The pace of work in the House of Representatives increased this week as our committees consider measures sent to us by the Senate.
We also began having our first conference committee meetings on the budget. These meetings will help us shape the final budget the General Assembly will give to Gov. Mike Easley. I am pleased to be appointed by Speaker Joe Hackney as a House Conferee on House Bill 1473-2007 Appropriations Act and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources. This appointment will allow me to make sure that those of you in my district and the entire state get the most for your tax dollars.
In other business, the House took important steps this week in protecting our senior citizens, our homes and our animals. We also continued to consider important environmental matters, such as better ways to produce and use energy.
Thank you for allowing me to share this information with you. Please contact me if I can be of any assistance.
Budget
The General Assembly started negotiating this week on a final budget to present to Gov. Mike Easley. Both the House and the Senate have approved roughly $20 billion budget proposals that invest heavily in education and economic development. Conference committees appointed by the leaders of each chamber will work out the differences in the plans. I have been appointed to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources. Matters eligible for negotiation include pay raises for state employees, the statewide sales tax rate and, the income tax rate for the highest wage earners in the state. The House proposed a 4.25 percent pay raise — a quarter-percent more than the Senate wants. The Senate wants to trim a quarter-percent from the sales tax and the income tax rate for the wealthy. The House has proposed keeping both taxes unchanged. Negotiators hope to have a final plan ready before the next fiscal year starts July 1.
Education
The House elected Robeson County dentist Cheryl Ransom Locklear this week to serve on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. She replaces former Robeson County Schools Superintendent Purnell Swett, who was elected in April but then resigned before taking office because of concerns about a misdemeanor conviction in his past. Locklear is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She earned her doctorate in dentistry and a master’s degree in public health at UNC-Chapel Hill. She is a former chair of the board of trustees at UNC-Pembroke and a former member of the board of visitors for UNC-Chapel Hill.
Public Safety
Cigarettes that burn out safely when left unattended would be required in North Carolina under legislation approved in a House committee this week. Similar legislation has been approved in more than a dozen states and Canada, according to the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes. The group says cigarettes are the leading reason for fire deaths in the United States, causing up to 900 deaths a year. The state Division of Public Health blames cigarettes and similar smoking material for 700,500 residential fires in the state in 2005. Those fires resulted in 100 deaths and 800 injuries. The bill (HB1785) now goes to the House Finance Committee.
People who purposely kill a police animal or an assistance animal, such as a seeing-eye dog, could serve prison time under a bill sent to Gov. Mike Easley this week. The bill makes it a felony to kill such animals and makes the death an aggravating factor when determining punishment for another crime. The Senate agreed this week to a House version of the bill (SB34) that removes language that would have made it a felony to attempt to kill these animals.
Environment
A bill to require North Carolina power companies to use more renewable fuels and encourage energy efficiency received a public hearing this week before a House committee. The bill (HB77) would require the utilities to get at least 20 percent of their electricity by 2021 through renewable sources, such as wind, solar or water. The companies could use lowered customer demand achieved through efficiencies to make up part of the percentage. The bill’s sponsors have agreed to lower the goal to 15 percent. The Senate version of the measure would set a 10 percent standard.
State agencies could no longer use oyster shells in landscaping or highway beautification projects if the Senate agrees to changes in a bill (SB1453) approved in the House this week. State agencies are trying to increase awareness of oyster shell recovery efforts. The state has already banned shells from landfills and is working to establish oyster hatcheries at the state’s aquariums. North Carolina oyster stocks have dropped about 90 percent since 1900, and old shells provide the best habitat for young oysters.
Election
A measure that would allow people to register and immediately vote at one-stop sites up to three days before an election is making its way through the Senate. Supporters say the bill (HB91) would encourage more people to vote, while opponents argue it could increase the chance for voter fraud. Existing law cuts off voter registration 25 days before an election. State elections officials say the program would cause them little trouble. The measure now goes to the full Senate.
Health
The House Aging Committee approved legislation that would lead to a rating system for adult-care homes. The ratings would be based on inspections, complaint investigations and penalties imposed by state regulators. The bill (HB248) now goes to the House Appropriations Committee. The sponsor hopes it will eventually create a star system similar to the one used for day cares, which awards the centers one to five stars, with five being the highest.
Notes
Lawmakers honored bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs and songwriter Don Gibson with a special resolution on Tuesday. Both are from Cleveland County. Gibson died in 2003, but his widow came with Scruggs to help people from their native county promote a tourism project that would honor their musical legacies. Scruggs is a four-time Grammy Award winner best known for the songs “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” and “The Ballad of Jed Clampett.” Gibson wrote the song “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” which was recorded by Elvis Presley and Ray Charles, among others. Both Scruggs and Gibson are members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nation’s oldest sorority for black women, came to Raleigh on Tuesday to lobby on issues of education, family, health and business. Several state lawmakers adopted the group’s signature pink and green colors for the day.
The team of Reps. Arthur Williams, Dewey Hill and David Lewis beat a Senate team Wednesday in a charity milk chugging contest. The contest was part of Dairy Month at the General Assembly. The victory is the first for the House since the contest began in 2000. The winning team received $300 from the North Carolina Dairy Promotion Committee to donate to the charity of its choice.
Please remember that you can listen to each day’s session, committee meetings and press conferences on the General Assembly’s website. Once on the site, select “audio,” and then make your selection — House Chamber, Senate Chamber, Appropriations Committee Room or Press Conference Room.
I introduced, or handled on the House Floor, the below bills that passed second and third readings in the House this week:
SB 777 Amend Certified Public Accountants Criminal Punishment (identical to HB 519) received a favorable report in Judiciary III on May 31st and passed second and third readings in the House on June 5th. Bill will increase the criminal penalty for the unlawful use of the title “certified public accountant” (CPA) from a Class 3 misdemeanor to a Class 1 misdemeanor. The Senate concurred in the House committee substitute on June 7th.
HB 792-Northampton County Occupancy Tax received a favorable recommendation from House Finance Subcommittee on Occupancy Tax on May 30th and received a favorable report in Finance Committee on May 31st. Bill authorizes Northampton County to levy a 6% occupancy tax. At least two-thirds of the proceeds would be used to promote travel and tourism and the remainder would be used for tourism-related activities. The bill conforms to the guidelines supported by the NC Travel and Tourism Coalition and adhered to by the House Finance Committee. Bill passed second and third readings in the House on June 5th and 6th. The bill was sent to the Senate and referred to the Senate Finance Committee June 7th .
SB 880-Bail Bonds/Amend Forfeiture Requirement received a favorable report in the House Judiciary III Committee on June 6th. Bill would establish conditions under which the forfeiture of a bail bond will be set aside if the defendant was incarcerated anywhere in the United States on the day the defendant was required to appear in court. The bill would also allow a court to impose monetary sanctions against a surety who fails to attach documentation or who attaches fraudulent documentation to a motion to set aside forfeiture. Bill passed second and third readings in the House on June 7th.
The following people visited the Legislature and/or my office:
It was a pleasure for me to give the commencement address at Northampton County High School-East on June 7th.
The House will return to session Monday at 7 p.m.
As I’ve said many times before, I hope you will continue to let me know how you feel about the issues that are being debated by the North Carolina Legislature and the challenges you and your family are facing each day.
By working together, we can make Northampton, Vance and Warren Counties and all regions of North Carolina a better place to live, work and raise a family.