Senator Angela Bryant Newsletter


NEWS FROM RALEIGH…

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

 

IMPORTANT BUDGET UPDATE:

GOP leaders agree on $20.6 billion NC budget (AP) — Leaders in the North Carolina House and Senate announced Sunday that they have reached agreement on a $20.6 billion budget that will end teacher tenure and allow taxpayer money to be spent for private school tuition.

 

AS SOON AS A SUMMARY IS AVAILABLE – WE WILL SEND OUT AN ALERT

See link below for full budget bill.

·         Conference Report on Continuation, Expansion & Capital Budgets, SB 402 Budget Committee Report – http://www.ncleg.net/sessions/2013/budget/2013/SB402_Committee_Report_2013-07-21.pdf

·         Conference Committee Substitute for SB 402, Appropriations Act of 2013 Budget Bill Text – http://www.ncleg.net/sessions/2013/budget/2013/S402-CCSLEx-4.pdf

 

 

 

NEWSLETTER INDEX

 

·        Around the District and More (Outstanding Students, Pages, Nurse of the Day)

·        Info on Health Care Reform Law and Common Core Education Standards

·        Events

·        Job Announcement  

·        Legislative News

      Unemployment Benefits Cuts

      2013 Tax Cut Package Provisions

      New Members of 2013 Economic Dev. Board

·        Hear and See Legislative Live Daily

·        Ethics Tip

·        A Note of Thanks

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AROUND THE DISTRICT AND MORE

Congratulations to these Outstanding Students from our District!

 

Pictured above are Ashley Silver and Reginald Silver

 

Ashley Silver is a 2013 graduate of Rocky Mount High School and has been accepted into Winston-Salem State University this fall. As an active school member, Ashley was recognized for her leadership as the Rocky Mount Kiwanis Club student of the week in March. Since then she has remained committed to serving others and we are proud to shed light on the accomplishments that she has reached and look forward to what is to come!

 

 

 

Pictured above are Manasvi Koul and Senator Kay Hagan in Washington, DC.

 

Manasvi Koul, a 2011 graduate of Marvin Ridge High School in Waxhaw, NC, has been recognized for her outstanding community service. Manasvi is now a student at the University of Pennsylvania and continues her efforts to serve by making a documentary to educate people about stem cell and bone marrow donation, which not only cure cancer, but immune diseases like SCIDS and disorders relating to sickle cell anemia. We commend Manasvi on her dedication to helping others and look forward to the many projects she has in store for the community.  Manasvi’s mother is Anjali Koul, owner of the Quality Inn in Henderson.

 

Victoria Fahnestock and Mark Trae Macon, III

Served as Pages in the Senate

 

Victoria Leigh Fahnestock, a junior at Rocky Mount High School, recently served as a Page. Victoria was sponsored by Senator Trudy Wade and appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore, Phil Berger of Rockingham County. In regards to her time here, Victoria says: “My experience as serving as a Senator’s Page for Senator Bryant has been extremely beneficial and educations by bettering my understanding of how the political process works in North Carolina. This is a great and fun opportunity to become hands on in the Senate.”

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Mark (Trae) Macon, II, a senior at Northwest Halifax High School, also served as a Page at the NCGA. Trae was sponsored by Senator Bryant and appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore, Phil Berger of Rockingham County. Here is what Trae says about his week: “My experience was a great one. I made new friends and learned new things. Learning about the Senate and politics was very interesting and I enjoyed dressing up every day. This could possibly be something I’d like to do as a career. This program should always be around as this experience opened a whole new door for me.”

 

                     

              

A  Servant’s Heart Nurse Gail Lane

 

 

 

 

Nurse Gail Lane of Roanoke Rapids volunteered her time as “Nurse of the Day” at the General Assembly. Before leaving she stopped by to visit with Senator Bryant.

Thank you for your hard work and many years of service!


