Projo Politics Blog

Governor Carcieri is headed to Philadelphia tomorrow to talk with his fellow governors about the current economic climate, energy alternatives, and teacher quality during a National Governors Association meeting that is also the anniversary of what is called the first-ever meeting of all of the nation's governors at a White House event convened by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908.

Carcieri , traveling with Mrs. Carcieri and a state trooper, will arrive in Philadelphia tomorrow, for the National Governors Association Centennial Meeting and will be returning to the office on Monday, according to his spokeswoman Amy Kempe.

Among the featured highlights of the meeting: a keynote address tomorrow afternoon by former Democratic President Bill Clinton.

Hosted by Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell, "the four-day meeting will celebrate a century of state leadership while also addressing issues of critical importance to the nation's future,'' according to a statement on the governors association Web page.

On Sunday, the governors will gather to discuss issues ranging from energy and the environment to education, health care, economic development and homeland security. The association said much of this meeting will focus on (Minnestota) Gov. Pawlenty's initiative called Securing a Clean Energy Future, which emphasizes what states can do immediately and over the long term to reduce energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions while keeping America's economy strong.''

As chairman of the group's Education, Early Childhood and Workforce Committee, Carcieri is slated to lead one of two simultaneous sessions. While one will delve into "current economic conditions and explore how states can respond to financial market disorder,'' Carcieri's group will "will discuss how states use business strategies to attract, cultivate and retain K-12 educators,'' according to an NGA statement.

The association quotes Carcieri as saying: "This session will provide governors with the opportunity to hear from a variety of business leaders about their recruiting strategies and examine ways to implement them throughout their own state education systems. ...With so many new teachers ready to enter the workforce, we are in a unique position to reevaluate our current K-12 workforce investments.''

Speakers for the session include: Ted Hoff, vice president, Center for Learning and Development, IBM Corporation; Andy Rotherham, co-founder and co-director, Education Sector and Timothy Daly, president, The New Teacher Project.

Despite his recent veto of an alternative-energy bill sponsored by the Democratic leaders of the Rhode Island General Assembly, Kempe said Carcieri goes to the meeting as a "a big proponent of renewable energy,'' as evidenced by his recent creation of an advisory panel charged with choosing a contractor to develop and build a wind energy project off the shores of Rhode Island.

Kempe said that the state will pay $714 for the airfare to send Carcieri, his wife and the state trooper; $425 to register the three for the conference; and $756 for their hotel rooms. Others on the governor's staff who are attending are Brian Stern, Beverly Najarian and Janet Durfee-Hidalgo, the Carcieri's education policy adviser.

-- Katherine Gregg, Journal State House bureau

 Tags  education energy National Governors Association President Clinton

Comments

Acela $100 more than airfare? said:

Were you wondering why they are traveling by air instead of rail? Perhaps because the 4-1/2 hour Acela Express costs $100 more than the same Providence to Philadelphia airfare?

Kind of hard to be a "big proponent of renewable energy" when airline people movers are still cheaper than ground transportation.

Link | July 11, 2008 5:54 PM
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