Budget negotiations continued this week with the House and Senate working to find common ground.
The goal remains to have a final budget ready for Gov. Easley’s signature before the end of this fiscal year on June 30.
When we are not negotiating, my colleagues and I continue to work on other legislation. This week, we gathered additional information about gang-related crime in this state and possible solutions and heard from the public about a proposed annexation study. We also approved a bill that would largely ban smoking on University of North Carolina campuses.
Thank you as always for the opportunity to share this information with you. Please let me know if I can be of any help.
Public Safety
Law enforcement authorities came to the General Assembly this week to support a bill that would strengthen laws and lengthen sentences for gang members. The bill (HB274) would add 10 more years to the prison terms of gang leaders or organizers and set aside $10 million for gang prevention and intervention programs. New Bern Police Chief Frank Palombo told the Judiciary III subcommittee that many gang members are career criminals who deserve longer sentences. My colleagues and I in the House are also looking at other solutions to reduce gang-related crimes in our state and make our schools and communities safer.
The governor is closer to getting authority to remove disbarred district attorneys and judges. Existing law doesn’t require them to leave office or allow for their removal. The bill (SB118) has already been approved in the Senate. It was prompted by the case of a disbarred district court judge who refused to leave the bench. The state paid him $25,000 in salary before he eventually resigned.
Health
Smoking could be banned within 100 feet of University of North Carolina buildings under a measure approved by the House this week. The bill (SB862) exempts the UNC Health Care System and medical buildings at East Carolina University. Administrators there would set their own smoking policies. University leaders asked for the bill so they can help protect the health of their students. The bill now goes to Gov. Mike Easley for his signature.
Environment
The Senate Environment committee approved a House bill that would require closer monitoring of businesses that store hazardous waste. The proposal includes many of the suggestions made after an explosion at a hazardous waste storage company in Apex that resulted in the evacuation of thousands of people. Under the bill, such companies would have to provide information to emergency workers about the types of chemicals they store, and the state would have to consider increasing budgets for the state medical assistance teams that respond to hazardous waste incidents. The bill (HB36) now goes to the full Senate.
Property rights
A House committee took up the emotional issue of annexation again this week, holding a public hearing that drew more than 200 people. The committee is considering a study on whether the state’s annexation laws should be amended. North Carolina is one of a handful of states that allow forced annexation. Supporters of the law say it allows for orderly growth and for economic stability in cities and towns. Opponents argue the law unfairly forces them to become a part of municipalities.
Education
The group leading the House initiative to improve the state’s high school graduation rate recently held its third public hearing, this time at Parkland High School in Winston-Salem. The audience for the hearing included several members of the House of Representatives, school administrators, teachers, parents, students, local leaders and concerned citizens. Forsyth County school superintendent Don Martin also came to share information about dropout trends in his school system. The group may hold additional hearings before presenting its recommendations. The budget proposed by the House included $7 million to help the state better address this serious issue.
Notes
Sandy Basnight, the wife of Senate President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight, died Sunday after an extended illness. Other lawmakers and I attended her funeral in Wanchese on Wednesday. The Senate canceled its session for the day while the House met at 7:00 pm to allow its members time to attend.
Winston-Salem police Sgt. Howard Plouff, who was killed Feb. 23 while trying to break up a fight, was honored in the House this week. He was the first Winston-Salem police officer killed in the line of duty since 1995. Members of the Winston-Salem police department came to Raleigh on behalf of his family.
The House passed a resolution this week asking the Department of Defense to return the remains of a Marine killed in Cambodia to Duplin County. Lance Cpl. Joseph Nelson Hargrove was captured by Khmer Rouge forces on Koh Tang Island in 1975 while trying to free kidnapped crew members of the SS Mayaguez. Hargrove’s grave site was identified on the island in 2001. His widow was in the House gallery during the debate.
I attended the following events:
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.
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.