curricula should continuously evolve to meet the changing needs of businesses

·knowledge-based businesses like to be located close to educational institutions

·there are certain key principles to remember when selecting state policy options:

Øuse outside perspectives to guide teaching, research and other reforms

Ørecognize higher education as part of a larger continuum

Ørespond to the changing skill mix required of faculty and students in order to respond to society and industry shifts

Øproactively monitor and support effective efforts to promote demand-driven higher education reforms

Øestablish ways to create economies of scale across the entire higher education system

·attention should be paid to the needs of industry

·since funds for research are diminishing, there is a need to be more directional in supporting research

Bill Hammond, Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce

·connections among business, educators and those with responsibility for economic development must be fostered

·education is a growth engine

·consideration should be given to making some funding for higher education contingent on education completion rates

·students should be encouraged to remain in school, since public funds are wasted when students drop out of school

·more should be invested in the students who have a higher probability of academic success

·goals should be achievable

FOOD AND FARM ISSUES FORECAST

Charles Stenholm, Olsson, Frank and Weeda, P.C.

·the US Congressional system is built on compromise, and the system is no longer working

·federal spending must be reduced, and subsidies are no longer affordable; direct payments to farmers are likely to be eliminated

·universities are beginning to realize that each institution cannot do everything; research consortiums are beginning to be established

·both traditional and renewable fuels are needed

·it is not possible to produce food, feed and fibre without energy

·the number one issue is water, rather than oil and gas

·obesity is a serious issue

·the children of today are not sufficiently physically active

·tax reform should occur in a manner that would produce more revenue in a fair and balanced manner

IS IT POSSIBLE TO CRAFT A SENSIBLE ENERGY POLICY?

John Hofmeister, Citizens for Affordable Energy

·the United States has energy “have” and energy “have not” states

·in many US states, 93% of all energy is derived from hydrocarbons, hydropower and nuclear power

·a few US states have made investments in wind, solar and biofuel power, but these energy sources comprise a small part of their energy system

·despite commitments by 19 Congresses and eight presidents, there is no federal energy plan for the future of the nation

·four elements need a plan:

Øsupply

Ødemand

Øinfrastructure

Øthe environment

·the “perversity of partisanship” prevents any bipartisan solution regarding an energy plan

·a legislator’s horizon is tied to the two- or four-year election cycle; consequently, the political timeframe is inconsistent with what the nation needs from an energy planning perspective, since the horizon for energy is decades

·13 federal Cabinet officers govern the future of energy, and 26 Congressional committees govern energy

·the federal political process is broken, unfixable and dysfunctional

·states must focus on their energy needs; at the end of the day, energy is a local concern

·for all practical purposes, nuclear energy has been in “suspended animation” for the last 30 years

POLITICS, POLICY AND POLLS: WHAT AMERICANS THINK

Neil Newhouse, Pollster

·the United States is in the midst of the longest sustained period of pessimism ever measured in the nation, with 92 straight months of voter pessimism

·in the 2006 election, independent voters supported the Republicans; in the 2010 election, independent voters supported the Democrats

·the key to the election may be independent voters

·President Obama’s job approval rating, at 47.5%, is the second lowest in almost 60 years; only President Carter has had a lower rating over this time period

·intensity “drives” energy, enthusiasm and voter turnout

·most US voters viewed the negotiations regarding the federal debt ceiling negatively, which may be bad for incumbents

·another “wave election” is likely in 2012

Peter Hart, Pollster

·in order for the United States to recover, consensus and work “across the aisle” will be needed

·voters want the US Congress to find a consensus and they want the Congress to govern

·the period since the Second World War can be characterized as the “age of excess,” with everything measured by size; that said, the situation is changing and there is now a greater focus on balance and on efforts to live within our means

·the “trust bank” of Americans is empty

·among survey respondents, 25% feel that the United States is headed in the right direction

·at this point, it seems likely that President Obama will have some difficulty winning re-election; that said, he does exceptionally well with his core voters and is liked as an individual

·another “clean sweep” election could occur

POLICY OPTIONS FOR EXPANDING THE ORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE

James Crall, University of California

·in 2011, there are about 182,000 actively practising dentists in the United States, a number that is expected to rise by about 16% from 2008 to 2018; of the 182,000 dentists:

Øapproximately 82% are primary dental care providers

Øapproximately 92% are in private practice, generally as independent owners

·in 2011, there are about 130,000 actively practising dental hygienists, a number that is expected to rise by about 36% from 2008 to 2018; most of these hygienists work as independent contractors or salaried employees in dentists’ office, and 51% work part-time

·the major oral diseases are caries, or tooth decay, and periodontal disease

·the prevalence, incidence and severity of oral diseases varies within populations and across the life span

