This week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the IRS’ scrutiny of conservative groups went beyond those with “tea party” or “patriot” in their names to also include ones worried about government spending, debt or taxes, and even ones that lobbied to “make America a better place to live.” Many groups say they were asked for lists of their donors and other sensitive information. These actions by the IRS are extremely troubling.

Also of great concern is that under Obamacare, the IRS will have even more control over the lives of every American. This is just one more reason why I voted again this week to repeal the government takeover of our healthcare system. In this newsletter you will find my full statement on the recent revelations about the IRS and my vote to repeal Obamacare.

You can find more information about these and other issues on my website at www.ellmers.house.gov and on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Please share this newsletter with your friends by forwarding this email and using the social media links in the right sidebar.

An Attack on our Fundamental Rights

The Wall Street Journal reported the following this week on the IRS scandal:

The inspector general’s office has been conducting an audit of the IRS’s handling of the applications process and is expected to release a report this week. The audit follows complaints last year by numerous tea-party and other conservative groups that they had been singled out and subjected to excessive and inappropriate questioning. Many groups say they were asked for lists of their donors and other sensitive information.

According to the report, by June 2011 some IRS specialists were probing applications using the following criteria: “issues include government spending, government debt or taxes; education of the public by advocacy/lobbying to ‘make America a better place to live’; statements in the case file criticize how the country is being run.”

The reports of the Obama administration’s actions this week are deeply disturbing and strike at the core of our liberties and basic protections under the Constitution. As Americans, we expect our government to preserve, protect, and defend our rights – not target them for political gain and control. These reports cast a dark shadow on this administration and are completely unacceptable, not to mention dangerous. President Obama must act immediately to bring those accountable to justice and not stand in the way of the truth. Americans deserve a full account of what has transpired.

Repealing Obamacare

 Yesterday, I voted in favor of H.R. 45 – a bill I cosponsored to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Here is the statement I released shortly after casting my vote:

“This afternoon, I was proud to vote once again for the full repeal of Obamacare. Each day we receive new evidence showing that the Affordable Care Act will be anything but affordable. According to a new report by the Energy and Commerce Committee, 17 major insurance companies said healthcare for young adults will rise by 400 percent and employers can expect their cost to go up by about 50 to 100 percent. In North Carolina, our largest health insurer recently announced that a third of their customers should ‘prepare for unusually large rate increases.’”

“People want more choice, and less federal mandates in their healthcare decisions. We must stop this law from inflicting enormous damage on our economy and start over with real reforms that will not raise premiums and cost our nation millions of jobs.”

Forty-eight school bus drivers will participate in the final testing and driving competition to crown the top school bus driver in North Carolina.  The winner will receive a cash prize and a trip to represent North Carolina in the national school bus driving competition this summer in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Each of the 48 contestants advanced to the state finals by placing in the top 10 of a regional competition.  Most regional participants also advanced through a local ROADeo sponsored by their school system.

Bus drivers from the following counties will participate:

Ashe
Asheville City
Avery
Beaufort
Buncombe
Cabarrus
Chapel Hill
Craven
Cumberland
Davie
Durham
Gaston
Haywood
Johnston
Jones
Madison
Moore
Mooresville
Northampton
Onslow
Pitt
Randolph
Robeson
Rowan
Sampson
Union
Wake
Watauga
Wayne
Wilkes
Wilson
Yancey

Presentation of Proposed FY 2013-2014 Budget

The full packet is here:  20130520_coh_called_meeting_agenda_packet

I always welcome your comments, project updates, suggestions, and visits. My office door and electronic door is always open to you!  As always, thank you for your support!

NEWSLETTER INDEX

Around the District and More

Events

Awards and Grants

Legislative News

Notes of Thanks

Hear and See Legislative Live Daily

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AROUND THE DISTRICT AND MORE

Senator Bryant Visits the Free Clinic in Warrenton

Senator Bryant toured The Warren County Free Clinic on

April 4th, 2013. Pictured, from left to right, are: Mary Somerville,

Free Clinic co-founder and executive director;

Daria Holcomb, Free Clinic co-founder; Rosa Russell, phlebotomy;

LaTicia Tharrington, nurse practitioner; Senator Angela Bryant;

and Pastor Robert Terry, Sr., president of the

Warren County Democratic Party.

Senator Bryant Meets With The Lake Gaston Group of Realtors

Senator Bryant met with the Lake Gaston Group of Realtors to discuss their issues and concerns on April 24^th, 2013.

Pictured above with Senator Bryant: Liz Nielsen,

Barney Watson, Brenda Thompson, Susan Gordon,

Pamela Hale, Pat Shepard, Chris Triepke, Denise Allen,

and Mark Given

Jaylyn Addison, Brianna Escobar and Israel King Served as Governor’s Pages from Nash and Vance Counties

Pages from Nash and Vance counties, who were paging for the Governor’s office during the week of April 22^nd, stopped by Senator Bryant’s office while in Raleigh.

Firefighters from the District

The Fire Chiefs and Fire Captains of the Wilson, Warren County and Rocky Mount Departments met with Senator Bryant on May 1, 2013 to discuss their legislative goals, and concerns.

