Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Legislative leaders establish web links for appointments information

Change will make it easier to find information about boards, commissions

 

RALEIGH  As part of an ongoing effort to increase transparency in government, North Carolina House Speaker Joe Hackney and Senate President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight have made it easier to see who they appoint to various boards and commissions.

 

The chamber leaders have appointment authority for more than 1,500 seats on more than 200 state boards and commissions that have regulatory and licensing functions. That number does not include appointments to standing committees or conference committees within the General Assembly.

 

The information is public, but can be difficult to find online. The information can now be easily accessed through a direct link on the chambers’ websites. Users can view the appointments by date or use a search function to sort the information in other ways.

 

“I am pleased to join Speaker Hackney in posting my appointments to state boards and commissions online,” Sen. Basnight said. “Those who are serving our state on these many boards deserve our appreciation and the people they serve can now have easier access to their names.”

 

“The thousands of people who sit on these government boards volunteer to help make North Carolina better,” Speaker Hackney said. “They are also an extension of our government and though my appointments have always been done publicly and openly, this new link will make it even easier to see who helps advise us and in some cases make policy on the state’s behalf.”

 

The House of Representatives information can be viewed by visiting http://www.ncleg.net/House/House.html and clicking on “Speaker’s Appointments” in the menu on the left side of the page. The Senate appointments list can be accessed by visitinghttp://www.ncleg.net/Senate/Senate.html and clicking on “President Pro Tem’s Appointments” in the menu on the left.

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Legislative leaders form ABC reform study committee

 

Group to examine alcoholic beverage control structure, effectiveness, ethics

 

Raleigh – A new General Assembly study committee will examine the state’s alcoholic beverage control system and discuss ways to reform it, legislative leaders said Thursday.  The Joint Study Committee on Alcoholic Beverage Control, comprised of legislators and a cross-section of public members representing various perspectives, will make recommendations to the General Assembly prior to the legislative session that begins in May. Senator Don Vaughan of Guilford County and Representative Ray Warren of Alexander County will Co-Chair the Committee.

 

“Our ABC system needs to evolve just like any other business,” Speaker Hackney said. “We need to determine how best to make these changes and bring our system in line with modern-day standards of ethics and transparency.”

 

“We already know that we need more accountability and ethics reform in the ABC system.  What we need to explore further is what is working now and what we can improve,” Senator Basnight said.

 

The Committee will consider the following issues:

 

  1. The report of the North Carolina General Assembly Program Evaluation Division on the effectiveness of the ABC system, and its recommended improvement options for the system.
  2. The need for Statewide consistency and uniformity in ABC structures, rules, and ethics standards.
  3. The current compensation structure for both State and local ABC board members and employees and making recommendations for any salary limitations or oversight that might be needed.
  4. The governance structure of local ABC boards, the geographical proximity of local ABC boards, and making recommendations for any changes or reforms.
  5. The amount and distribution of revenues from the current ABC system.
  6. Ethics rules that are currently applicable to ABC Board members and employees, and making recommendations for any ethics rules that should be applied. 
  7. The oversight and accountability of ABC boards, and making recommendations for any increase in oversight or procedures in order to increase accountability.
  8. Whether additional gubernatorial authority over ABC Boards and employees, including the power to remove employees, should be granted.
  9. The issue of privatization of the ABC system, and making recommendations as to the advisability of privatization and any potential savings to the State.  

 

 

President Pro Tempore Appointments

 

Speaker of the House Appointments

Senator Don Vaughan, Co-Chair

Representative Ray Warren, Co-Chair

Senator Charlie Albertson

Representative Larry M. Bell

Senator Stan Bingham

Representative James W. Crawford, Jr.

