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Sen. Moore to share expertise with Argentina’s state legislators
September 18, 2007...As a national officer of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Sen. Richard T. Moore has been invited by NCSL to join its annual international study tour to meet with state legislators from another country. This year, state legislators from Argentina will host the NCSL officers for an exchange of ideas on public policies and legislative procedures. The U.S. delegation will visit several state capitols and meet with Argentine state legislators in Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Neuquen, San Martin de los Andes, and Bariloche. In addition, they will visit the Presidential Palace, known as the “Casa Rosada,” or “Pink House,” which is comparable to the White House in the United States. “The schedule of meetings is pretty intense,” Moore explained. “I’m certainly honored to be invited to share some of my legislative experience and my knowledge of health care issues, as well as to learn about conditions in Argentina,” he stated. The U.S. State Department encourages such cooperative efforts in order to build a better understanding between state level government leaders from America and other nations. Moore added that, “One of the hottest domestic issues in the United States is the influx of immigrants from Central and South American countries. Although it seems that more of the immigrants are from countries in Central America and some of the more northern South American nations, I hope to learn more about the factors driving these people toward our shores and what a rational policy could be for both the United States and Latin America.” Another item on Senator Moore’s agenda is to keep a sharp eye for possible business opportunities in Argentina for Massachusetts companies, especially those in his senatorial district. Moore, who served this year as NCSL Steering Committee Chairman, is the only Massachusetts legislator selected for this diplomatic mission. He is also a member of NCSL’s Executive Committee, and chair of task forces on Homeland Security as well as Health Information Technology. Senator Moore will be accompanied on the trip by Texas State Senator and NCSL Immediate Past President Letitia Van de Putte, Delaware Delegate and NCSL President Donna Stone, North Carolina House Speaker and NCSL President-Elect Joe Hackney, Georgia State Senator and NCSL Vice President Don Balfour, and NCSL Executive Director Bill Pound. NCSL has, for many years, sent legislators and legislative staff to developing nations to help these countries develop democratic institutions. Argentina is more advanced than many countries, but legislators still believe there are many benefits to an exchange of ideas. State legislators in Argentina have expressed an interest in developing oversight capacity over their executive branch counterparts such as in state legislatures in the United States. International delegates are always welcomed at Annual Meetings such as the recent conference held in Boston. Moore, along with House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi were the principal speakers at a luncheon for the 250 International Delegates from 25 countries attending the NCSL 2007 Annual Meeting in Boston. He also met with some of the Argentine legislators from Santa Fe Province who will host the U.S. delegation during their visit. “There is a lot that we need to do to strengthen America’s relations with other countries, and this visit may be another small, but important step in that direction,” he said. The International Programs Department of NCSL, which is coordinating the trip, acts as a liaison between state legislatures and international and regional organizations, foreign embassies, and parliamentarians in other countries, as well as domestic organizations with international interests. Because legislatures are the most representative institution of government, state legislators and staff are in a unique position to support emerging and established democracies to create independent, representative, and well-informed legislative bodies. Drawing upon the substantial resources of NCSL and its member state legislatures, the International Programs Department carries out several types of international programs with foreign counterparts around the globe, including technical assistance projects and legislative exchanges. |