RALEIGH -- One state lawmaker is days away from stepping into a national leadership role with one of the most influential political strategy groups.

Rep. Jason Saine, (R) Lincoln County, will become the chair of the American Legislative Exchange Council or ALEC.

Right now, Saine can currently be found chairing one of the North Carolina legislature's head money committees. He also has been the state chair of ALEC.

“ALEC’s influence is felt nationally,” said Saine. “Just last month, I was invited up to the Hill to talk about tax reform so that many of the staffers could as me and ask other legislators from North Carolina what worked when they looks at tax reform.” 

Saine's role is about to be elevated to national chair.

“I intend to use it as a platform to highlight our state,” said Saine. “As we see companies to see North Carolina as a place to continue to locate, and as a place to grow their business, I want to make sure my position puts me in a position nationally where I can interact with folks who are looking to move from high tax states like California and New York, New Jersey and come to North Carolina.”

Some say this could be a tough role for Saine.

“Some of the same issues that are going on here in North Carolina, he is going to have to deal with those with ALEC,” said Francis DeLuca with NC Civitas Institute. “Such as the issues with renewable energy, sponsorships for the organization, attacks on the organization. He is going to be right in the  middle of those, and how he handles those, will not only have impact on his tenure as the head of it, as the chairman, it will also have an impact on the viability of the American Legislative Exchange Council”.

ALEC has had its share of critics over the years for supporting some controversial legislation like “stand your ground” and “voter ID.”  Saine, however, said overall, he believes it has guided the country and state well.

“I think if you look at our successes over the last six years,” said Saine, “ALEC legislators have had a lot of influence in North Carolina and we have had a lot of