Senator Dan Blue

Representative Pryor Gibson

Senator Dan Clodfelter

Representative Dewey L. Hill

Senator Fletcher Hartsell

Representative Marvin W. Lucas

Senator Linda Garrou

Representative Edgar V. Starnes

Senator Steve Goss

Representative Fred F. Steen, II

Chief Tim Adams, Gastonia Police, Gaston County

Ronald Bogle, retired Judge of Superior Court, Orange County

Edward Cook, Harris-Teeter Supermarkets, Mecklenburg County

Karen Gottovi, former House member who served New Hanover County, Wake County

Howard Hunter, III, County Commissioner, Hertford County

Walter Harris, Chair of Chatham County ABC Board, Chatham County

Mayor Eddie Maynor, Hope Mills, Cumberland County

Edward Holmes, former House member who served Chatham County, Orange County

Paul Powell, Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association, Guilford County

Bill Hurley, former House member, Cumberland County

Fields Scarborough, Dare County ABC Board, Dare County

Peggy Richmond, Business owner, Orange County

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Recent outside rankings of North Carolina’s business climate
 
#1 

Business Climate  -  Site Selection Magazine, October 2009

Favorite Destination for Retirees - Kiplinger.com, August 2009

Best Place for Data Centers - Tishman Technologies, October 2009

Top 10 Metros for Economic Growth Potential (Charlotte)

Business Facilities, The Location Advisor, August 2009

America’s Smartest Cities (Raleigh-Durham)  - The Daily Beast, October 2009

Fastest-Growing Metropolitan Area in the Country (Raleigh-Cary) - U.S. Census Bureau, March 2009

Top City for Small Business (Raleigh) - Bizjournals, February 2009

Best Places for Business and Careers – Metros (Raleigh) -  Forbes, March 2009 
  

#2

Best State to Do Business In - Chief Executive Magazine, March 2009

Most Competitive State - Site Selection Magazine, May 2009 

America’s 25 Best Places to Move – Population 25,000 + (Charlotte) - Forbes.com, July 2009

Top Five Best Economic Potential – Large Cities (Charlotte) - fDi Magazine, April 2009

Best Place to Start a Small Business (Charlotte)  - Bizjournals.com, February 2009

Best Places for Business and Careers – Small Metros (Greenville)  - Forbes, March 2009 
 

#3

Pro-Business State  - Pollina Corporate Real Estate, June 2009 

Economic Strength Ranking (Charlotte MSA)  - Policorn Corporation, June 2009

Large City of the Future (Charlotte)  - fDi Magazine, April 2009

Most Popular Move Destination (Charlotte Metro)  - United Van Lines, January 2009

Best Places for Business and Careers – Metros (Durham)  - Forbes, March 2009 

Best Places to Launch a Small Business (Raleigh)  - CNNMoney.com, October 2009
 

#5

Best States for Business  - Forbes, September, 2009 

Mind Magnet/Youth Magnet (Charlotte metro)  - Wall Street Journal/Brookings Institution, May 2009
 

#6

Best Places for Business and Careers – Metros (Asheville)  - Forbes, March 2009 

Best Places to Live and Work for Young Professionals – Mighty Micros (Cary)  - Next Generation Consulting, June 2009

Healthiest Housing Market (Raleigh)  - Builderonline.com, February 2009
 

#7

Best Places to Launch a Small Business (Charlotte)  - CNNMoney.com, October 2009
 

 #8

Top States for Nanotechnology - Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, August 2009
 

 #9 

America’s Top States for Business -  CNBC, August 2009

Top North American Cities of the Future (Charlotte) - fDi Magazine, April 2009

Best Places to Live and Work for Young Professionals – Midsize Magnets (Durham) - Next Generation Consulting, June 2009
 

#10 

Overall Biotechnology Strength - Business Facilities, July 2009

America’s Best Cities (Charlotte) - Outside Magazine, August 2009

Speaker Hackney to participate in panel discussion for UNC-Chapel Hill class

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Speaker to discuss university governance, law-making

RALEIGH _ Speaker Joe Hackney has agreed to participate in a panel discussion on university governance as part of a course at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Speaker Hackney will be joined on the panel by Roger Perry, immediate past chair of the university’s Board of Trustees. The pair will speak on Oct. 26 to about 60 students enrolled in the Role of the University in American Life course. They will discuss the making of laws, policies and rules that govern the university.

The class is an opportunity for students to hear from people who are key thought leaders and decision-makers about higher education in general and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in particular. It will begin at 11 a.m. in Room 039 of the Graham Memorial Building, home to the Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence.

Speaker Hackney graduated from UNC in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and earned his juris doctorate from the UNC School of Law in 1970. In 2007, he received the school’s William Richardson Davie Award for extraordinary service to the university.