 

Benefits of the Health Care Reform Law

 

From the Office of Congressman G.K. Butterfield

 

Starting in September of this year, health insurers and employers will be required to provide 330,000 district residents with an easy-to-understand summary of benefits and coverage under their health care plan, providing them with clear and consistent information so they can easily compare health care options. And when the health care reform law goes fully into effect, 45,000 residents who now lack health care coverage will have access to affordable coverage for the first time, and everyone in the district will be protected from discrimination by insurers based on a preexisting health condition.

Consumer Protection Benefits

Stopping abuses by health insurers. The Affordable Care Act ended the most egregious insurance company abuses. Under the Act, health insurers are barred from denying children insurance on the basis of pre-existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer; they can no longer rescind coverage for individuals who become ill; and they are prohibited from imposing annual and lifetime limits on coverage. This report estimates that in Rep. Butterfield’s district, there are 7,000 to 34,000 children with preexisting health conditions who are now protected against insurer denials; there are 330,000 residents with private health insurance coverage who are protected from rescission of their health coverage if they become ill; and there are 140,000 people in health care plans that previously imposed lifetime limits but are now prohibited from doing so.

 

Lowering health insurance costs. The Affordable Care Act protects individuals from soaring health insurance costs by requiring insurers to post and justify proposed rate increases of 10% or more. It also limits the amount that insurance companies can spend on administrative expenses and profits. This report estimates that in Rep. Butterfield’s district, 100,000 residents who have individual coverage or employer coverage are benefitting from these provisions.2

2 The provision on administrative costs does not apply to self-insured employer plans, and this estimate does not include individuals in these types of plans.

 

Future Benefits

Starting in September of this year, all new individual and group health insurance policies will be required to provide consumers with an easy-to-understand summary of their health benefits and coverage, including a standardized “coverage examples” section that uses a format modeled on the nutrition facts label for food. The summaries will give the 330,000 district residents with private insurance clear, consistent, and comparable information about their health plans and the coverage they can expect to receive from these plans.

 

By 2014, virtually all of the important benefits of the Affordable Care Act will come into effect. Health insurers will be prohibited from discriminating against all adults and children with pre-existing conditions, which will protect the 100,000 to 260,000 individuals in the district with a pre-existing health condition. When the law is fully implemented, 45,000 residents who now lack health insurance will receive coverage for the first time. The 330,000 residents with private insurance coverage will no longer face annual limits on coverage. Residents of the district who buy their health insurance on the private market will be able to shop for health insurance in transparent and competitive marketplaces called exchanges, where insurers will be required to publish the prices and benefits of their policies in simple, plain language.

 

Along with all these benefits, the Affordable Care Act will reduce the federal deficit by more than $100 billion over the next decade and by more than $1 trillion in the decade after that.

 

Additional Healthcare resources regarding subsidy calculator, federal poverty levels health ranking by county and search for community health centers can be found at http://butterfield.house.gov/health-care


13 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE COMMON CORE STATE EDUCATION STANDARDS IN NORTH CAROLINA

  • The Common Core is a set of standards for what students should learn and be able to do in mathematics and English language arts from kindergarten through 12th grade.
  • The Common Core State Standards are North Carolina’s Standard Course of Study in mathematics and English language arts.
  • Teachers participated in the development and selection of the Common Core State Standards, and the public provided feedback before these new standards were selected.
  • The Common Core State Standards grew out of conversation beginning more than five years ago between state superintendents from across the country and governors from many states. The US Department of Education endorsed the standards after the states developed them.
  • Having common standards in these two fundamental subjects means those publishers of textbooks and other learning resources will not need to create different textbooks to match each state’s course of study. The goal is for textbooks and other materials to be better and richer as a result.
  • The Common Core allows students who may have to move during their K-12 education to quickly fit into the academic program wherever they go. For military families, this is especially helpful.
  • The Common Core State Standards are more rigorous than North Carolina’s earlier standards. These more rigorous standards mean that student test scores overall likely will drop in the first year they are given. This is a normal pattern any time a state increases expectations for students and has happened before in North Carolina when standards were raised.