Senator Bryant pictured above with Joseph Vindigni, Gerry Wood,

Randy Godwin, Walter M. Gardner, Jr. Fire Chief and Mayor of Warrenton

Wilson County Student Serves as Page in North Carolina Senate

The North Carolina Senate was honored recently to have RaeQuawn R. Anderson, a student at James B. Hunt High School, serve as a Page. He is the son of Annjennette Ruffin of Wilson. Qwan was sponsored by Senator Angela Bryant and appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore, Phil Berger of Rockingham County. Statewide high school students in grades 9 through 12 serve as pages when the General Assembly is in session. They perform valuable duties for the Senators and their office staff. They attend daily Senate sessions, committee meetings, and assist staff members with office duties during the week they serve in the Legislature. RaeQuawn says of his experience:

“My Senate Page experience was exhilarating.  I have met a lot of new and energetic people including the Senators.  I enjoyed doing the side errands that Michael Purdue assigned to us. I also enjoyed getting the extra inside look on what goes on in the chamber.  It made me understand what goes on, what bills are passed, and how they are debated.”

Senator Bryant and RaeQuawn R. Anderson

April 29, 2013

EVENTS

• Teens Summit hosted by the Halifax Leadership Equity Project for ages 13-19.  May 18th 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Halifax Co. Agricultural Center, 359 Ferrell Lane, Halifax.  Music by DJ 321, Food, Entertainment, Job & College information, Leadership Skill Building Activities, Teen Speak-out, Gas & Gift Card Door Prizes. Please RSVP to Victoria Chetty at 252.365.1514, vechetty23@gmail.com. or www.facebook.com/VISIONSHLEP

• NC Freedom Monument Reception and Emancipation Proclamation Exhibition-The Board of the North Carolina Freedom Monument Project has embarked upon an ambitious project to set aside (an art and park) space in North Carolina’s State Capital where generations can meet to discuss our state’s history, and to celebrate and be inspired by symbolic representations of the struggle for freedom among all people. The place will be called “Freedom Grove.”
  • Freedom Coming Freedom for All- Exhibit Opens- Dates: May 15-June 16, Location: NC Museum of History, More Information: Dianne Pledger (919) 224-0408 or dpledger@ncfmp.org
  • The Legacy of Freedom Symposium- Date: May 31-June1, Time: 31^st-9:00am-4:00pm, 1^st-9:00am-12:00pm, Location: NC Museum of History, More Information: Dianne Pledger (919) 224-0408 or dpledger@ncfmp.org
  • Traveling Exhibition Tour-Begins- Dates: July 2013-September 2015, Location: NC Museum of History, More Information: Dianne Pledger (919) 224-0408 or dpledger@ncfmp.org
• Lake Gaston Fabulous 50 Splash- The 50^th anniversary celebration of Lake Gaston. Date: May 11-June 23, 2013, More Information at www.osail.org tab SPLASH.
• Small Business Luncheon- Presentation of the Small Business Leader of the Year Award. Date: May 16^th, Time: 12:30pm, Location: Wilson Chamber of Commerce, Contact: (252) 237-0165 or e-mail mbrown@wilsoncchamber.com to make reservations.
• Biggest Office Party of the Year- DJ John Moore, Free Food & Beverages. Date: May 16^th, Time: 12:30pm, Location: Wilson Chamber of Commerce, Contact: (252) 237-0165 or e-mail mbrown@wilsoncchamber.com to make reservations.
• The Ultimate Girls’ Night Out- Roanoke Valley Woman Expo produced by The Daily Herald and presented by sponsor Halifax Regional Medical Center. Cooking demonstrations, fashion, live performances, food vendors, free health checks and prizes. Date: May 16^th, Location: Kirkwood Adams Civic Center, Roanoke Rapids, NC Contact: The Daily Herald at (252) 537-2505 for tickets and other information.
• Active Living and Healthy Food Convening- Will lay the groundwork for reclaiming healthier communities through access to local food and active living. Register by May 10 at http://rcpkbrconvening2013.eventbrite.com. Date: Wednesday and Thursday, May 22-23, 2013, Location: New Bern River Front Convention Center, New Bern. Contact: Donna,   (919) 967-2223 or (919) 951-0116 x 135.
• Free Golf Week- Open to Tanglewood Shores Property Owners and Local Property Owners. Date: May 18-24, Location: Tanglewood Shores G&CC, Contact: (252) 636-2254. Good for one free round. Tee times strictly required. Pre-register with the Golf Shop and provide TSA Lot# or proof of local property ownership.
• “Puttin’ On the Hits”- Come join us for a night of “oldies but goodies.” See your neighbors, friends and CADA staff perform Motown and other hits. Sponsored by Choanoke Area Development Association (CADA) Board of Directors. Refreshments, Raffle and Silent Auction. Date: May 31, 2013, Time: 7:30pm, Location: Wellness Center, Jackson, NC, Contact: Brenda Taylor (252) 532-3996, Kenneth Harris (252) 678-2784, Venus Spruill (252) 539-2026, Morris Rascoe (252) 209-7523.
• Take Pride in Lake Gaston Clean-up Day- Dedicated to preparing the Lake for the summer recreation season by removing trash and debris from the shorelines and open water. Date: June 1, Time: 9:00am-4:00pm Rain or Shine. Contact: Lake Gaston Chamber of Commerce at (252) 586-5711.
• Warren County Customer Service Committee Flea Market- Date: June 1^st, Time: 8:00am, Location: Warren County Recreation Complex, Contact: Angelena Kearney-Dunlap (252) 257-3115.
• Lancaster Show Trip & Dutch Country Tour- Date: June 17^th, Location: Warren County Senior Center, Contact: Sharon Henderson (252) 257-3112.
• Community for Unity Festival- Sponsored by Joy Community Development Corporation in conjunction with: Greater Joy Baptist Church (Pastor Shelton C. Daniel) and Word Tabernacle Church (Pastor James Gailliard). Blood Mobile, Rides, Jumpers, Live Music, Free entertainment, Free food and drinks. Admission = 1 can of food. Date: July 27, 2013, Location: Boone Street Park, 539 Eleanor Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, Contact: (919) 818-2850 or visit www.greaterjoymbc.org
• Join Rocky Mount Toastmasters Club #8957- Improve your leadership, presentation, & business/public speaking skills. Meeting Time: 6:30pm on the 2^nd and 4^th Monday of the month. Location: Braswell Memorial Library, Rocky Mount 727 Grace Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27803. Open to all. For more information e-mail ecmu2000@yahoo.com or call (252) 363-1032 and visit http://8957.toastmastersclubs.org.

