July 26, 2008
N.C. House Speaker Hackney to Lead National Legislative Organization
NEW ORLEANS - North Carolina Speaker of the House Joe Hackney has taken the helm as president of the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan organization that serves the nation's 7,382 state lawmakers.
Speaker Hackney was sworn into office during a ceremony at the NCSL Legislative Summit in New Orleans. As the voice of state legislatures within the nation’s federal system of government, NCSL is poised to tackle many challenges during his 12-month tenure.
“NCSL is an important voice in the ongoing discussions between state and federal leaders and I intend to continue that tradition in the year ahead," Speaker Hackney said. "Our recent lobbying has helped North Carolina and other states bring in or save billions of dollars for children's insurance and transportation, among other items, and to improve REAL ID legislation. I’m excited to work with my colleagues around the country on vital issues that will make all of our states better places to live.”
Just this year, NCSL urged the federal government to include increased funding for rural development and the food stamp program in the re-authorization of the Farm Bill, which helped shape the final legislation that was passed into law in May. NCSL’s lobbying efforts and action calendar includes debate on federal changes to Medicaid regulations that resulted in Congress enacting a temporarily moratorium on the new rules. The lobbying priorities are determined through the work of NCSL’s 10 Standing Committees, which meet during the Legislative Summit.
Speaker Hackney will play a key role in advocating the organization’s priorities in the next year including:
- New Medicaid regulations,
- REAL ID, a measure to standardize state-issued driver’s licenses,
- Federal Highway Trust Fund, which supports both highway and transit programs and needs improvements to its financing mechanisms,
- Re-authorization with state-friendly changes to the No Child Left Behind Act.
Speaker Hackney, a Democrat, succeeds Delaware Representative Donna Stone, a Republican, to the post of NCSL president. The position alternates between the two parties each year.
“Speaker Hackney is dedicated to transparency in government and brings this openness to his position,” said NCSL Executive Director William T. Pound. “His effective leadership style will prove to be a valuable asset to the organization and to state legislators in all 50 states.”
In 2007, Speaker Hackney received NCSL's Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award, the nation’s top honor for state legislators.
Speaker Hackney was elected speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives in January 2007 at the start of his 14th term in office. During his tenure, Speaker Hackney has been one of the General Assembly’s leading advocates for openness in government and ethics and lobbying reforms. Speaker Hackney has also been responsible for much of the significant environmental legislation in North Carolina for the past 25 years. Prior to becoming speaker, he was the House Democratic Leader for one term, House majority leader for one term and the speaker pro tempore for two terms.
NCSL is a 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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