Speaker vote sparks talk of deal with GOP

Joe Hackney's victory as the Democratic nominee for House speaker wasn't by a landslide.

It took multiple ballots late Wednesday to sort out the five candidates who wanted the powerful job -- with the low vote-getter removed after each count.

Word from the closed-door voting was that Durham's Mickey Michaux was first to go, followed by Drew Saunders of Charlotte.

That left Hackney, of Orange County; Raleigh's Dan Blue, a former speaker; and Oxford's Jim Crawford in the running for the third round of voting.

Blue, who was appointed to his seat less than three months ago, lost next.

On the fourth tally, Hackney secured 41 votes to Crawford's 23 to become the presumed speaker.

Two people voted for Blue on the last count, numerous legislators said.

Hackney's margin immediately gave rise to talk that someone could strike a deal with House Republicans or form other coalitions to win the post in two weeks when legislators return to Raleigh to cast the official vote.

It takes 61 votes to win the speakership in the 120-member House. There are 68 Democrats in the House.

Deal-cutting on the speaker's race has been prevalent in recent years. Some fell barely short. In 2003, of course, Charlotte's Jim Black held onto the post by striking a co-speakership deal with Republican Richard Morgan of Moore County.

But Democrats were sounding notes of unity after the vote.

"Joe Hackney has won it fair and square," said Bill Faison, a Democrat from Orange County who had expressed interest in the position. "Don't expect to see anyone cut any side deals."

Foreign Affairs seat

First North Carolina, now the world.

U.S. Rep. Brad Miller, a Raleigh Democrat, was named Thursday to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, an assignment that could give him influence over matters such as trade, economic policy, diplomatic service and the United Nations.

Miller said he hadn't pushed hard for the assignment, but seats opened up, and he put in a bid because of a general interest in foreign affairs.

"It traditionally has been fairly desirable," Miller said. "I was just very interested in it."

His foreign affairs work began immediately after the appointment.

Shortly after learning of his new post, Miller went to a committee meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. On the agenda: the war in Iraq.

GOP likes WFU study

Republicans in Congress continued to hail the research of Wake Forest University scientist Anthony Atala during Thursday's debate on embryonic stem cell research, which has been pushed by Democratic leaders.

Thursday morning, Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio offered a GOP alternative that would expand research funding not for embryonic stem cells but for the amniotic stem cells that Atala appears to have discovered.

Several members mentioned Atala's possible discovery of new amniotic stem cells during floor debate in the House. Atala's work was published Sunday and reported widely earlier this week.

"Fortunately, ethical stem cell alternatives continue to flourish in the scientific community," Boehner said. "Earlier this week, we learned that amniotic nonembryonic stem cells may offer the same research possibilities as stem cells obtained through the destruction of human embryos."

The Democrats' bill that passed Thursday expands federal funding for embryonic stem cell research if the embryos were already going to be discarded. The research holds out hope for advancements in fighting such diseases as Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's and multiple sclerosis.

Shuler says nay to cells

Among the opponents of the embryonic stem cell research bill was ... U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler.

Shuler, a Democrat from Waynesville, said last week he would support federal funding for research only if it was limited to embryos that might otherwise be discarded. That fit the details of the legislation offered Thursday.

But Shuler hails from a conservative district and ran on a pro-life platform. As late as Wednesday afternoon, he had not decided how he would vote, according to a spokesman.

The Wake Forest research helped swing his decision to vote no.

"It's because we started seeing this research," Shuler said. "We're seeing this develop very, very quickly."

Shuler said he received no party pressure about his vote.

"I think that's what's been so great about this leadership," Shuler said.