ST. PAUL, MN – Rep. Jeff Backer (R-Browns Valley) was among a select, bipartisan group of 39 lawmakers to complete a leadership training program that identifies and assists emerging state and provincial leaders in the Midwest.
Rep. Backer met with fellow lawmakers from Minnesota, 10 other Midwestern states, and three Canadian provinces from August 11th to the 15th in Minneapolis for The Council of State Governments’ 23rd annual Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD).
“Participating in BILLD was a very beneficial experience that will help me better serve the constituents of District 12A,” said Backer. “I look forward to applying the skills I learned during this program in order to become the most effective legislator I can be for our communities at the Capitol.”
BILLD was founded in 1995 to help new legislators meet the demands of federal devolution and, in many states, term limits. These two emerging forces have highlighted the shortage of training available for legislators, a void that BILLD aims to fill.
A program of The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Office, BILLD is held in partnership with the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Seminars are conducted by Humphrey faculty, Midwestern legislative leaders, and professional development experts. In addition to courses designed to develop leadership skills, the program analyzes a variety of public policy issues, including health care, U.S-Canada trade, and the regional economy.
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