 

  • The new academic standards in mathematics are organized by the following conceptual categories or themes: Number and Quantity, Algebra, Functions, Modeling, Geometry, and Statistics and Data. Equally important are the Standards for Mathematical Practice, describing the behaviors or ‘habits of mind’ of mathematically-proficient students.

 

  • The new academic standards in English language arts are organized by four skill categories: Reading (Informational and Literary), including Reading Foundational Skills for K-5 students; Writing; Speaking and Listening; and Language
  • Having organized standards for student learning in North Carolina is not a new idea. Our state has had a Standard Course of Study for more than 50 years. Each subject’s set of Essential Standards and the Common Core State Standards make up North Carolina’s Standard Course of Study, which is available free of charge online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/.
  • Implementing the new Standard Course of Study is no more expensive than implementing other past revisions to the state’s Standard Course of Study.
  • The standards contain no required reading list for teachers, just suggestions of works that encompass a diverse catalogue of informational and literary text.
  • The Common Core State Standards provide a rigorous level of standards for student learning in math and English language arts, and local school districts still can accelerate learning opportunities for students who are academically gifted. North Carolina’s Standard Course of Study has always allowed for this flexibility to meet students’ needs.

 

EVENTS

  • SCLC Teen Leadership Summit 2013– The Southern Christian Leadership Conference Teen Leadership Summit 2013 will help children and young adults learn the craft of leadership and lifestyle success, to educate, to inspire and to strengthen our youth that they may all have the very best opportunity at success. This dynamic, interactive event will provide teens, parents, and youth service providers with educational sessions developed to encourage positive change in our communities. Breakout Sessions will include discussion in topics such as teen dating, body image and self-esteem, self-expression; healthy bodies, everyday etiquette skills, interviewing tips and much more.
  • Date: Aug. 1st&2nd; Time:10:00a.m.-6:00p.m.; Location: Greenville Convention Center; More Information: send inquiry email to pitt_sclc@hotmail.com
  • Summer Camps at the Arts Center – Various Camps are offered for children ages 5 – 12.  Location: The Imperial Center, Rocky Mount, Dates: June 17 – August 19th. More Information: Call 252-972-1163.
  • Education Summit- the Chamber’s fifth annual Education Summit is geared to engage business leaders and educations in a discussion of the role they can play in ensuring the state’s students are well-prepared for the jobs of tomorrow. This year’s summit continues the dialogue and will generate thought-provoking conversation. Like the Chamber’s four previous Education Summits, this one is sure to receive an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from top educators and business leaders in North Carolina.
    • Date: August 1, 2013 Location: RTP; More Information: The Roanoke Valley Chamber at 252-537-3513
  • NC Freedom Monument Reception and Emancipation Proclamation ExhibitionThe 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.”
    • Traveling Exhibition Tour-BeginsDates: July 2013-September 2015, Location: NC Museum of History, More Information: Dianne Pledger (919) 224-0408 or dpledger@ncfmp.org
  • 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
  • NC State University Summer Camps, applications and information links at www.gatewaytechnologycenter.com.  For more information contact Angelena Kearney-Dunlap at 252-257-3115
  • North Carolina Black Elected Municipal OfficialsDate: July 25 – 28th, Time: 10:00, Location: Preconference Workshop, register on July 25th at Doubletree Hotel, Rocky Mount, NC.  For more information and On-Line Registration:  Visit www.ncbemo.org.

 


 

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

 

The new UNC Center for Health Equity Research (cher.web.unc.edu) has an Administrative Support Specialist position posted. Please see https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/28671 for more information.


LEGISLATIVE NEWS

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS CUTS

2,798 constituents in District 4 lost unemployment benefits on July 1, 2013

 

NC could have Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits reinstated for its long term unemployed if we delay the benefit cut called for in HB 4 to January 2014 and enter into a new agreement with the federal government.