What:   Speaker Hackney to participate in class discussion at UNC

When:   11 a.m., Oct. 26

Where:  Room 039, Graham Memorial Building, UNC-Chapel Hill campus

Friday, March 27th, 2009

Speaker Pelosi and Speaker Hackney’s remarks to the press following the National Conference of State Legislatures meeting

March 18, 2009

speakers-pelosi-and-hackney

Speaker Pelosi. Good afternoon, or is it now good evening?

We have just left a very lively meeting with the National Conference of State Legislators. I am very pleased to be joined by the president of the conference, Speaker Joe Hackney of North Carolina. It is wonderful to be able to discuss the economic recovery package and how it has an immediate impact on not only the budgets of our states, but also the lives of the people there.

As I mentioned to you earlier, when I was going into the meeting, it gave many of the Members of the Democratic leadership the opportunity to thank this bipartisan group of state legislative leaders for their support in helping to pass the recovery package — to create and save three and a half million jobs, to help the states stabilize their budgets so they will not have to lay off health care workers, teachers, or public safety personnel as well, and also for how we could meet the needs of their states in a positive way and create more good paying jobs.

Speaker Hackney and I have had an ongoing association to work on issues of concern to our country. I have appreciated the knowledge and wisdom and perspective that he has brought to the issues before the Congress and it is an honor for me to be with him today.

Speaker Hackney. Thank you very much Speaker Pelosi. I am here to say thank you to you, for your leadership. I am here to say that the recovery package is, in fact, creating and saving jobs already in my state.

The leaders that we have here today are all engaged in putting together our budgets for next year. In speaking with the other leaders, the recovery act is having an enormous impact in saving jobs that would otherwise have to be cut because we all have balanced budget requirements in our states — all except one I believe. And the jobs that would be cut — teachers, health care workers — all throughout our state government apparatus. These jobs are being saved by this recovery act and putting money on the street and back into our economy.

So we are enormously appreciative to the Congress. We are a bipartisan organization — we alternate our presidency each year between a Republican and a Democrat. My state is North Carolina. Approximately half of our deficit is being covered by the recovery package in the areas of health care and education.

And as I said before, we are enormously grateful. We look forward to a continued relationship. Pleased to be here with you Speaker Pelosi.

Speaker Pelosi. And thank you very much Mr. Speaker. The Speaker and his colleagues put on the table some challenges for the future for us and we look forward to working with you on those.

Thank you again for your leadership and for your coming today. Thank you all very much.

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

State Government Radio - 3/23/2009

Click hear to listen to interview.

House Speaker Joe Hackney says compliance with the federal stimulus requirements is a big concern for many state lawmakers across the country. Hackney, who serves as President of the National Conference of State Legislatures, recently traveled to Washington D.C. where he met with President Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and some of the 60 other NCSL members. In addition to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the meetings touched on issues like education, transportation and health care.  State Government Radio.com capital reporter Josh Ellis caught up with Speaker Hackney to find out more about the trip.

Speaker Hackney creates online audio archive of House sessions

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

Change allows greater access to floor proceedings

March 23, 2009

RALEIGH _ Speaker Joe Hackney has cleared the way for sessions of the North Carolina House of Representatives to be digitally recorded and published online.

The easily accessible archive of each day’s floor session is available by visiting the General Assembly’s website, http://www.ncleg.net. The site has been visited about 1,400 times since the first day of the legislative session on Jan. 28, according to the General Assembly’s Information Systems Division.

“I want the people of North Carolina to understand what happens in the House of Representatives. That’s essential to good government,” Speaker Hackney said. “Recording our sessions and making that audio available to anyone at anytime allows everyone a chance to follow our votes and debates. It’s truly an easy, cost-effective way to provide access.”

Previously, the House broadcast live streaming audio of its sessions online, but didn’t record or archive them. The change in procedure won’t cost any additional money, Information Systems Division officials said. The General Assembly has sufficient storage space for the archive and didn’t have to purchase any additional software.

Groups that advocate for more open government praised the change.

“The work of the NC House of Representatives is now truly the people’s business,” said Jane Pinsky, director of the
NC Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform. “Previous sessions of the House are now as close as the click of a computer key. Teachers will be able to use past sessions to teach their students about how our government really works and citizens will be able to know what their representatives are doing for them.”

