Sen. Thompson appointed to SLC committees

State Sen. Roger Thompson has been appointed to serve on the Executive Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) of the Council of State Governments (CSG). The appointment was made by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz who also named Thompson to the Fiscal Affairs and Government Operations committee.

A nonpartisan organization, CSG is a region-based forum fostering the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy. It is the only organization of its kind serving all three branches of state government. “I am grateful to Pro Tempore Schulz for these appointments. These and others enable me and my counterparts from other states in our region to share innovations aimed at addressing challenges our states are facing,” Thompson said. “I also like that this organization includes members of all three branches of government.”

This year’s SLC meeting will be held next month in St. Louis, Missouri.

“I know there will be a great deal of interest in the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on internet businesses allowing the collection of sales taxes,” Thompson said. “The ever-increasing shift to internet purchases has placed our local businesses at an unfair advantage, resulting in lost jobs and costing hundreds of millions of dollars that could have provided much-needed resources for schools, law enforcement, healthcare and other core services. The ruling acknowledges a significant economic shift that has impacted every state, county and city in our country. I look forward to discussions on this and many other topics impacting SLC members as we prepare ourselves for the work ahead in the 2019 legislative session.”