AWARDS, GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS

• Technology Internship - Attention college or high school students! Technology internship opportunity through S.W.I.M. Network, Inc. will give interns the opportunity to work with local government, and various community and faith-based agencies, and projects. The internship will provide an overview of how these organizations use Benefit Bank technology to make positive impacts in the communities they serve. During the duration of their internships, students will receive hands on training in the areas of counseling, social work, and economic development. In addition to helping families out of poverty, interns will learn the importance of technology, community service, public speaking, event planning, and an assortment of other valuable skill sets needed to survive in today’s business world. For more information contact Tilda Whitaker at swimintl@hotmail.com or (252) 972-SWIM.
• Contact Your Local USDA Office- If you need have something you would like to do on your property, you can contact your local USDA office who will put you in contact with the rural development section. The rural development section can then direct you to programs that have been allotted money and may be able to help you accomplish your goals.
  • Henderson Area Office- George Vital, Area Director, 853 S. Beckford Drive, Suite A, Henderson, NC 27536. (252) 438-3134, (252) 438-3647 (Fax). Counties Served: Vance, Granville, Franklin, Warren, Orange, Durham, Person, Nash, Halifax, Northampton, & Edgecombe.
  • Pitt Sub Area Office- Pitt County Office Complex, 403 Government Circle, Suite 3, Greenville, NC 27834. (252) 752-2035, (252) 752-2880, (252) 931-0560 (Fax). Counties Served: Pitt, Martin, Wilson, and Green
• The Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors voted unanimously to provide $150,000 to Nash/Rocky Mount Schools for professional development and digital resources associated with the district’s 1:1 computer technology plan. The Foundation has previously supported such initiatives in other school districts, including the early college in Nash County. In cooperation with Dr. Jim Goodnight of SAS Institute and the Friday Institute, we have evaluated projects and found that professional development is crucial to improving teaching and learning with technology in the classroom.
• Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program (CHP) - The application period for the 2013 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) is now open. Applications for this year’s CHP solicitation must be completed and submitted by 7:59 PM EDT on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 in order to receive consideration. CHP is a competitive grant program that provides funding directly to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies having primary law enforcement authority for the hiring or re-hiring of additional officers to impact their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.
  • Under Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 CHP, awardees may receive up to 75 percent of the approved entry-level officer salary and fringe benefit costs, with a minimum 25 percent local cash match requirement and a maximum federal share of $125,000 per officer position over a three-year grant period. Grant funds may be used to hire new, full-time sworn officer positions, to re-hire officers who have been laid off, or to re-hire officers who are scheduled to be laid off on a specific future date as a result of local budget cuts. As in the past, CHP requires that each position awarded be retained with local funds for a minimum of 12 months at the conclusion of 36 months of federal funding for each position. Priority consideration will be given to agencies that use their CHP funding to hire either school resource officers or military veterans and those targeting to reduce homicide.
  • FY2013 CHP funding is limited, and all awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law. For detailed information on CHP program requirements, application instructions, FAQs and more, please visit the CHP page on the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=2367.  If you have questions about the CHP application process, please contact the COPS Office External Affairs Division at 202-514-9079.

• Community Policing Development (CPD) Program - The Community Policing Development (CPD) program is now open and applications must be submitted by 4:59 PM EDT on Friday, May 24, 2013. CPD funds are used to advance the practice of community policing in law enforcement agencies through training and technical assistance, the development and documentation of innovative community policing strategies, applied research, guidebooks, and best practices that are national in scope.
  • The program is open to all public governmental agencies, profit and nonprofit institutions, universities, community groups and faith-based organizations. Proposals should be of national relevance, significantly advance the field of community policing, and demonstrate an understanding of community policing as it pertains to the application topic. Applications will only be accepted through the COPS Application Portal, accessed from Grants.Gov website (www.grants.gov). No paper or emailed applications will be accepted. For detailed information on CPD program requirements, application instructions, FAQs and more, please visit the CPD page on the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=2682. If you have questions about the CPD application process, please contact the COPS Office External Affairs Division at 202-514-9079.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

SENATE BILL 236: Counties Responsible for School Construction

SUMMARY: Senate Bill 236 would allow counties to be responsible for the construction, improvement, ownership and acquisition of public school property.

