Legislator, Legislative Staffers Garner National Recognition

A Montana lawmaker and some members of the legislative staff were honored last week at a meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in Louisville, Kentucky.

Rep. Elsie Arntzen, R-Billings, became the first Montanan ever elected to serve on the 60-member NCSL executive committee. NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the nation’s 7,400 state lawmakers and their staffs. It acts as the voice of state legislatures within the federal government.

“I’m delighted at this opportunity to further serve Montanans,” Arntzen said. “I think it’s important that the unique voice of western states be represented at the national level.”

Arntzen has served in the state House of Representatives since 2005. She chaired the House Local Government Committee during the 2009 session and was a member of the Transportation and Business and Labor committees.

She has been a member of the NCSL Women’s Legislative Network since 2005 and last year served as its chair.

Taryn Purdy, principal fiscal analyst in the Legislative Fiscal Division (LFD), received a Legislative Staff Achievement Award from NCSL. Purdy has worked for LFD for almost 26 years. She was acknowledged for her high degree of professionalism and her significant contributions to resolving fiscal and public policy issues before the legislature.

The Legislative Audit Division earned an Impact Award for its 2009 audit report entitled “Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program.” Auditors Nick Hill and Joe Murray conducted the performance audit and made several recommendations for strengthening the program’s strategic planning process and use of program funds in order to improve hunting opportunities for upland game birds.

Based on the findings of the audit, the 2009 Legislature passed a bill revising the program’s funding structure and creating a 12-member advisory council.

For more information about NCSL, visit www.ncsl.org.