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Attorneys General Begin Conference Today, Discuss State-Federal Concerns

To discuss homeland security and terrorism, social networking Web sites, methamphetamine use, anti-counterfeiting and piracy initiatives, and other legal and legislative issues.

The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) began its annual Spring Meeting, March 3-5, at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C., today. More than 40 Attorneys General from across the country were expected to attend, as well as representatives from the ranks of trade associations, law firms, federal and state government officials and staff from other interested agencies and associations.

 

As one of the Association's three national meetings held each year, the Spring Meeting allows Attorneys General to discuss a number of complex legal issues, including homeland security and terrorism, social networking Web sites, methamphetamine use, anti-counterfeiting and piracy initiatives, recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court, federal legislation and other substantive legal areas of interest.


"This is a critical meeting for all of my colleagues as we convene in the nation's capital to discuss many of the shared issues facing our jurisdictions across the country," NAAG President and Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said. "Washington, D.C. is a natural backdrop for our discussions as we consider how to improve state-federal cooperation, protect federal funding for many of our victims' rights and other programs and work together to ensure that states' rights are protected from preemptive federal legislation."


"This forum allows us to meet with federal leaders to discuss our concerns in person and collectively find solutions to complex legal and policy issues by combining our time, talent and resources through multistate efforts," President Wasden added.


Attorneys General will be meeting with Bush Administration officials at the White House today, in addition to a number of other key national figures throughout the week, including: U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, U.S. Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey, U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement and John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Other special guests include: Stewart Baker, assistant secretary for policy with the Department of Homeland Security; Margaret Peterlin, deputy undersecretary of commerce and deputy director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; Ernie Allen, president and chief executive officer for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall; Thomas M. Siebel, founder and chairman of The Meth Project; and former U.S. Solicitors General Ted Olson and Walter Dellinger. Former Pennsylvania First Lady Michele M. Ridge, wife of former Governor Tom Ridge, is slated to appear to discuss an innovative project called Vision of Hope, launched by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. The project is devoted to ending child sexual abuse.