The Proposed Committee Substitute would turn the bill into a local bill that would apply to the following counties: Beaufort, Dare, Davie, Guilford, Harnett, Iredell, Lee, Rockingham, Rowan, and Wake.

It would also make the following changes:

·         (i)clarify that the counties would be responsible for the construction, improvement, ownership, and acquisition of only real property and buildings and other structures and not items such as furnishings and buses;

·          (ii) provide that local boards of education can present the needs for school buildings concurrent with the submission of the school budget;

·         (iii) clarify that disputes regarding whether adequate school buildings have been provided be resolved using mediation

CURRENT LAW: Local boards of education acquire and own public school properties primarily with funds appropriated to them by local boards of county commissioners. The local boards of education are also responsible for repairs and renovations of public school property. Counties may acquire interest in real or personal property within the county for use by a local school administrative unit (LEA) but only upon the request of the local board of education of that LEA and after a public hearing. SB236.

SENATE BILL 370: Respect for Student Prayer

SUMMARY: Senate Bill 370 would require local boards of education to include in policy the following requirements related to prayer in schools:

·         Freedom of students to pray at school, including at extracurricular events.

·         Impermissibility of officially sanctioned prayer led by school officials.

·         Requirement that school employees supervising extracurricular events demonstrate appropriate respect for student-led prayer.

This bill sets out the specific rights of students to engage in prayer and religious activity; create administrative remedies and a cause of action for complaints regarding the exercise of religious activity; set forth the parameters for religious activity by school personnel; provide that officially sanctioned school prayer is prohibited.

Students would be allowed to do any of the following:

·         Pray alone or with other students to the same extent as a student is allowed to vocally or silently reflect or speak on nonreligious matters.

·         Express, speak to and share religious viewpoints to the same extent as if they were nonreligious viewpoints.

·         Possess or distribute religious literature subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions to the same extent as nonreligious literature.

·         Organize prayer groups and religious gatherings before, during, and after school to the same extent as students are permitted to organize non-curricular student activities and be given the same access to school facilities as well as advertise or announce meetings of the groups.

·         Express beliefs about religion in homework, artwork, and other assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of the submission which would be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance.

A student may be prohibited from any of the above activities if the actions of the student would do any of the following:

·         Infringe on the rights of the school to maintain order and discipline; prevent disruption of the educational process; and determine the educational curriculum and assignments.

·         Harass other persons or coerce other students to participate in the activity or otherwise infringe on the rights of other persons.

Administrative Remedies and Cause of Action for Complaints Regarding Exercise of Religious Activity

If a student alleges that a right established under the Article has been violated, the following procedure must be followed:

·         The student or the parent or guardian must state the complaint to the principal who must meet with them if requested.

·         The student or the parent or guardian may make a complaint in writing to the superintendent of the local school administrative unit (LEA) and the superintendent must investigate and take action to ensure the alleged violated of the rights of the student is resolved within 30 days of receiving the written complaint.

·         If the superintendent fails to resolve the concerns within 30 days, an appeal may be made to the local board of education.

·         If no resolution is found, then a cause of action may be brought in the superior court of the county in which the LEA is located but no action can be brought in court until the administrative remedies have been exhausted.

A student who prevails in a court claim brought under this Article would be entitled to reasonable attorney fees and court costs.

The Attorney General must intervene and provide legal defense for any actions that include claims challenging the constitutionality of the Article.

Religious Activity for School Personnel

The bill provides that nothing in the Article would be construed to support, encourage, or permit a teacher, administrator, or other employee of the local board of education to lead, direct, or encourage any religious or anti-religious activity in violation of the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

Local boards of education would not be allowed to prohibit school personnel from participating in religious activities on school grounds that are initiated by students at reasonable times before or after the instructional day as long as the activities are voluntary for all parties and do not conflict with the responsibilities or work assignments of the personnel.

School employees supervising extracurricular activities, including coaches would be allowed to be present while a student or group of students voluntarily praying. If they are present, they must demonstrate appropriate respect and may adopt a respectful posture.

Local boards of education may allow school personnel to participate in other constitutionally permissible religious activities on school grounds.

Officially Sanctioned School Prayer Prohibited

Prayer officially sanctioned by a school or school officials would not be permitted during the school day and prior to, during, or after extracurricular school events, including athletic events even if the prayer is nondenominational or participation is voluntary and optional. SB370.

SENATE BILL 674: Prohibit Costly Local Government Litigation

SUMMARY: Senate Bill 674 would repeal the procedure for resolution of disputes between boards of education and boards of county commissioners and provide that boards of county commissioners have the sole authority to determine the maximum amount of funds that could be used for the acquisition of a site and the sole authority to determine the adequacy of county funds to be provided for the operating and capital expenses for a local school administrative unit.

The bill would retain the mediation procedure in G.S. 115C-431 but eliminate the provision regarding the process for an action in superior court.

