I hope that you are doing well and looking forward to this warmer spring weather! Hopefully, we will continue to receive much needed rain in the days to come.
LEGISLATIVE SHORT SESSION COMING
The General Assembly will reconvene for its off-year session on May 13, 2008. The “Short Session” typically makes adjustments to the State budget and addresses a limited number of policy matters not completed during the last Session. The Short Session this year will be different from those in the past, as the national economy is in a recession that adversely affects North Carolina. The State’s system for delivery of health care, particularly mental health care, for its citizens will also be a priority. This newsletter will address these topics and some developments within Senate District 7 that will be of interest to you.
Addressing the Recession
Most economists now believe that the American economy is in a recession. Economists continue to debate how severe the recession will be and how long it will last. The reality for most North Carolinians is that the stalling economy will impact their lives, particularly as this recession is being accompanied by higher prices for gasoline, energy, and most commodities.
Many legislators lack confidence in the President’s response to the recession. Three massive infusions of public dollars into America’s financial system have not stemmed the housing “bubble,” the “credit crunch,” or stabilized the stock markets. Some experts are predicting that an additional 60,000 homes in North Carolina will enter foreclosure in 2008.
In North Carolina, unemployment is rising. A number of legislators are discussing the propriety of a state bond proposal that would be used exclusively to put people back to work by building much needed public infrastructure, new schools, and roads across the state.
Mental Health
The Senate and House Co-Chairs of the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee have begun meeting in preparation for the upcoming Short Session. We have met with Mr. Dempsey Benton, the new Secretary for Health and Human Services, to begin the discussions between the General Assembly and the Executive Branch on reforms needed for the effective and efficient delivery of mental health services. The system has fallen apart because the 2001 General Assembly and the Governor supported privatization of a system largely dependent on public resources to pay for needed mental health services.
I believe that we must remove certain functions of mental health delivery out of the private sector and restore those functions to Health and Human Services oversight. One compelling failure of the current system is that private sector contractors determine a person’s eligibility to receive mental health treatment. The privatization of these functions has led to fraud, waste, and abuse and has most unfortunately resulted in the underfunding of the actual delivery of services to people who truly need such services. Mental health assessments need to be made by the State’s local management entities or by an independent entity and not by the providers of the services. Such oversight can ensure that those truly in need of services receive quality care.
Both legislative Committees will be looking at a wide range of other options to ensure the long term success and financial responsibility of the mental health system in our State.
Protect Children’s Health Care
We will be reviewing the funding of the State Child Health Insurance Program. Early reports are that North Carolina will receive federal dollars to match the state funding until the end of 2008 without having to cut insurance coverage for children. However, in May 2009, we are projected to incur an $80 million deficit because of the federal government’s inaction to provide funding for this program. As you may recall, the President has twice vetoed legislation that would have expanded coverage.
7th District News
Local Education Initiatives
Senator Floyd McKissick of Durham County and I met with Durham school leaders and Vance County school leaders this past week to discuss plans for the development of an urban-rural pilot project to address reducing the high school dropout rate. This initiative is the direct result of a meeting Senator Marc Basnight had last fall with African-American leaders, Representative Michael Wray, and me in Vance County and a town hall meeting he had with Senator McKissick in Durham.
The proposals being considered for approval by the two local school boards will involve facilitating the development of schools that allow students to expeditiously earn high school credits sot that they can graduate with their class. One known risk factor for students who drop out is the inability to graduate on time.
Durham currently operates a school at Northgate Mall that has approximately 90 students, with a waiting list, who are able to expeditiously earn high school credits by doing online computer work. There are six teachers who work individually with these students. Upon successful passage of self-paced work assignments and passage of the end-of-grade testing, these students are able to catch up academically. The participants in this program must be at an eighth grade proficiency level.
There is currently a waiting list of over 150 students for this program. We are collaborating to develop an expanded pilot program to be implemented in Vance County and Durham County that will enable students with a proficiency level below the eighth grade to attend a school where they can catch up in credits. Again, students will have to pass end-of-course tests in order to receive credit.
The other program under development is based upon a program entitled Citizen Schools. This school is aimed at middle school students. The program would extend the school day from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Teachers in this program would coordinate with classroom teachers and parents in working with students on homework as well as structured “hands-on” learning tasks. A key component to the program is the creation of an internship with an area business for each student participating in this extended day program.
These proposals will be submitted to the Boards of Education in Vance County and Durham County. If these Boards approve a request to participate in these pilot projects, then the legislative delegations from both areas will work together to try to include funding for these pilot projects in this year’s continuation budget. If these programs are successful in reducing the dropout rate in both counties, then the General Assembly may look at expanding these approaches statewide.
Local Jobs and Revitalization
Downtown Franklinton
The State’s policy has consistently supported the revitalization of small town business districts. The slowing economy has left many small town business districts partially vacated. The North Carolina Rural Center has awarded a $50,000 grant to help pay for the repair of a downtown building in Franklinton that will be used to open up a new restaurant by County Commissioner Penny McGhee-Young and her husband. While the North Carolina Rural Center is awarding $50,000, the owners are investing $150,000, twice the amount they needed to invest in order that the grant be awarded. A new restaurant in the downtown will create new jobs and hopefully serve as a magnet for other small business to open in the downtown area.
The Town of Franklinton had received an earlier grant from the North Carolina Rural Center to help the town develop a revitalization plan for the development of businesses in downtown Franklinton. The town conducted a market survey of its citizens who reported that they desired more restaurant options to be available. A competent, coordinated plan based upon a market survey offers the best opportunity for revitalization of downtown Franklinton.
Hill Ridge Farms
The State has an historic policy commitment in maintaining and expanding markets for our farmers. Hill Ridge Farms in Franklin County has qualified for a $250,000 grant to extend sewer lines to Hill Ridge Farms.
Many, if not most, pumpkin farmers across North Carolina who sell their pumpkins outside their local area sell their pumpkins to Hill Ridge Farms. North Carolina pumpkin farmers benefit from the continued growth and success of Hill Ridge Farms to provide a stable market for their product. Furthermore, Hill Ridge Farms is one of the largest tourist attractions in the 7th Senatorial District.
Hill Ridge Farms lacks the capacity to provide public restrooms for tourist traffic. The grant was awarded upon a commitment to build and operate a restaurant on the farm. Sewer lines will be laid to the new restaurant, and those lines will be accessible to other businesses locating in the immediate area. The sewer lines to the restaurant will enable other businesses to locate in the immediate area creating new jobs at the restaurant and businesses that move into the area.
Kerr-Tar Hub
Representative Lucy Allen and I were recently able to secure $500,000 for the development of an access road to the Mini-Hub project located in Franklin County.
The Sassafras
Many of you may not be aware that a gourmet restaurant operates in the 7th District. The Sassafras is located in Stovall, birthplace of William Penn, one of three North Carolina natives to sign the Declaration of Independence. The owner, Mr. Ron Roots, realized that there were no signs on I-85 giving directions to Stovall. He brought it to the attention of area leaders. City Councilman Ricky Sneed and County Commissioner James Lumpkins secured the support of the Town of Stovall and the Board of County Commissioners in making a request that signs be erected on I-85.
I hope that you will feel free to contact me about any concern you may have about District 7. As I have told you often, I consider it an honor and privilege to serve as your senator, and I welcome your comments and suggestions.
Have a happy Easter and a wonderful springtime!
Doug Berger