RON THORNBURGH
Secretary of State |
STATE OF KANSAS |
Memorial Hall, 1st Floor
120 SW 10th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66612-1594
(785) 296-4564
www.kssos.org
|
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, July 31, 2001
Contact Information
Jesse Borjon, Communications Director
Office of the Secretary of State
(785) 296-4580
jesseb@kssos.org
KANSAS SECRETARY OF STATE HEADS TO WHITE HOUSE FOR UNVEILING OF MAJOR
ELECTION REFORM REPORT
WASHINGTON, DC—Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh, president of the National Association of
Secretaries of State, announced today that he will take part in an election reform news conference along with
President George W. Bush and members of the National Commission on Federal Election Reform on Tuesday,
July 31, 2001. Thornburgh, who represents the nation’s largest association of top state election officials, said
he is hoping to share the concerns of state and local elections officials with President Bush and commission
members.
“This is an amazing opportunity to discuss how our federal leaders can best assure meaningful election
reform,” said Thornburgh. “Ninety-percent of any election for federal office happens at the state and local
levels, so we’re asking for ongoing block grants to the states for training, education and technology.”
Thornburgh will join other state and federal officials from across the country in the Rose Garden of the
White House for the presentation of the report by the National Commission on Federal Election Reform to
President Bush. The bi-partisan commission was formed after the 2001 election crisis to improve the elections
process. In addition to its active honorary co-chairs, former presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, commission
members include leading citizens such as Slade Gorton of Washington, Daniel Patrick Moynihan of
New York, and former White House Counsel Lloyd Cutler.
The commission held four public hearings across the country this year to discuss election reform issues,
including meetings in Georgia, California, Michigan, and Texas. Several prominent secretaries of state took
part in the hearings. For more information on the National Commission on Election Reform,
visit www.electionreform.org.
The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) is the country’s oldest non-partisan government
association. More than two-thirds of its members are responsible for their respective state elections process.
A recently-released NASS resolution on election reform urges federal leaders to supply ongoing block grants
and establish an “Elections Class” of postage to reduce mailing costs for state and local elections offices. For
more information, visit www.nass.org.
DATE: Tuesday, July 31, 2001
TIME: 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
PLACE: Rose Garden Lawn, White House (Washington, DC)
CONTACT: Jesse Borjon (785) 296-4575
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