WASHINGTON — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has become chair of the National Governors Association for 2015-2016 and has unveiled an initiative to highlight governors' innovative solutions to crucial programs.
Herbert, a Republican, assumed the post on Saturday at the closing session of the group's summer meeting in West Virginia. Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia, a Democrat, became NGA vice chair.
NGA is a bipartisan group of governors. Through the group, governors collectively advocate for national policies, including the preservation of the tax exemption for municipal bonds and legislation that would allow states to require out-of-state online retailers to collect their sales taxes. Governors also develop best practices and develop solutions to improve state government.
Herbert's initiative as chair is called "States: Finding Solutions, Improving Lives." The goals of the initiative are to enhance a collaborative state-federal partnership, highlight state solutions and enhance best practices.
"To find real solutions to the issues we face every day, we will look to the real innovators-states, our laboratories of democracy," Herbert said. "I believe my colleagues have implemented some of the most innovative solutions across the country. My initiative will showcase their breakthroughs."
Herbert and McAuliffe will lead the NGA's executive committee, which will also include 2014-2015 NGA chair and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D), Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy (D), Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R), Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D), Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R), North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) and Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin (D).
McAuliffe also will serve as chair of the board of the NGA Center for Best Practices. Alaska Gov. Bill Walker (I), Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R) and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) were also named to the board.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, became the chair of NGA's economic development and commerce committee, and West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, a Democrat, became vice chair.
