COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND STATE SOVEREIGNTY

MINUTES

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Members Present:  Rep. Kathie Keenan, Co-chair; Sen. Ginny Lyons, Co-chair;

                                                                      John Boomhover; Lawrence Bruce, Jr.; Daniel Brush; Elliot Burg;

                                                                      Dana Eidsness; John Waite

Members Absent:  None

Recording:             CD 2006 – 1, 2

Convene, Introductions

Al Boright, legislative counsel, convened the meeting. He gave the Commission a review of his connection with the issue of international trade and the development of legislation in Vermont. He then requested the members to introduce themselves and prepare to organize the Commission.

Committee Organization

The Commission elected by unanimous voice vote Senator Lyons and Representative Keenan as co-chairs of the Commission.

Review Enabling Legislation – Act 212, Sec. 8

Sam Burr, legislative counsel, reviewed the charge of the Commission.

International Trade Presentation and Questions

Elliot Burg, Assistant Attorney General and a member of the Commission, gave the Commission an overview of the structure of international trade agreements and implications for state and local governments.

Power Point presentation: "International Trade Primer/ What's at Stake for Vermont?"

Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission

Reviewed the structure and operations of the Maine Commission with Curtis Bentley, Maine legislative analyst.

First Annual Report of the Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission

Selected Information from the State of Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission

Future Meeting Planning

Established October 26 from 1-4 as the next meeting to include a presentation from Peter Riggs of the Forum on Democracy and Trade.  The Commission requested Commission staff provide a packet of information in preparation for the next meeting.

The meeting after that was scheduled for November 29 when staff of the California Commission will be in Vermont. 

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Sam Burr

Sam Burr, Legislative Counsel