Simpson named to committee

State Senator Vi Simpson, D-Ellettsville, has been appointed to serve on the Legislative Effectiveness Committee, one of 12 standing committees through the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The committee is composed of state legislators from around the country who meet three times a year to discuss their experiences in shaping public policy, managing legislative institutions and experimenting with new laws. 

More than 200 members representing 46 states serve on the committee, including 13 from Indiana.

“Serving on a national committee is a great opportunity to learn of different solutions states are implementing to fix the problems we face here in Indiana,” Simpson said. “Meeting with and learning from legislative leaders in other states is very rewarding.”

Bruce Feustel, senior fellow at the National Conference of State Legislatures, said the committee discusses strategies for improving community outreach, ethics within the legislature, lobbyist relations and leadership.

In the past, discussions within the committee have led legislators to strengthen minority caucuses in their states and implement town hall meetings to encourage citizen engagement in their constituencies, Feustel said.

Simpson said she hopes to learn about new ways to improve Indiana’s legislature.
“The national committee allows us to compare and find improvements in the internal workings of our state legislatures,” she said.

She is particularly interested in what others have to say about more effective rules and procedures within their legislatures. 

In Indiana, there are separate sets of rules for the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as a set of joint rules that governs both houses. Simpson said legislators continually review those rules, making changes whenever necessary. Serving on the committee could inspire new solutions and ideas to improve those rules.

Unlike the National Conference of State Legislatures’ other standing committees, the Legislative Effectiveness Committee does not create policies or lobby in Washington; Feustel said its members are completely focused on sharing the best practices.

“It is valuable in sharing what has worked and, sometimes more importantly, what hasn’t worked in other states,” Feustel said. “It is a gateway to connect legislator to legislator.”