Copper Dome Chronicle: 2023 Southern Legislative Conference Recap
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Copper Dome Chronicle, sponsored by Advocatus. We strive for substantive writing with brevity, inspired by the book Smart Brevity. It’s one of the best books about communications and writing we’ve read in years.
This edition is 357 words or less than a 2 minute read. Today we recap the 2023 Southern Legislative Conference held in Charleston, South Carolina (July 8-11) Thanks for reading and sharing; we welcome your feedback and commentary!
1. Largest SLC Attendance in History
The 77th Southern Legislative Conference set an attendance record, somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 participants, as state legislators, legislative staff, governors and their staff, state and federal agencies, representatives from nonprofits and companies, and lobbyists descended upon the Holy City for four nights and three days of programming and networking. Governor Henry McMaster provided entertaining yet substantive opening remarks followed by a very funny monologue, but then serious talk about decision-making, by Trey Gowdy. Senate President Thomas Alexander, many South Carolinians, and the Council of State Governments earned the praise and thanks from the thousands in attendance for a great event.
2. Energy, Ag Policy Panels Popular
There were eleven panels that leaned heavily on public policy: infrastructure banks, regulatory reform, offender reentry programs, energy generation, telehealth, the federal farm bill, K-12 education, consumer lending, electric vehicles (EV), federal funding and taxation, and child welfare. The energy, EV, and farm bill panels were standing-room only and the most discussed during networking time. The panelists held diverse political perspectives but communicated their arguments with congeniality and humor.
The Campaign Against Hunger held a volunteer event where 110,000 meals were packaged to support the Lowcountry Food Bank. It was 45 minutes of organized chaos (and physical workout) but in the end it was for a great cause.
Photo credit: Connelly-Anne Ragley.
Senator Nikki Setzler, currently the longest serving state senator in the nation, was honored by CSG South with its 2023 Thomas B. Murphy Legacy Award. Congratulations Sen. Seltzer!
3. 2024 SLC in West Virginia
The Greenbrier, the famous resort that traces its roots to 1778 and has hosted 28 U.S. Presidents, will be the home for the 2024 Southern Legislative Conference (July 21-25). Depending on one’s location in South Carolina, The Greenbrier is only a 4.5 to 8 hour drive. West Virginia Senate President Craig Blair, who represents a district in the Eastern Panhandle, will chair the conference. The Greenbrier is owned by the Justice family, whose patriarch is West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, though his daughter Jill has been in charge since his election in 2017.