CURRENT LAW: G.S. 115C-426(f) provides that a contract for the purchase of a site by a local board of education cannot be executed or any funds expended for it without approval from the board of county commissioners as to the amount of money to be spent on the site. If there is disagreement, then the provisions of G.S. 115C-431 apply. G.S. 115C-431 governs the procedure for resolution of disputes between boards of education and boards of county commissioners for disputes over appropriations to the local current expense fund or capital outlay fund. If the dispute is unresolved after a joint board meeting, the parties must start mediation. If the mediation is unsuccessful, an action may be filed in superior court and will be given precedence over other business of the court. The court must find the facts as to the amount of money necessary to maintain a system of free public schools and the amount of money needed from the county to make up the total. The issues of fact may be tried by a jury and the issue submitted to the jury would be “what amount of money is needed from sources under the control of the board of county commissioners to maintain a system of free public schools.” When the facts have been found, the court must give judgment ordering the board of county commissioners to appropriate a sum to the local school administrative unit and to levy property taxes that may be necessary to make up the sum when added to other available revenues.

BILL ANALYSIS: Senate Bill 674 would provide that if there was a disagreement between the local board of education and the board of county commissioners as to the amount of funds to be expended to purchase a site for the local board of education, the board of county commissioners would have the sole authority to determine the maximum amount to be spent for the site. It would also repeal G.S. 115C-431 which governs the procedure for resolutions of disputes between local boards of education and boards of county commissioners and provide that the board of county commissioners would have the sole authority to determine the adequacy of county funds provided for the operating and capital expenses of a local school administrative unit. SB674.

SENATE BILL 719: Student Organizations/Rights & Recognition  

SUMMARY: Senate Bill 719 would provide that student organizations at UNC campuses would be able to determine the organization’s core functions and resolve disputes of the organization and that a campus may not discriminate against any student organization or group that it has granted recognition to if the organization or group exercises its rights of determining its core functions and dispute resolution.

The bill would reorganize the proposed statute and would clarify that if a campus grants recognition to an organization, it then cannot deny recognition to the organization or deny it access to programs, funding, facilities, or other privileges. The PCS clarifies that religious or political student organizations determine their own leaders, order their internal affairs and resolve organizational disputes in accordance with their established written doctrines.

The bill also adds the same language to the community colleges statutes. SB719.

House Bills

H.B. 935: Pre K

·         HB 935 reduces access to pre-K for working families

o    The Bill changes the definition of “at-risk” children, cutting eligibility for families making between $51,000 and $23,000/yr

o    Under this bill, 38,000 fewer students will be eligible for Pre-K

·         HB 935 follows a 20% cut Republicans made to Pre-K in 2011

o    Pre-K works and prepares young children with a foundation for future success

HB 937 Guns in bars, restaurants and college campuses

o    Keeping guns out of bars is a common sense measure

o    Would you want your family endangered by a drunk with a gun?

o    Bar owners, college administrators, and law enforcement officers all oppose this legislation

Background

·         Bill to allow concealed carry permit holders to carry guns into bars, restaurants passes in House

RALEIGH —A bill that would allow concealed carry permit holders to carry firearms into bars and restaurants passed in the state House today. House Bill 937 passed its third reading 78 votes to 42 votes. It now moves on to the Senate. The GOP-led bill expands concealed carry privileges and strengthens some laws for crimes committed with firearms.

http://portcitydaily.com/2013/05/07/bill-to-allow-concealed-carry-permit-holders-to-carry-guns-into-bars-restaurants-passes-in-house/

·         Guns bill clears House after debate curtailed

RALEIGH — Legislation allowing concealed weapons on college campuses, state property, greenways and bike trails, at sporting events and in businesses that serve alcohol received final approval from the state House Tuesday.

http://www.wral.com/guns-bill-clears-house-after-debate-curtailed/12421444/

·         House approves Pre-K Changes, Beer Sales

RALEIGH  — A proposal to cut in half the number of children eligible for the state’s free pre-kindergarten program won House approval Tuesday.

Democrats secured a one-year delay for the change, saying it would give child care centers a chance to prepare.

http://www.wral.com/house-approves-pre-k-changes-beer-sales/12421957/

From NC Policy Watch – How will this Legislative Session Affect Your Family?

·         If you lose your job through no fault of your own, it will be more difficult to receive unemployment benefits while you look for another one. You also won’t be able to receive benefits for as long—it might only be for 12 weeks—and you won’t receive the same level of benefits that laid off workers had been receiving while trying to find new employment.

·         If you are one of the tens of thousands of long-term unemployed workers in the state, your benefits are ending soon and you will not be able to receive emergency assistance from the federal government. Lawmakers voted to prevent laid off workers in North Carolina from receiving the federal benefits so businesses could pay lower unemployment taxes, the same businesses whose tax breaks over the years helped create the state’s unemployment debt.

·         If you are among 500,000 low-income adults without health insurance, you will remain uninsured, unable to afford to see a doctor and one medical emergency away from bankruptcy, even as your counterparts in many other states with Republican governors are now covered by Medicaid.

·         If you are one of the 900,000 people working hard every day in a low-wage job and trying to support your family, you will have less money next year because the state Earned Income Tax Credit will end. That’s the credit that former President Ronald Reagan called the best anti-poverty program we have, yet state lawmakers voted to reduce it and let it expire at the end of the year.

