AUGUSTA – Twenty five Maine lawmakers are expected to attend this week’s annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures in Seattle at a cost to the state of between $1,500 and $2,000 each, but it is money well spent, argue lawmakers.

“Some years it costs more than others,” Sen. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake said, “but it is worth it for the information and ideas people can bring back.”

Martin served as president of the NCSL when he was Maine Speaker of the House and continues in a leadership role that started when he helped form the organization 30 years ago. Martin’s expenses to attend the meeting are paid by the NCSL.

“We put together three different organizations into one,” he said. “I think it has been successful in helping legislators across the country and it has helped with so many problems. The number of ideas, of better ways to do things, have just been incredible over the years.”

Maine’s current top legislative leaders agree. House Speaker John Richardson, D-Brunswick, serves on the NCSL executive committee and will be attending the conference. He believes it is money well spent.

“I think it is whatever the member puts into it,” he said,” I have found them very informative and helpful and I have received positive comments from members about he programs.”

Richardson said he uses an informal process to determine who attends. He said a lawmaker has to ask to attend, and express what areas of interest they plan to be involved with at the meeting.

“I can tell you I have no hesitation about the members I am sending,” he said.

Neither does Senate President Beth Edmonds, D-Freeport. She is not attending this year’s meeting, but has attended past sessions. She uses a similar, informal process to determine the senators that attend this and other types of out of state meetings.

“We have very good people here that want to do right,” she said. “I am sure somebody will spend a little too late, one night, somewhere, enjoying themselves, but I think people will be putting their attention on the sessions.”

Edmonds said there are dozens of sessions on the broad array of issues facing all of the states. She expects lawmakers will bring back ideas that will help the state.

Rep. David Trahan, R-Waldoboro, said the impetus for the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, legislation he sponsored, was at an NCSL meeting a few years ago.

“When I went to one of the previous meetings it was to help design the statue and get the connections to bring this office here, ” he said. “I think that was a successful use of my going to the conference.”

This year, he said, his focus will be on how the office of state auditor works in other states. He believes Maine’s office needs an overhaul.

“I am not happy with the way our state auditor’s office is structured,” he said, “so I hope to pick up ideas from what other states are doing.”

Among the freshmen lawmakers attending are Sen. Dana Dow, R-Waldoboro. He said the state needs tax reform and he wants to see what ideas are being used in other states to not only lower tax burdens, but make the tax structure fairer.

“We need to revamp our whole tax system, “he said, “We have a weak sales tax in the sense that when we do have a recession, we have huge swings in the income that comes in. We need some stability and predictability.”

Sen. Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, served in both the House and Senate before his election last year and is co-chair of the legislature’s Judiciary Committee.

He said there are many complex legal issues facing the states and he will be attending sessions addressing ways the states are responding.

“The eminent domain ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court is an example, “he said, “most states are trying to fashion a response to that, and we are as well.”

Budgets, interstate commerce, education, public utilities, environment, health and human services as well as nuts and bolts sessions on how to chair a committee meeting are on the agenda. In all, over 100 committee meetings, seminars and discussion sessions are scheduled.

Some committees start work Tuesday, but most of the seminars and meetings are held from Wednesday through Saturday.

List of lawmakers attending Seattle conference

Here is the list of lawmakers attending as provided by the Senate President and Speaker of the House:

Senators

Sen. Barry Hobbins, D-Saco

Sen. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake

Sen. Nancy Sullivan, D-Biddeford

Sen. Elizabeth Schneider, D-Orono

Sen. Joe Perry, D-Bangor

Sen. Richard Nass, R-Acton

Sen. Jonathan Courtney, R-Sanford

Sen. Dana Dow, R-Waldoboro

House

Rep. John Richardson, D- Brunswick, speaker of the House

Rep. David Trahan, R-Waldoboro

Rep. Edward Dugay, D-Cherryfield

Rep. Richard Brown, R-South Berwick

Rep. Sean Faircloth, D-Bangor

Rep. Ben Dudley, D-Portland

Rep. Roberta Muse, R-Fryeburg

Rep. Mark Bryant, D-Windham

Rep. Michael Dunn, D-Bangor

Rep. Charles Fisher, D-Brewer

Rep. Deborah Pelletier-Simpson, D-Auburn

Rep. Bob Duplessie, D-Westbrook, assistant House majority leader