Kerkman named to post within national state legislatures group

Samantha Kerkman

State Rep. Samantha Kerkman (R-Randall) has been named vice chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Budgets and Revenue Committee for 2011-2012.

NCSL President Stephen Morris, Kansas Senate president, made the appointment.

“I feel honored to represent Wisconsin in a leadership role at NCSL,” said Kerkman. “NCSL is an important group of state legislatures that advocates the states’ agenda at the federal level. I’m pleased to have been nominated to help lead this committee.”

The Budgets and Revenue Committee is one of 12 standing committees of the National Conference of State Legislatures. The standing committees are responsible for developing policy directives that guide NCSL’s states’ agenda on Capitol Hill and within the administration. The directives stress: opposition to unfunded federal mandates, prevention of unnecessary preemption of state laws, protection of state revenue sources, and increased flexibility in state-federal programs.

“Rep. Kerkman brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to the table,” said Morris. “I am pleased that she has accepted the appointment and I look forward to her valuable contributions to state and public policy over the next year.”

NCSL has just completed an active year in representing the interests of the states in Washington D.C. including work on introduction of the Main Street Fairness Act, an extension of the Real ID Act deadline, and obtaining over $16 billion in federal assistance to help cover the cost of federal mandates in Medicaid.

Kerkman has been a member of NCSL for a number of years. She was previously a member of the Budgets and Revenue Committee. She attended a NCSL meeting for fiscal leaders in February of this year.

The National Conference of State Legislatures is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. NCSL provides research, technical assistance, and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states at the federal level.

Kerkman’s  Assembly district includes most of Western Kenosha County.