PNA, Jan. 17

Government Affairs Conference 2008

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We’ve been working hard at PNA to put together a lively and topical annual Government Affairs Conference. We kick off on Wednesday, Jan. 30, with the traditional luncheon speaker -- Gov. Rendell’s Secretary for Legislative Affairs, a long-time fixture and go-to guy at the Capitol, Steve Crawford. He'll brief us on the Governor’s energy and health care plans, and take your questions!

We’ll move from there to the national scene, with “Pennsylvania: Red, Blue or Purple?,” moderated by professor-pollster-pundit Dr. Terry Madonna of Franklin and Marshall College, with panelists Dr. John McLarnon, presidential scholar and professor of history at Millersville University, and state Capitol journalists Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and John Baer of the Philadelphia Daily News.

Responses to our citizen lobbying blog, www.passopenrecords.org, illustrate the high level of interest and great potential of the new technology for journalism. Our panelists include our blogger advocate, Jamie Blaine, along with three top journalist bloggers -- John Micek, Pennsylvania statehouse reporter for The (Allentown) Morning Call, Bob Heisse, executive editor of the Centre Daily Times in State College, and Brett Lieberman, The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News’s reporter in Washington, D.C. Can you say things in the blog that you don’t put in the paper? Does online content change what is published? Is there more than one way to approach a blog? Come hear and ask questions.

The next morning we’ll have the annual freewheeling Q&A sessions with legislative leaders. We’ll start with the Senate -- Democratic Whip Michael O’Pake and Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi. Will his Senate Bill 1 be on the Governor’s desk by then? The House will follow -- Speaker of the House Dennis O’Brien and Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, along with a representative of the House Republican leadership.

Finally, our closing session takes a slightly different approach to legislative issues from recent years. Regular conference-goers know that we’ve had in-depth discussions on topics as varied as transportation funding, lobbying reform and health care. This year’s closing panel looks at “Legislative Priorities and Parties” and explores the challenges a legislator faces when pursuing personal issues -- what kind of give and take is needed, remembering that everyone is also part of a caucus, the differing tactics needed overall or within one’s party. Four articulate and effective advocates for their initiatives will offer their varied perspectives on this issue of importance to all legislators.

As always, we hope you’ll come to town for both days and make plans to see your state legislators over a cocktail or dinner on Wednesday, Jan. 30. It’s a session week, and something special could be happening with Senate Bill 1!

[CONFERENCE DETAILS AND REGISTRATION]

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