Testimonial from a Halifax County constituent: Bernard Zdancewicz

            Bernard has worked for six years as a teacher and 22 years in retail, 19 of those years in management positions, yet has struggled this past year to find a full-time job.  He is very concerned for his family, and believes that North Carolina’s decision to terminate the federal extended unemployment benefits will put many North Carolina citizens and their families at risk.  He also believes that that many long-term unemployed citizens are being stereotyped as being lazy or unwilling to work.

            “I have put in over 100 applications, often getting no response, or simply getting a “form letter” stating “we cannot offer you a position at this time”.  I have been told that I am “over-qualified” for some positions.  In December I accepted a part-time Field Service Representative position, and this spring I taught part-time at a University.  I am in training for another potential part-time job.  Regardless of what some in the NC Legislature might believe, I am not lazy and I want to work full-time.”

            Bernard knows that there are thousands of citizens in Senator Bryant’s district in a similar circumstance, and he is looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with her on creating solutions. 

2013 TAX CUT PACKAGE PROVISIONS

Tax cut—Bullet Point Summary (adapted in part from AARP)

  • Tax cut for wealthy:  Only incomes over $100,000 and businesses with income over $250,000 really benefit from tax cut considering the combined effect of income tax changes and cuts and sales tax increases and expansion, especially sales tax on electricity.
  • The overhaul plan would eliminate the current three-tiered personal income tax structure and set a flat rate at 5.8 percent in 2014 and 5.75 percent in 2015.
  • It would allow a standard deduction of $15,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly, $12,000 for heads of household and $7,500 for single or married taxpayers filing separately. Deductions previously allowed from retirement income – $4,000 for government pensions (except for public pensions protected under the Bailey court decision) and $2,000 for private plans – are eliminated.
  • No for medical/dental/pharmacy expenses allowed.
  •  Deductions for charitable contributions would continue; however, a cap of $20,000 would apply to mortgage interest and property tax deductions.
  • The corporate income tax would drop from 6.9 percent to 6 percent in 2014 and would drop to 5 percent in 2015.  Additional reductions are possible in 2016 and 2017 if the state meets revenue targets.
  • The plan continues a sales tax exemption for non-profits but caps the exemption at $45 million. 
  • The legislation approved would also expand the sales tax to cover service warranties and amusements including movies, and would apply fully to manufactured housing.
  • The 3 percent franchise tax on electricity and natural gas would be eliminated and replaced with a 7 percent general sales tax, effectively a 4 percent rate hike in monthly bills.
  • Tax plan does not tax Social Security benefits or prescription drugs and taxes on food would not be increased.  Also local revenue would not be decreased under this plan. 
  • Tax plan passed will result in a loss of $2.4 billion in state revenue over the next five years.  In the coming years, state and local leaders will likely have to reduce or eliminate programs and services and cut maintenance and investment in infrastructure.  For example, services for seniors which help them stay in their homes such as home delivered meals and in-home aide services may be at risk at the same time that our state’s older population is growing and the cost of service delivery is increasing resulting in even more people not being able to get the help they need.

·         There is much ground to be regained since the deep and enduring cuts following the recession. Yet, three weeks into the new fiscal year, legislative leadership delivered a final budget that shorts investments in the foundations of a strong and sustainable economy—our schools, public health systems, courts, and communities. As such, this budget fails to catch up—let alone keep up—with the needs of a growing North Carolina population across major service areas.  

·         Lawmakers chose to drain available revenues by $524 million over the next two years through an ill-advised series of tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy and profitable corporations. This revenue loss isn’t just a number on a piece of paper—it means fewer teachers in more crowded classrooms, higher tuition rates and elevated debt load for families, scarcer economic development opportunities for distressed communities, and longer waiting lists for senior services.