“We are very pleased with the Speaker’s decision to archive the audio recordings of House sessions,” said Damon Circosta, executive director of the NC Center for Voter Education. “This allows anyone across the state to listen in on the people’s business at anytime. Once again the House is leading the way by helping foster a more informed citizenry.”

“This is another important step in providing the citizens of our state greater transparency of the people’s business,” said Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause NC. “It’s the kind of access the public wants and expects in today’s high-tech information age. It will help strengthen our democracy.”

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

February 2, 2009

"Commissioner Long was one of the most dedicated public servants in the history of our state and I am honored to have worked with him.  During his years in office, he managed the difficult task of keeping our insurance rates among the lowest in the nation while also helping to keep our insurance industry one of the strongest.  We also shared a connection to Alamance County, his home and my occasional workplace while I was an assistant district attorney.  I will miss his humor and we will all miss his service. "

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

January 28, 2009

Thank you, Madame Principal Clerk,

Madame Chief Justice,

Judge Buckner,

Speaker Blue,

Speaker Brubaker,

Majority Leader Holliman,

Minority Leader Stam,

Bill Pound, Executive Director of the National Conference of State Legislatures,

Members of the 2009 North Carolina House of Representatives,

All our families and friends assembled here,

And all others who have come here today for this occasion or who can hear my voice,

Thank you.

Members of this House:

We face great challenges. This is our time to do something worthy to be remembered.

Nearly one in every 11 working people in this state is out of work, the highest proportion in more than 25 years. And hard times threaten those who are still working. North Carolinians need effective government more than ever, and we, as their representatives, must exercise the full measure of our energy, our judgment, our ingenuity, and our resolve, on their behalf, to accomplish something that endures.

Two years ago, humbled, I asked you, the Members of the House, to join me on a new path to restore distinction to our venerable institution. I asked, as a new Speaker, for your support, your cooperation, and your advice. You gave it willingly and candidly—very willingly, very candidly. Thankfully, there are few shrinking violets in this room. Each of us lends a unique perspective, one born of geography, vocation, schooling, life experience and family.

One academic has noted: “The legislature is not only the first branch of government, it is the branch closest to the people. It is the most representative, with members firmly rooted in their constituencies.”

“No major policy can be adopted, no major program undertaken without legislative involvement and approval. No taxes can be levied or monies spent without the legislature’s go-ahead. Not much can happen in state government unless the legislature is on board.”

The people of this state, through our Constitution, have granted their legislative authority to this General Assembly. It is up to us and our colleagues in the Senate, to use that power with humility and restraint. We are not here for ourselves.

In this House of Representatives, the office of Speaker is not a command position, but a position dependent for its success on the good will and cooperative spirit of the House members. Together, last session, we fashioned an approach to our work that allowed us to address the issues of the day in an orderly, thorough and responsible way, while at the same time allowing a refreshing renewal of civil and robust debate.

We worked well together last session. Think about what we did together.

Your work relieved our counties of the sometimes crushing burden of Medicaid costs. You expanded health care options for those with mental illness or high-risk diseases. You turned this state into an international leader in the fight against cancer. You advanced the cause of justice in capital cases. You ensured that an increasing amount of the energy we use will come from renewable sources such as the wind and sun. You formally acknowledged our painful history of slavery and racial discrimination. You respected our state’s reputation for fiscal integrity. You expanded our investment in education. You enforced new laws on ethics and campaign finance reform. You did what was right to protect this institution, and to restore the public’s confidence in it.

That work came in the face of a crisis of ethics. The challenge was great, and you met it.

Our work today comes as we face a greater challenge—a financial crisis largely not of our making, against the backdrop of a nation at war.

I think we ought to take a moment to thank our military and their families. We are grateful that so many have answered the call to watch over us and protect the way of life that is our privilege, indeed our right. It is their visible commitment that allows for our peaceful transfer of power, for our spirited debate, and our right to disagree. Many of them have fought and died for our freedom. Let us all stand together now, and pause for a moment to honor their service to our country.