·         If you are a single mother earning just $16,000 a year, your four-year-old son or daughter may no longer qualify for the state’s award winning pre-K program because lawmakers think you make too much money for your child to qualify.

·         And if you find yourself in an emergency and unable to make ends meet and feed your family, you will not be able to apply for public assistance unless you can come up with $100 to pay for a drug test that lawmakers themselves refuse to take.

·         You might be tempted to apply for an emergency loan from a consumer finance company, but that may cost you more too as the industry is seeking permission to charge higher fees and interest rates that trap families into a hopeless cycle of borrowing. (30% interest for loans up to $5000; 24% blended rate for loans from $5-10,000; 18% flat rate for loans of $10-15,000).

·         But it’s not just the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of low-income families that lawmakers are making more difficult. The lives of folks in the middle class will be changing too. The versions of tax reform supported by legislative leaders will mean more than half the state’s taxpayers will pay more while corporations and the wealthy will pay less. The version supported by Senate leaders and the right-wing think tanks they look to for guidance will give millionaires a $41,000 tax cut while the bottom sixty percent of taxpayers will see an increase in how much they pay.

·         It seems almost certain that if you have a child in the early grades, the teacher assistant who helped him or her read and understand math problems will not be in the classroom next year. If you send your child to a charter school, Senate leaders do not want to require the schools to run a criminal background check on your child’s teacher or for that teacher to be certified to teach at any level or college educated if teaching grades 1-6.

·         It’s a safe bet that class sizes will be larger next year too and supply budgets smaller as House leaders push a voucher scheme to divert funding from public schools to unaccountable private and religious academies.

·         It will be harder to vote in the next general election unless you vote absentee, which is how more Republicans cast their ballots. Not only will you have to bring your government-issued photo ID to the polls, there’s a good chance that early voting will be shorter and that Sunday voting might end.

·         Your elderly parent or disabled sibling without a current government ID will have to get one to cast a ballot for the next governor or president.

·         If you live in place where some natural gas might be in the underground rock formations, your communities might change dramatically soon as the fracking drills and trucks and chemicals roll into your town and farms.

·         If you are a woman headed to see your doctor, there may soon be more restrictions on the decisions you can make together about your own body.

·          And the next time you take your kids to a Ruby Tuesdays, the man they bump into on the way to the salad bar might have a loaded handgun hidden in his belt.

Charter Schools: SB 337 – NC Public Charter School Board.   This bill is currently in the Education Committee, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Appropriations.

 Senate Republicans voted to create a two-tier public education system

·         While simultaneously taking funding and facility-space from public schools, charters would not be required to offer busing or free or reduced-price lunch, essentially weakening existing schools while limiting access to the new charters for children from low-income families.

Republicans voted not to require professionally-trained educators

·         This bill eliminates requirements that teachers have college degrees or teaching certificates – allowing charters to have unqualified teachers and hurting quality in the classroom.

Republicans supported an unconstitutional power-grab that reduces accountability for charter schools

·         S337 removes the Charter schools’ application process from the jurisdiction of the State Board of Education, instead creating an independent committee, appointed by Republican politicians, and that can be composed of self-interested members.

Republicans voted to require local school district cooperation, resources but denied accountability, compensation

·         Charter school applicants would no longer be able to submit applications to LEAs or their local school boards; hurting continuity in local education and potentially wasting tax-payer dollars

·         Charter school operators would not be accountable to local boards of education, only accountable to the state charter board.

·         Less than two weeks after Senate Republicans voided a signed $68 million dollar lease with the City of Raleigh for Dix Park, claiming it was undervalued, this legislation requires local school boards to sign away valuable facility-space to privately-managed charters for $1 instead of fair market value.

·         But if a charter school is dissolved, assets would be returned to the state’s General Fund, not to the LEA

SBE Chairman Bill Cobey voices his opposition for new charter school board bill, declares it unconstitutional

·         Acknowledging that the full SBE may not want to take a formal position on the bill at this time, Cobey said that he personally could not support SB 337 and found that the legislation was unconstitutional.

·         SB 337 would abolish the Charter School Advisory Council, which is housed under the State Board of Education, and replace it with a new independent board comprised of members handpicked by the Governor and his colleagues. The new board would be an independent body tasked with setting policy for charter schools.

·         The question of constitutionality arises because of the fact that the new board would be independent of the State Board of Education. The North Carolina Constitution, in Article IX, Section 5, gives the State Board of Education the power to “supervise and administer the free public school system and the educational funds provided for its support.” Since charter schools are public schools, the assertion is that they should be supervised by the State Board of Education. A list of other aspects to this bill that call into question its constitutionality can be found here.

Berger’s Tax Reform Proposal:

Offers tax breaks to the wealthiest of the wealthy

·         The plan reduces the personal income tax from 7.5% to 4.5% over three years and the corporate income tax to 6%. It also repeals the Inheritance tax, which only applies to estates valued over $5 million – only 23 people last year.

·         Berger also cited the need to provide relief for families with multiple homes in multiple states, saying they currently choose to claim other states as primary residences.

