August 17, 2006
Texas Senator Takes Helm of National Legislative Organization
Delaware, North Carolina lawmakers and Wisconsin and Virginia stafffers also assume leadership positions
NASHVILLE - Texas state Senator Leticia Van de Putte is the new president of the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan, nonprofit organization that works on behalf of the nation's state legislatures.
As president, she will be a voice in the federal system for the nation's 7,382 state legislators - who collectively represent all Americans. She took office today at NCSL's Annual Meeting in Nashville.
"We're looking forward to a productive year with Senator Van de Putte at the helm," said NCSL Executive Director William Pound. "Her experience, her outlook and her candor make her a very effective leader."
Senator Van de Putte, a Democrat, succeeds Illinois Senator Steve Rauschenberger, a Republican, to the post of NCSL president. The position alternates each year between the two major parties.
Also today at the business meeting of NCSL's Annual Meeting:
- Chief of Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau Steve Miller became the new staff chair.
- Delaware Representative Donna Stone ascended to president-elect. She will become NCSL president at the 2007 Annual Meeting in Boston.
- North Carolina House Majority Leader Joe Hackney was elected vice president.
- Director of Information Services for the Virginia House of Delegates Sharon Crouch Steidel was elected staff vice chair.
- Clerk of the Virginia Senate Susan Clarke Schaar became immediate past staff chair.
- Illinois Senator Steve Rauschenberger became immediate past president.
- These new legislator members were elected to the NCSL executive committee: Georgia Senator Don Balfour, Wisconsin Senator Spencer Coggs, Connecticut Representative Denise Merrill, Hawaii Senator Carol Fukunaga, South Carolina Representative Phillip Owens, Florida Representative Dennis Ross, New Jersey Assemblyman Craig Stanley and North Dakota Representative Ken Svedjan. New legislative staff members are: Chief Sergeant at Arms of the California Senate Tony Beard, Jr., Deputy Director of the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee Cathy Fernandez, Committee Staff Administrator of the Kentucky Legislative Research Division Jamie Jo Franklin, and Executive Director of the Illinois Legislative Information Systems Tim Rice.
Incoming President Senator Van de Putte represents a large portion of San Antonio. She is a veteran in her legislature, serving her fourth term in the Texas Senate, following five terms in the House. She is a practicing pharmacist who counts several health-related advancements as legislative achievements. She co-authored the state's children's health insurance plan that now covers more than 250,000 previously uninsured kids. And she sponsored her state's Patients' Bill of Rights, which became a model for the national legislation.
She has also been active in telecommunications. She is currently co-chair of NCSL's Task Force on State and Local Taxation of Telecommunications and Electronic Commerce. In Texas, one of her bills established a do-not-call list and leveled the telecom playing field there, giving consumers more choice and bringing the Internet to rural areas.
The senator is a former president of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators and she helped to establish NCSL's Task Force on Immigration and the States in 2005.
"I am both humbled and excited to become president of NCSL," Senator Van de Putte said. "States can often be active innovators in important policy areas. I love my work in Austin and I am ready for this challenge."
NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
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