The spirit of our fighting men and women, their selflessness and dedication to cause, remind me of the words of Daniel Webster, foremost among legislators in our nation’s history: These words are incised in marble on the wall of the chamber of the United States House of Representatives, directly behind the Speaker’s chair.

“Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its powers, build up its institutions, promote all its great interests, and see whether we also, in our day and generation, may not perform something worthy to be remembered.”

In decades to come, those judging us will examine what we choose to do today. Our nation and our state have demonstrated capacity for success as a result of crisis. The Great Depression resulted in the largest public works investments in the history of our nation. World War II led to the creation of the GI Bill, which then encouraged the growth of the middle class. Just down the road in Kannapolis the collapse of a textile giant offers promise of a new research campus that could revitalize a regional economy, change accepted views of nutrition, and transform the way we fight disease.

What can we do now that will be remembered? The task is daunting. When revenues are high and surpluses mount, bold new initiatives can excite the imagination and stick in the memory. But now we will toil on the other side of the tracks where revenues are low and deficits loom. Thomas Friedman reminds us that “a series of great opportunities are disguised as insoluble problems;

Will we create a new green economy with tens of thousands of new jobs?

Will we modernize our transportation system?

Will we move our state away from dependence on foreign oil?

Will we devise more effective ways to keep our students in school until they graduate?

We can do it.

Justice Brandeis first labeled state legislatures as “laboratories of democracy.” It was his belief that state legislatures could courageously adapt to the needs of the day more quickly and completely than any other arm of government. It is true. We are the vanguard of public policy experimentation.

We can do it.

My confidence in our abilities stems from the solid foundation established by those who came before us. We do not start from scratch as we face these challenges. My confidence stems from my belief in you. Assembled in this chamber are teachers, doctors, lawyers, preachers, artists, business owners, parents and grandparents. Some of you have family roots in this state that reach back hundreds of years and others of you are just settling in. My confidence stems from our collective experience. We are fortunate to have a few who have dedicated years of their lives to the work of this chamber. We have weathered the economic downturns of the past and we have, with careful planning, nurtured deficits into surpluses over time. I believe that this crisis will be no different but for the numbers. In this effort we will have the President and Congress as full partners.

To succeed, we must continue our emphasis on ethics. It must be clear that we are acting in the public interest, not our self-interest. Our work and our finances should be abundantly transparent. Public confidence is critical to our success. I intend to continue the serial referral of bills to committees to ensure that more of our members have better knowledge about the public policy changes we are considering and so that more of you can contribute your ideas. Every member will have time to review conference committee reports before being asked to vote on the House floor, and we will continue to work to keep substantive law changes from appearing in our budget bill.

To succeed, we must maintain our state’s fiscal integrity. Economic conditions will require us to make painful choices about spending and cutting. Other states have mortgaged their lotteries, toll roads and their futures for quick-fix cash to address short-term needs. That is not the North Carolina way. As our Constitution requires, we will balance our budget. It is my resolve that we emerge from this economic crisis with our fiscal integrity intact.

To succeed, we must continue to invest in public education. Our children must be better prepared than ever to compete in the global economy. An excellent education is our expectation. We will continue to support innovative ways to prepare our children for the world.

Even now, not all of our children are succeeding. Almost one out of every three students leaves high school before graduation. Two years ago we established the dropout prevention program. Now we have more than 100 small, innovative dropout prevention programs located throughout the state, each addresses the unique circumstances of these young adults who are at risk of giving up on their education at a time when it is crucial to obtain a high school diploma, a ticket to success.

The diverse economy we enjoy in North Carolina has been built on innovation, creativity, and the powerful engine of higher education. Our community college system is the envy of the nation and our universities are world class. When times are tough our citizens are drawn to them thirsting for knowledge and craving opportunity. We must continue to support them as they train and launch another generation.

To succeed, we must improve public safety; expand public transportation; invest in energy efficiency; and safeguard the rights and investments of our teachers and other state employees.

The Governor will be our partner. For many years she was a member of this General Assembly. She knows our challenge and respects our institution. She understands the separation of powers among the branches of government, and that if we work cooperatively, within our distinct Constitutional authorities, we can solve any problem we face. I am looking forward to working with her.

