At a press conference today in Indianapolis, DLC Chairman Sen. Evan Bayh, DLC CEO Al From, Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon, Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan, and Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson will announce that the DLC's fifth annual National Conversation will be held in Indianapolis on July 15-17.

The National Conversation is the annual gathering of New Democrat elected officials from around the country, especially from the growing ranks of state and local elected officials involved in the DLC. Last year's event in Baltimore attracted 300 attendees, including more than 180 elected officials, for a series of discussions on how the New Economy and associated quality-of-life issues are affecting state and local economic development strategies. But the real heart of every National Conversation is its policy workshops, where elected officials get the chance to learn about new policy initiatives in a broad range of subjects from crime to the environment to technology.

The 2001 National Conversation is expected to be the biggest yet. Indianapolis was chosen to host the event not only because DLC Chairman Evan Bayh is from the Hoosier state, but also because Indiana exemplifies the heartland regions of the country where New Democrats are increasingly successful in state and local office despite a heritage of Republican domination. New Democrats have won the last four Indiana Governor's races (Evan Bayh in 1988 and 1992, and Frank O'Bannon in 1996 and 2000), and in 1999, New Democrat Bart Peterson became the first Democratic mayor of Indianapolis in more than 30 years.

"The National Conversation is no ordinary political event," said From in a statement. "It is an opportunity for leaders from the federal, state and local governments to discuss and exchange innovative ideas for governing our country." In effect, it's exhibit A in the proud claim of New Democrats that we serve as the "problem-solving wing" of the Democratic Party.