Top NC Senate, House Leaders Re-Elected

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The North Carolina House and Senate have re-elected their top chamber leaders for another two years.
   
The House voted Wednesday to allow Democratic Rep. Joe Hackney of Orange County to remain House speaker. Democratic Sen. Marc Basnight continued his record-breaking tenure as Senate leader, being re-elected to a ninth term.

Hackney was elected on a party-line vote over House Minority Leader Paul Stam of Wake County. Basnight is a Dare County Democrat who defeated Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger for the top post. Both chambers are dominated by Democrats.

Basnight and Hackney will guide the chambers as lawmakers face the state’s worst fiscal crisis in a generation that will require tough decisions about taxes and spending cuts.