(’76 Editor) Recovering the Founders’ Constitution in American state and federal government, and reviving the civic virtues and character our Founders saw as indispensable to liberty—one huge challenge in the political realm and another in the cultural realm—these were the action points emerging from “Constitutional Principles for Legislation,” a conference for state legislators from throughout the West, sponsored by the Centennial Institute and the Rocky Mountain Family Council on Oct. 30-31 at Colorado Christian University.
Fifteen state senators and representatives from five states took part, along with participants from think tanks and policy organizations, CCU faculty and students, and guests from metro Denver. The legislatures of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and New Mexico were represented. Schedule conflicts prevented the attendance of interested legislators from Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, and North & South Dakota.
Former US Senator Bill Armstrong, now president of Colorado Christian University, gave the keynote address on “Mapping Our Way out of the Wilderness.” Other speakers and panelists included Jon Caldara of the Independence Institute, Shari Weber of American Majority, Kevin Miller of Vanguard Forum, political scientist Greg Schaller, former Colorado Treasurer Mark Hillman, and Rob Witwer, author of a forthcoming book on liberal takeover strategies in the states. John Andrews and Jim Chapman co-chaired the conference.
We’re already planning the next Constitutional Principles conference for June 2010. If you are interested in attending, please mail us at centennial@ccu.edu.
SATURDAY SESSION: Jim Chapman of Rocky Mountain Family Council (center) opens the second day of the conference with a talk on keeping civil society strong in order to restrain the growth and intrusiveness of government.
SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS: Rep. Timothy Hallinan, CO Sen. Greg Brophy, CO Rep. Cheri Gerou, KS Sen. Karin Brownlee, WY Rep. Pete Anderson, and NM Rep. Tom Taylor pose after adjournment, urging the Centennial Institute to convene another such event next year. We intend to.