The largest tax increase in North Carolina history for middle class seniors and working families

·         In order to pay for the reduction of income taxes Berger’s plan will dramatically raise sales taxes on services and goods vital to the middle class, including: food, prescription drugs, and social security

·         Additionally, the plan creates new taxes on the non-profits that support the middle class, including: churches and hospitals.

·         Middle class and poor working families will see the amount of money they pay in taxes dramatically rise, while the wealthiest North Carolinians will see significant breaks.

Cuts future funding for government services by billions of dollars

·         Even after shifting the tax burden onto working families, the Republican plan comes about a billion dollars short annually. This will necessarily lead to new cuts to government services and investments like schools, infrastructure, and healthcare.

Three things to know about the Berger Tax Proposal

What it does? Reduces the personal income tax to 4.5 percent from the current 7.75 percent for the top bracket and cut the corporate income tax to 6 percent from 6.9 percent. The combined state and local sales tax would also decrease to 6.5 percent from 6.75 percent and the estate tax would be eliminated.

How to pay for it? To offset the cuts, the proposal would trim state tax revenue by $1 billion over three years and charge a sales tax to more than 100 services that are currently exempted, everything from haircuts and car repairs to tax preparation and insurance. The 6.5 percent sales tax would also apply to prescription drugs and food. About $9 billion in current tax breaks for special interests would be eliminated, but some would remain.

What’s next?  The legislation remains unfinished, leaving many questions, and the final language may not be ready until the end of the month or early June. Gov. Pat McCrory and House Republican leaders aren’t completely on board with the proposal. But all GOP leaders expect a tax bill to pass this year.

Gov. Pat McCrory named a Raleigh utility lawyer to represent the state’s residents in utility rate hearings; Also Former Rep. Lucy Allen’s Utility Commission term expires June 30^th

From News & Observer

Gov. Pat McCrory named a Raleigh utility lawyer to represent the state’s residents in utility rate hearings. He also named a state lawmaker and a public relations executive to the N.C. Utilities Commission, the state judicial panel that decides rate disputes and other matters../;

McCrory’s pick to head the Public Staff, Chris Ayers, has a portfolio of utilities as clients and used to practice law with Ed Finley Jr., the current chair of the Utilities Commission. Ayers’ experience also includes work as outside counsel for the N.C. attorney general in the AG’s recent challenge of a Duke Energy rate increase request.

If approved by the state legislature, Ayers would be paid about $125,000 a year to head the 75-employee Public Staff agency, which functions as the public’s legal shop in proceedings before the Utilities Commission.

Ayers, a partner at the Poyner Spruill law firm in Raleigh, considerable experience representing and advising water, electric, natural gas and other types of utilities before the Utilities Commission and in court proceedings.

“His challenge will be to promote the interests of ALL electricity customers – not just the Big Businesses.”

McCrory also nominated Rep. Jerry Dockham, a Republican from Davidson County, and James Patterson of Guilford County to six-year terms on the Utilities Commission. The men replace Lucy Allen of Franklin County and Bill Culpepper of Chowan County, whose terms expire June 30. Commissioners are also paid about $125,000 and require approval by the state legislature.

Dockham, an 11-term member of the state House and chair of the House Insurance Committee, would have to resign his elected office to become a member of the Commission.

Patterson is the CEO and founder of Patterson Partners, a public relations and crisis management firm. His clients include Smithfield Foods, Merck Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Home Depot and First Citizens Bank, according to his company website.

All three contributed to McCrory’s gubernatorial campaign. Patterson gave $350, Ayers $125 and Dockham $5,000, according to campaign finance reports filed with the State Board of Elections. 

Ethics Tips

Academic or athletic scholarships based on the same criteria as applied to the public are not considered gifts under the State Government Ethics Act.  G.S. 138A-3(15).

If you have any questions, please contact the SEI staff at the State Ethics Commission at 919- 715-2071 or by e-mail at SEI@doa.nc.gov.

NOTE OF THANKS

Dear Senator Bryant,

Thank you for being the keynote speaker for Phi Theta Kappa’s Induction Ceremony this week. It is always a pleasure to have you on campus, and I know the inductees were honored you could join them on this special occasion. In appreciation for you taking time from your busy schedule, a $500 donation has been made in your honor to the new Continuing Education and Public Services Facility.

As always, thank you for what you continue to do for the citizens of North Carolina.

Sincerely,

William S. Carver, II, Ed.D.

President

HEAR AND SEE LEGISLATURE LIVE DAILY

You don’t have to miss the Legislative Session. WRAL will live stream legislative sessions daily on their website.-www. wral.com. Also, please remember that you can listen to some committee meetings and press conferences on the General Assembly’s website at www.ncleg.net. Once on the site, select “Audio,” and then make your selection – House Chamber, Senate Chamber, Appropriations Committee Room or Press Conference Room.  You can also view the bills I sponsor and co-sponsor from this website address.

Contact:  Senator Angela R. Bryant, North Carolina Senate • District 4•

North Carolina General Assembly • State Legislative Office Building • 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 520, Raleigh, NC  27603 • 919-733-5878-P • 919-754-3289-F •Angela.Bryant@ncleg.net or

Karon Hardy, Legislative Assistant at  bryantla@ncleg.net.