·the general oral care model consists of periodic visits to dentists for preventive services, diagnostic services and treatment of clinical manifestations; there is an emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment due to the progressive, destructive nature of caries and periodontal disease

·there are a variety of oral health workforce issues, including:

Øthe number, types and characteristics of providers

Øthe distribution of providers and delivery sites

Øthe productivity of providers

Øthe competency of providers, including in relation to culture

Øthe scope of the providers’ practices

Øsupervisory relationships

·there have been a number of policy efforts designed to increase access to oral care, including:

Øloan forgiveness and other measures related to loan repayment

Øsubsidized practice arrangements, such as subsidizing the cost of establishing a practice

Øtraining in relation to primary care services

Øan expanded scope of practice for current providers

Ønew types of providers

·there are five steps for effective state action for addressing oral health workforce and access issues:

Øanalyze and understand the current situation and trends regarding the oral health care workforce and access to oral health services within the state

Øexplicitly define the magnitude and presumed determinants of access and/or workforce problems in relation to oral health

Ødevelop a strategic plan for addressing access to oral health services that clearly identifies the roles and leadership responsibilities of various elements

Øprioritize and implement an action plan to carry out the strategies in light of available resources

Ømonitor the impact of changes and make periodic adjustments to policies and/or programs, and perhaps priorities, to achieve the desired results

·oral health workforce and access issues are complex

·oral health workforce issues should be addressed through broad-based deliberations informed by the best available data

·oral health workforce action plans should be strategic in nature and should recognize that multiple solutions will likely be needed to address underlying determinants that contribute to regional variations in oral care

Julie Stitzel, Pew Center on the States

·there are at least three policy areas that require a focus:

Øprevention, including community water fluoridation campaigns as well as national messaging and strategy development

Øfunding for care, including advocating federal appropriations for oral health programs and Medicaid reimbursement for fluoride varnish

Øthe oral health care workforce, including research on the “economics” of new models and ensuring that there are enough providers to care for children

·evidence-based assessment plus evidence-based discussions result in evidence-based policy solutions

·dental disease is the most common chronic disease among children in the United States; it is five times more prevalent than asthma

·more than 16 million American children go without dental care each year

·83 million Americans lack access to oral health care, including:

Ø4 million who are institutionalized

Ø25 million with severe medical co-morbidities

Ø11 million who live in remote areas

Ø43 million who are economically disadvantaged

·according to one estimate, more than 6,600 dentists are needed in the United States because of shortages and an “improper” distribution of current oral health providers

·in 2008, the number of US dentists retiring began to exceed the number of dentists graduating from dental school

·one proposal involves the creation of a new dental care provider: below the dentist but above the dental hygienist; adding a new provider to the dental team makes sense economically for both dentists and states

·health care reform in the United States will increase demand for children’s dental services; 5.3 million more children will have dental insurance by 2013

·dental services are delivered primarily by private practitioners

·new types of allied oral health care providers can strengthen both the productivity and financial stability of private dental practices, and can make it financially viable for most dental practices to serve Medicaid patients

·expanding the dental workforce may mitigate health-related costs for states; it is estimated that at least $100 million in Medicaid funds are spent each year on hospitalizing children because of dental issues

MOVING BEYOND POWERPOINT FATIGUE

Mark Leutwyler, Dell Inc.

·communicators want to convey their message in a lasting and meaningful way; powerpoint presentations are a tool that can be used to help convey a message, but the speaker should focus on the audience and not on the screen and/or the slide

·powerpoint presentations may contain too much information, and it may be difficult both to read the powerpoint presentation and to listen to the speaker simultaneously

·powerpoint presentations should make it easy for the audience to follow along

·the information in a powerpoint presentation should be broken down into “manageable pieces,” and should illustrate information with a compelling image; the information in the powerpoint presentation can be explained verbally

·each concept or thought should have its own powerpoint slide

·powerpoint slides should be visually interesting and engaging, and should change at the appropriate rate

·powerpoint presentations should not use Clip Art or distracting animations, and a consistent font and colour scheme should be used throughout

·powerpoint presentations should avoid unnecessary text, images, borders, etc.

·the verbal explanation of ideas, rather than the powerpoint presentation, should be the main focus, and a slide should not be displayed until the speaker is ready to talk about it

·in powerpoint presentations, headlines should be complete sentences

·a powerpoint presentation should tell a story, and the presenter should begin by creating a very basic script or “mind map”

·communicators should present facts that back up their assertions, but they should not get “bogged down” in the details

·since an audience is likely to remember only one or two things from a presentation, simplicity is key; the presenter should focus on the main message that he or she wants the audience to remember, and should come back to that main message throughout the presentation as he or she explains it in a clear and specific manner

·information is more easily absorbed if it is focussed

·images are the “language of memory,” so communicators should use visuals

·powerpoint presentations should end with a “Thank you” slide

 

Respectfully submitted,