The public will support us. Our citizens have tired of the contentious political rhetoric that squeezes out the real story about the real needs. They care only that government is working for them, which is determined by whether they have jobs, their families are safe, retirement is affordable, and dignity is attainable. They want us to put aside partisan bickering, join together, and meet this crisis head-on.

So as we begin this 2009 session of the North Carolina House of Representatives, these sentiments I expressed two years ago have never been more true, and have never been more relevant:

There is no place in this State where public servants are more in tune with the citizens of North Carolina, than in this chamber.

There is no place in this State where the issues of government and politics are better or more fully debated, for all to see, than in this chamber.

There is no place in this State where the interests of the less fortunate of our citizens are better represented, than in this chamber.

And, there is no place in this State where those who debate and decide civic issues have more good will, altruism, or intent to serve all for the common good.

Therefore, let us dedicate ourselves, in this session, to civil debate, and let each of us promise to listen with full respect for the different views that are bound to be expressed, all within the principled hope that listening to each other will refine, illuminate and sharpen the strengths and weaknesses of our own positions.

Ladies and gentlemen, I, like you, am deeply moved by the honor and responsibility bestowed on us by the people of this state and by the traditions of this institution. I am ready to begin anew and I know that you stand with me in service to North Carolina.

Thank you, Betsy, Dan, and Will, my family, for your sacrifices; and my brother Jack who does more than his share of the farm duties;

Thank you, citizens of Chatham, Orange, and Moore Counties, for once again electing me to represent you;

Thank you, my colleagues at Epting & Hackney, and especially my law partner of 35 years, Robert Epting, for making it possible for me to serve here;

Thank you, my staff in the Speaker’s office, all highly competent professionals dedicated to serving the Members of the House and the people of North Carolina;

Thank you, Members of this House for your faith and confidence in me as Speaker of this chamber.

Together, this is our time to accomplish something worthy to be remembered.

Thank you.

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

N.C. General Assembly Office of the Speaker

January 28, 2009

Rep. Joe Hackney re-elected to second term as Speaker of NC House

Pledges to focus on economy, education

RALEIGH - Rep. Joe Hackney was elected Wednesday to a second term as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives.

In his acceptance speech, Speaker Hackney immediately challenged his fellow House members to get to work reinvigorating the state’s economy and continuing to improve education.

"My confidence in our abilities stems from the solid foundation established by those who came before us," Speaker Hackney said. "We do not start from scratch as we face these challenges. My confidence stems from my belief in you. Assembled in this chamber are teachers, doctors, lawyers, preachers, artists, business owners, parents and grandparents. Some of you have family roots in this state that reach back hundreds of years and others of you are just settling in. My confidence stems from our collective experience. We are fortunate to have a few who have dedicated years of their lives to the work of this chamber. We have weathered the economic downturns of the past and we have, with careful planning, nurtured deficits into surpluses over time. I believe that this crisis will be no different but for the numbers."

During his 28-year tenure in the House of Representatives, Speaker Hackney has been one of the General Assembly’s leading advocates for openness in government and ethics and lobbying reforms. He encouraged his fellow House members Wednesday to maintain high ethical standards and to continue the reforms they have worked on for the past two sessions.

"To succeed, we must continue our emphasis on ethics. It must be clear that we are acting in the public interest, not our self-interest," Speaker Hackney said. "Our work and our finances should be abundantly transparent. Public confidence is critical to our success."

Speaker Hackney was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1980 and is entering his 15th term. He has been responsible for much of the significant environmental legislation in North Carolina for the past 25 years and has also been a strong advocate for the judicial system. His previous posts include House Democratic Leader, House Majority Leader and Speaker Pro Tempore. Speaker Hackney began his legal career as a clerk for North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Frank Huskins. He worked as an assistant district attorney in Orange and Chatham counties from 1971-74 before entering politics as the campaign manager for North Carolina Congressman Ike Andrews. Since 1974, Speaker Hackney has been a partner in the Epting & Hackney law firm in Chapel Hill. In addition, he and his brother continue to operate the family cattle farm in Chatham County. Speaker Hackney received a bachelor’s degree in political science and a juris doctorate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He and his wife, Betsy, have two adult sons, Dan and Will.

Speaker Hackney is also president of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the nation’s premier advocacy and continuing education group for state lawmakers.

###