 

House Bill 998: Tax Simplification and Reduction Act

 

 

Tax Provision

Current Law

 Change Proposed

 

Rates

6%, 7%, 7.75%

Flat rate

·         2014 – 5.8%

·         After 2014 – 5.75%

Personal exemption

$2,500 or $2,000

Eliminate

Standard Deduction

$6,000 (MFJ); $4,400 (H/H); $3,000 (Single/MFS)

$15,000 (MFJ)

$12,000 (H/H)

$ 7,500 (MFS & Single)

Itemized deductions

All federal itemized deductions

·         All charitable contributions allowed under the Code

·         Mortgage interest + property taxes on real estate, capped at $20,000

 

Exemption:

All Social security income

Current law; no change

Exemption:

$4,000 public/$2000 private retirement income

Eliminate

Deductions:

Severance wages;

$50,000 business deduction

Eliminate

Credits scheduled to sunset in 2014 that only apply to PIT

Current law; no change.

Credits will sunset as scheduled: Premiums paid for long-term care insurance, EITC, adoption expenses

Credits with no sunset that only apply to PIT

Eliminate all but the child tax credit

Credits eliminated: Child care, totally and permanently disabled, property taxes paid on farm machinery, charitable contributions by non-itemizers, education expenses

Child credit

$100 per child if AGI <$100,000

$125 per child if AGI =/< $40,000

$100 per child if AGI > $40,000 and < $100,000

No credit if AGI > $100,000 (MFJ)

Corporate Income Tax

Rate

6.9%

2014 – 6%

2015 – 5%

Trigger for possible rate reductions in 2016 and 2017

·         If net GF tax revenues for FY14-15 equal or exceed $20.2 billion, the rate will drop 1% to 4%. If target not reached, rate remains at 5%.

·         If net GF tax revenues for FY15-16 equal or exceed $20.975 billion, the rate will drop 1%. If target reached both FY, rate would be 3%. If target reached in only one FY, then rate would be 4%. If target isn’t reached in either FY, then the rate remains at 4%.

 

Credits scheduled to sunset that apply to PIT and CIT

Extend Research & Development Tax Credit two years (2016)

Allow other credits to sunset as scheduled: NC State Ports Authority charges, recycling oyster shells, constructing renewable fuel facilities, biodiesel producers, WOTC

 

interactive digital media, Article 3J (2014); historic rehabilitation, low-income housing, mill rehabilitation (2015); investing in renewable energy property, donating money to a nonprofit or governmental entity to invest in renewable energy property (2016); Railroad intermodal facilities (2038)

Credits with no sunset that apply to PIT and CIT

Eliminate

Credits eliminated: Construction of dwelling units for handicapped, certain real property donations, conservation tillage equipment, gleaned crop, construction of poultry composting facility

Credits with sunset that apply only to CIT

Current law; no change.

Credit will sunset as scheduled: manufacturing cigarettes for exportation (2018)

Credits with no sunset that apply only to CIT

Eliminate credits for certain telephone subscriber fees, savings and loan supervisory fee. No change to credit for investing in major recycling facility.

Franchise Tax

Gross receipts tax on electricity

Eliminate and include in the sales tax base, effective July 1, 2014

Businesses subject to this franchise tax become subject to the general franchise tax.

Utilities Commission instructed to reduce rate charged to customers accordingly.

Amusements, movies

Eliminate and include in the sales tax base, effective January 1, 2014

Sales Tax

State Rate = 4.75%

Current law; no change.

Local Rate = 2%

Optional ¼ cent

Current law; no change.

Tax rate: manufactured home

2%, $300 maximum

State general rate of 4.75%; not in local base

January 1, 2014

Tax rate: modular homes

2.5%

State general rate of 4.75%; not in local base

January 1, 2014

Tax rate: Electricity

  • 3%
  • 2.83% – dry cleaners

 

Combined general rate of 7%, effective July 1, 2014

Not in the local sales tax base; distribution to cities

Retain current exemptions for manufacturers, farmers, and datacenters

Franchise Tax

Gross receipts tax on electricity

Eliminate and include in the sales tax base, effective July 1, 2014

Businesses subject to this franchise tax become subject to the general franchise tax.

