Nine prominent citizens from the nation of Bulgaria have arrived in central Iowa for a two-week training program. The Bulgarians in Des Moines represent several top areas of government and they want to learn how to best communicate social reform issues. They’re being hosted by the consulting firm State Public Policy Group, where Tom Slater is president and C-E-O.He says there’s anxiety in Bulgaria as the eastern European nation’s pension system changes from a 100-percent government pension to a participatory plan and a health system with co-pay. Slater says the Bulgarians will be meeting with the youthful leaders of the anti-smoking group Just Eliminate Lies or JEL.Slater says the Bulgarians will also visit the boy’s state basketball tournament and the state capitol where they’ll meet with some members of Governor Vilsack’s staff.
