August 19, 2005
Illinois Legislator Takes Helm of National Legislative Organization
Texas, Delaware lawmakers also assume leadership posts
SEATTLE - Illinois Senator Steve Rauschenberger today became the president of the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan, nonprofit organization that works on behalf of the nation's state legislatures. Senator Rauschenberger, a Republican, succeeds Maryland Delegate John Hurson, a Democrat. As a bipartisan organization, the position of NCSL president alternates each year between the two major parties.
"Senator Rauschenberger has been an asset to the organization in so many ways," said NCSL Executive Director William Pound. "His ability to forge consensus and reach across party lines will be a valuable resource to NCSL and its lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill this year."
Senator Rauschenberger serves as the assistant minority leader in his chamber. He has been a member of the Illinois Senate since 1992. In addition to his NCSL responsibilities as an executive committee officer, he is co-chair of the Executive Committee Task Force on State and Local Taxation of Telecommunications and Electronic Commerce. From that post, he has staunchly advocated the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Project, which seeks to simplify states' tax systems so they could collect tax on remote sales such as those made via the Web or a catalog.
"I am honored to serve as the leader of a respected organization like NCSL," Rauschenberger said. "I hope that during my tenure, we can build on NCSL's successful record as an effective advocate for states and as a forum for lawmakers to exchange and debate ideas."
Former NCSL President Delegate Hurson is now the president of NCSL's Foundation for State Legislatures. Susan Clarke Schaar, clerk of the Virginia Senate, ascended to NCSL Staff Chair. She replaces Jim Greenwalt, director of information technology for the Minnesota Senate.
Texas Senator Leticia Van de Putte is now NCSL's President-Elect. She will become president in July 2006. Delaware Representative Donna Stone was elected vice president. Steve Miller, chief of the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau was elected Staff Vice Chair.
Terms begin today for these legislators and staff. They will end at the 2006 Annual Meeting in Nashville.
These legislators were newly appointed to NCSL's Executive Committee:
Senator Michael Balboni, New York
Representative Peter Lewiss, Rhode Island
Representative Sherman Packard, New Hampshire
Speaker Sheldon Silver, New York
Senator Gary Stevens, Majority Leader, Alaska
Senator Maggie Tinsman, Iowa
Senator Donne Trotter, Appropriations Chair, Illinois
Senator John Unger, West Virginia
Mr. Roch Cholette, Quebec National Assembly (International Affiliate Ex-Officio member)
These legislative staff members were newly appointed to NCSL's Executive Committee:
Guy Cherry, Senior Policy Analyst, Maryland
Nancy Cyr, Legal Counsel, Legislative Research Division, Nebraska
Barbara Fellencer, Communications Director, House of Representatives, Pennsylvania
Roderick Welsh, Sergeant-at-Arms, House of Representatives, Texas
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