California Counties: Making an Impact in D.C.
March 2, 2017
Dozens of California county supervisors participated in the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. this week. It was a busy five days of meetings, workshops, policy discussions and visits to Capitol Hill. We asked several attendees to share their impressions from the conference.
Their responses cover a variety of topics including water, opioids, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Please see below to read what these Supervisors and others have to say about NACo Conference: Greg Cox, Leticia Perez, Virginia Bass, Richard Forster, Kevin Cann, John Gioia, Erin Hannigan, Scott Haggerty, Ken Yeager, Damon Connolly, CSAC’s Graham Knaus and Cara Martinson.
San Diego County Supervisor and NACo 2nd Vice President Greg Cox
This annual conference provides a unique opportunity to meet with county leaders across America to discuss federal policy issues that impact their counties, including our counties in California. As Second Vice President of NACo, I was honored to be at the White House on Tuesday for the signing of an Executive Order that provides a more common-sense approach to implementing the Waters of the U.S. rule under the Clean Water Act; something NACo has been advocating for since 2014.
Kern County Supervisor and CSAC First Vice President Leticia Perez
It was striking to be at our congressional breakfast and be briefed by progressive icon Rep. Barbara Lee who was followed up by former Reagan advisor Rep. Dana Rohrabacher. Both members brought such incredible insight into a remarkably uncertain time. I walked away feeling like I had the most relevant and timely intel on matters that matter to me and my county the most.
Humboldt County Supervisor and CSAC Second Vice President Virginia Bass
Every time I attend an event such as this, the simple act of talking to people who understand what my county is going through validates that we are not alone. That is probably the most important piece I carry away. It provides me with renewed enthusiasm to fight for what I believe is right for my Community.
One specific example is the opioid epidemic that is running rampant through the United States. For some time now in my community I have said that we need to de-stigmatize addiction and substance use and start dealing with it as the disease it is. When I attended the NACo Townhall on that subject, I heard two of the panelists say the same thing. “Until we OWN it we can never CONTROL it” I knew at that moment that I wasn’t going to stand back anymore and that I was going to be a very vocal advocate for this issue in my community. I have been working on this issue behind the scenes too long and this has motivated me to take more direct action. Sometimes I can’t help but think about the phrase “misery loves company” but more importantly I am reminded that learning from the successes and failures of other counties is how we all become stronger and more prosperous.
Amador County Supervisor and CSAC Immediate Past-President, Richard Forster
When I attend national forums like the NACo Legislative Conference, I look for any information that can help our California counties. Good news from the Rural Action Caucus that the USDA has funding through low-interest loans to help with some health care issues. This is part of the NACo effort to elevate rural health. NACo is engaging with the new administration and will advocate for an Office on Rural Policy as part of their Campaign for Renewed Rural Development. Other priority areas are modernizing the nation’s infrastructure, engagement on discussions regarding ACA reform, and working with Congress to withdraw the “Waters of the U.S.” rule.
Mariposa County Supervisor and WIR Second Vice President Kevin Cann
As an officer in the NACO Public Lands Steering Committee and Western Interstate Region, there was definitely a sense of relevance driving interactions at both meetings. Clearly, political norms are turned somewhat upside down right now and the unclear playing field has many local elected officials re-engaging in the fray. Good for us. After NACO committee meetings all day Saturday and Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were entirely consumed with member and committee staff meetings on the Hill. Again, there is a renewed sense of impending action regardless of political affiliation. This isn’t really fun but Hill staff continually remark how impactful it is to hear our positions as they shape legislation on issues which have dramatic impact at our local levels.
Contra Costa County Supervisor and CSAC Past-President John Gioia
The Legislative Conference had several very valuable sessions on best practices to make our criminal justice system safer, more cost effective, and more fair. I especially enjoyed the session “Reinvesting Justice Dollars to Reduce Mental Illness in Jails.” Hearing from both experts at the U.S. Department of Justice and at the county level provided useful information about how counties can implement best practices using grant funding from the federal government. Keep up the good work, NACO!
Solano County Supervisor Erin Hannigan
For the first time at NACo, it felt like all Counties in the country were concerned about the same things in a big way. Continuing the expansion of Medicaid, concern over the re-write of the Affordable Care Act and a curiosity over the promised funding for transportation infrastructure investment were all subjects that we wanted to know more about.
Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty
Every year the NACo Legislative conference brings together the greatest county leaders in the nation to discuss the most important issues facing our local governments, and this year has been no exception. From finalizing resolutions at the Transportation Policy Steering Committee meeting, to my presentation on Understanding the Role of Mega-regions (in Economic Development and Transportation), I’ve been able to listen, learn, and connect with some of the most inspiring leaders in our country on shared priorities across the states. It never ceases to amaze me that Republicans, Democrats, and everything in between, can come together and work together to achieve legislative results that are so important to the constituents we serve. Because at the end of the day, that’s what the NACo Legislative conference is all about: figuring out how to improve the lives of the people in our magnificent counties.
Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager
Attending the NACo Legislative Conference reaffirmed to me that we have a lot of work to do this year. We are entering into a new phase of uncertainty as it relates to the intersection of state and federal policies. For instance, California counties have made great strides in implementing the Affordable Care Act, yet we find ourselves unclear as to what is coming next. It was heartening to connect with officials from other states who are dealing with the same issues.
Marin County Supervisor Damon Connolly
California must continue to be a leader in the national debate over issues that are critical to our local communities, like preserving access to affordable health care, standing up for immigrant rights, improving infrastructure, and protecting the environment. The NACo Legislative Conference enabled us to advocate for these values, both through directly working with county officials from across the country and by taking our case to the halls of Congress and to agencies and stakeholders with key roles in the process. I want to thank CSAC for serving as a key resource and ally in maintaining a strong California voice.
CSAC Deputy Executive Director, Operations and Member Services Graham Knaus
NACo has been a robust opportunity to learn and craft new partnerships through powerful camaraderie and the sharing of ideas from throughout our nation’s 3,069 counties. It is a great reminder of the shared priorities across the country – transportation funding, economic development, payments-in-lieu-of-taxes, health care, and secession planning. It fuels an even stronger drive to tackle challenges with lasting solutions and to apply new ways to provide exceptional service. Throughout the conference, the leadership from California was outstanding, including the CSAC officers, NACo and Western Interstate Region officers, and those serving on the NACo Board and policy committees. It is vitally important for California to maintain our strong national presence.
CSAC Federal Affairs Manager Cara Martinson
The tide on cannabis regulation appears to be changing in Congress. CSAC made the rounds on Capitol Hill this week talking about our priorities, including cannabis regulation. We heard from Representative Rohrabacher (CA- 48), a Republican from Orange County, who is advocating for state’s rights on cannabis regulation. Congressman Rohrabacher is a member of the newly formed Congressional Cannabis Caucus, which includes Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Don Young (AK-At Large), and Jared Polis (CO-02). Law makers appear to be gearing up to take on the Administration which is expected to take a more hard line approach to recreational cannabis legalization.