The board also approved the following settlement agreements for cases in Ashe, Lee, Lenoir, Mecklenburg, Northampton, Perquimans and Wake counties.

• Stevie G. Harrell of Boone’s Farm Supplies in Garysburg agreed to pay $800 for continuing to sell restricted-use pesticides at the business after his pesticide dealer license had expired. He has since renewed his license.
• William L. Whaley Jr. of Kinston agreed to pay $800 for pesticide storage and disposal violations on his farm.
• Bryson J. Cooper of Craft Air Services LLC. of Hertford agreed to pay $1,600 after an aerial application of pesticides to a cotton field drifted within 100 feet of a residence, and came into contact with three people. The product label states it should not be allowed to drift or come into contact with people.
• Brandon Landreth of TruGreen in Charlotte agreed to pay $1,200 for applying an herbicide in windy conditions. The label for the herbicide states that it should not be applied when wind speeds are greater than 15 mph. Local records indicate the wind speeds at the time of application were between 16 and 27 mph.
• James Cline Church of Cline Church Nursery Inc. in Fleetwood agreed to pay $600 for applying an insecticide to a Christmas tree farm that affected nearby bees. The label on the insecticide states it is highly toxic to bees and to not apply it if bees are in the treatment area.
• Timothy C. Mastin of Enhancescapes of Cary agreed to pay $800 for an herbicide treatment that was made by an employee working under Mastin’s license, which had expired. Mastin has since renewed his license.
• Seth J. Parsons of NatureChem Inc. of Sanford agreed to pay $1,800 for a release of pesticides at the company facility that resulted in dead vegetation in a drainage ditch as far as 400 feet away from the property. It is unknown if the pesticide was dumped or misapplied.
• Dip’N Grow Inc. of Clackamas, Ore. agreed to pay $600 for selling Dip’N Grow Liquid Rooting Concentrate that was deficient in the active ingredient. A sample was collected from a facility in Watauga County.

The meetings in our area:

Monday, May 20, 4-7 p.m. at Robeson Community College (Workforce Development Center-BB&T Conference Room), 5160 N. Fayetteville Road,  Lumberton

Tuesday, May 21, 4-7 p.m. at Halifax Community College, The Centre (Gallery), 200 College Drive, Weldon.

Interstate 95 is a vital stretch of highway through eastern North Carolina serving commuters, accommodating vacationers and connecting area residents. In 2012, NCDOT completed the comprehensive I-95 Corridor Planning and Finance Study that outlined a proposed approach for improving the safety, connectivity and efficiency of I-95, as well as potential funding methods for these improvements. Based on concerns received about the proposed improvements and potential funding methods, the General Assembly directed NCDOT to conduct an economic study on the impacts of this plan. The I-95 Economic Assessment examined the positive and negative economic impacts of both the proposed improvements and the different funding methods.

The purpose of the meetings is to share the results of I-95 Economic Assessment and provide information about the next steps in this process. Interested citizens may drop by at any time during the meeting to view project materials and discuss the assessment and results with NCDOT representatives in an informal setting. The opportunity to submit written comments or questions will also be provided.

Anyone desiring additional information may contact Derrick Lewis, PE, NCDOT Feasibility Studies Unit, by telephone at 919-707-4663 or by email at dlewis@ncdot.gov. or NCDOT Consultant Paula Dowell, Ph.D., with Cambridge Systematics at 404-460-2606 or by email at pdowell@camsys.com.

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this workshop. Anyone requiring special services should contact Lewis as early as possible so that arrangements can be made.

Individuals who speak Spanish and do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior to the meeting by calling 1-800-481-6494.

“The Got to Be NC Festival is a celebration of North Carolina food and heritage that the whole family can enjoy,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

The highlight is the popular N.C. Food, Wine and Beer Expo where visitors can sample N.C. food and beverages. This year’s offerings have expanded to include breweries offering samples and selling bottles of beer. Admission is $2, and visitors receive a sheet of 24 coupons with special offers on products available at the expo.

Plenty of local food will be available from vendors on the grounds and the Masons and Shriners will raise money for charity with their food offerings. Teams of Masons will compete in the ninth annual Pig Jig, and the cooked pork will be sold to visitors Saturday to benefit the Masonic children’s home. Proceeds from the Shriner’s three-day Fish Fry will also go to charity.

In addition to about 1,000 tractors and farm equipment pieces on display all weekend, there will be a classic car show on Friday and motorcycle drive-in on Saturday. Free grandstand events include a draft horse pull on Friday night, electrical lineman’s rodeo on Saturday morning, antique tractor pull Saturday afternoon and garden tractor pull on Sunday.

The festival features a midway and offers budget-conscious riders two opportunities to purchase all-you-can-ride wristbands for $20. Wristbands will be sold at ride ticket booths Friday between noon and 5 p.m., and riders can use them until 10 p.m. Riders can purchase and use wristbands all day Sunday. Wristbands will not be sold or accepted on Saturday.

As usual, children will find plenty to do at the festival. The Agri-Plaza near the Expo Center will feature free hands-on activities and arts and crafts with an agriculture focus. And kids of all ages will enjoy watching the racing pigs zoom around the racetrack.

Festival hours are Friday from noon to 10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

For more information, visit www.gottobencfestival.com.