Lt. Governor Cagle Commends Sen. Don Balfour as new NCSL President

(Atlanta, GA) – Lt. Governor Casey Cagle extended his congratulations to Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville) as he was elected President of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).  Balfour will be officially sworn in Wednesday at the NCSL Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA.

“This is truly a great day for our state,” said Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle.  “Sen. Balfour is one of our strongest and most experienced Senators with over 17 years championing conservative policy and representing his Gwinnett constituents admirably.  Now heading one of the most prominent legislative organizations in the nation, Sen. Balfour’s expertise and forward-thinking mindset give NCSL a tremendously capable leader who will do an outstanding job as President.”

Cagle praised Sen. Balfour’s personal values and honorable nature as to what makes him uniquely qualified to head NCSL.

“Having the pleasure to serve side-by-side with him for the last 15 years as a fellow Senator and later as Lt. Governor, I have gotten to know him as a principled man and devoted husband and father who truly gets what it takes to be a selfless public servant,” continued Cagle.  “His desire to improve the lives of others through lawmaking and his good-hearted spirit is contagious and NCSL will no doubt be in a better place after Don’s term as President.”

Balfour, Chairman of the powerful Senate Rules Committee, will begin his one-year term Wednesday upon his swearing in.  Balfour was the first Georgia legislator elected to NCSL office since its founding in 1975 as he was selected its Vice President in 2007.  Previous to that appointment he served on the NCSL Executive Committee as an at-large member.

NCSL is a bipartisan group serving all 50 state legislatures and their staffs as well as U.S. commonwealths and territories.  The organization develops research and promotes idea and policy exchanges among its members on various state issues.  NCSL also advocates and represents state government interests before Congress and Federal agencies.