As in past summers at this time, I am attending the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). This year’s gathering is taking place in Chicago, home of the President Obama, and the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox.

Chicago has a huge new conference facility called McCormick Place where all the committees meet in preparing the legislative agenda for the next year for NCSL. And every four years, NCSL invites two national pollsters with differing perspectives to review the political landscape and offer their own analysis of the Presidential race. Neil Newhouse, Republican, and Peter Hart, Democrat. Needless to say, there was no consensus on the status of the race.

Just before the gathering of the politicians and their friends and supporters at NCSL, young people from throughout the United States gathered in a huge nearby park for what is called Lollapalooza—a few days of song, dance and merry-making that is held at a different place each year.

On Tuesday, the legislative work began in earnest with state and Federal representatives exchanging views on existing and proposed legislation. Key among the concerns to be addressed according to State Legislature magazine include controlling health care costs, supporting job growth, finding new revenue and keeping good staff. The work of these sessions will be printed for one final review and adoption by the full body on the last day of the session on Thursday, August 9. 

Delegate Scott represents the 53rd District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He may be emailed at deljscott@aol.com