House Speaker Joe Hackney, D-Orange, opened his post-oath remarks with:
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. Hard times threaten those who are still working. North Carolinians need effective government more than ever.
People interested in government transparency might be interested in the following passage from a later portion of Hackney’s remarks:
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 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.
