OKLAHOMA CITY -
On the second day of the National Governors Association's summer meetings, governors, their teams, and policymakers convened on Friday to address pressing issues that affect states across the country.
While some discussions took place behind closed doors, there were also open sessions available to all invited participants.
One of the highlighted sessions focused on Artificial Intelligence, where Eric Holcomb, the former Republican governor of Indiana, shared insights. As co-chair of the nonpartisan nonprofit Raise Us, he emphasized the need for collaboration to prepare the workforce for an AI-centric future. “Having a partnership with the National Governors Association that is closely aligned on this issue allows us to reach out to these fifty different laboratories of democracy,” Holcomb stated.
Another significant focus on Friday was healthcare. Dr. Mehmet Oz, now serving as the administrator for the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, engaged in a roundtable discussion with the governors. He highlighted the financial burden posed by poor quality care, pointing out that inadequate services lead to increased costs due to the need for corrections and the exacerbation of downstream health issues.
Throughout the day, a recurring theme was the importance of bipartisanship and collaboration across party lines. This spirit of cooperation is something the NGA aims to enhance with the announcement of a new initiative called the Center for Dignity in Politics. Tim Shriver, the newly appointed chair of this center, remarked, “Our country is yearning for a cultural shift.”
The conference will conclude on Saturday in Oklahoma City, where Governor Kevin Stitt will officially hand over the chairmanship of the NGA to his successor, Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
