"Restoring the Balance" Award

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."

http://hsgac.senate.gov/030201_thompson_press.htm