Thompson Earns "Restoring the
Balance" Award from National Conference of State
Legislatures
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN), Chairman of
the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, has been selected
to receive the 2000 "Restoring the Balance Award,"
presented by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
The award, given annually to national policymakers committed to
federalism and its impact on issues involving state legislators,
was presented to Thompson last night at the NCSL’s Leader to
Leader Dinner in Washington.
"Fred Thompson has been a steadfast and dedicated friend
of federalism," said NCSL President Jim Costa. "He has
demonstrated an exemplary commitment to protecting state
authority and to strengthening intergovernmental relations and
program partnerships."
Thompson's dedication to the principles of federalism and
sound government policy has resulted in the Committee’s
advancement of the Federalism Accountability Act, and Senate
passage of the Regulatory Right to Know Act, the Federal
Financial Information Assistance Management Improvement Act, the
Truth in Regulating Act, and revision of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act.
"Many of us who came to Washington carried a strong
conviction about the wisdom of our constitutional
federalism," said Thompson. "This conviction gets
tested frequently, but it's worth fighting for. The diffusion of
power and creative competition that spring from our federalism
are fundamental to our democracy.
"Our challenge is to work together in a thoughtful and
proactive way to help define the federal-state relationship in
the Information Age," added Thompson. "Both Congress
and the Administration have an important role in restoring the
balance, and I look forward to working with them and the states
to do so." |