Utilities Commission instructed to reduce rate charged to customers accordingly.

Amusements, movies

Eliminate and include in the sales tax base, effective January 1, 2014

Sales Tax

State Rate = 4.75%

Current law; no change.

Local Rate = 2%

Optional ¼ cent

Current law; no change.

Tax rate: manufactured home

2%, $300 maximum

State general rate of 4.75%; not in local base

January 1, 2014

Tax rate: modular homes

2.5%

State general rate of 4.75%; not in local base

January 1, 2014

Tax rate: Electricity

? 3%

? 2.83% – dry cleaners

 

Combined general rate of 7%, effective July 1, 2014

Not in the local sales tax base; distribution to cities

Retain current exemptions for manufacturers, farmers, and datacenters

Add:

Amusements from privilege gross receipts franchise tax

Yes, January 1, 2014

Add:

Attractions for which admission charged

Yes, January 1, 2014

Exemption:

Add amusement exemptions

 

  • Elementary and secondary school events
  • Nonprofit events (limited to two a year)
  • Agricultural fairs
  • Youth sporting events
  • State attractions

Add:

Service contracts

Yes, January 1, 2014

Exemption:

Add related to service contracts

 

  • Item for which service contract provided is exempt (except motor vehicles)
  • Item used to fulfill a service contract
  • Transmission, distribution, or network asset on utility owned property

Add:

Piped natural gas

Yes, July 1, 2014

Tax at combined general rate of 7%

Tax Provision

Current Law

Change Proposed

(Propane subject to sales tax)

Not in the local sales tax base; distribution to cities

Exemption:

Nutritional supplements (13c)

Meals sold in higher education facilities (27)

Newspapers (28)

Eliminate, January 1, 2014

Exemption:

Bakery thrift store (27a)

Sales tax holiday for school

Sales tax holiday for Energy Star

Eliminate, July 1, 2014

Exemptions – farm related

Annual gross income requirement of $10,000

July 1, 2014

Tax refunds:

Economic incentives

Extend sunset for passenger air carrier and motorsports two years from January 1, 2014, to January 1, 2016

Allow others to sunset as scheduled: analytical services (2014), certain industrial facilities1 (2014), and intermodal railroad facilities (2038)

Tax refunds:

Nonprofits

Cap refunds at $45 million (State and local)

Tax refunds:

Local governments

Current law; no change.

Excise Taxes

Excise tax on piped natural gas

Eliminate and include in the sales tax base

July 1, 2014

Utilities Commission instructed to reduce rate charged to customers accordingly.

Excise tax on motor fuel

37.6 cents a gallon, effective July 1, 2013

Cap for two years at 37.5 cents/gallon

October 1, 2013 – until July 1, 2014

Local Distributions

CIT earmark for Public School Building Capital Fund

Eliminate; earmark suspended since 2008

Gross receipts tax on electricity distributed to cities

Formula to preserve local distribution

Recalculate every five years, beginning 2020

Excise tax on piped natural gas distributed to cities

Formula to preserve local distribution

Earmarking 20% of sales tax from modular homes

Eliminate

Estate Tax

Tax Levy

Eliminate for decedents dying on or after January 1, 2013

 

Revenue Laws Study

Tax Provision Current Law

Change Proposed

New

 

  • Feasibility of a preferential rate on fuel sold to railroads, air carriers, and motorsports
  • Impact of the sales tax refund provision on a nonprofit’s ability to fulfill its mission, particularly the delivery of healthcare services in rural communities
  • Replacing 1% excise tax on machinery with sales tax; exempting capital purchases
  • The scope and application of the privilege tax at the rate of one percent (1%) with a cap of eighty dollars ($80.00) that applies to mill machinery and on other machinery and equipment purchased by certain industries and companies
  • Authority of cities and counties to impose a privilege tax on businesses and the various State privilege license taxes
  • Benefits and fiscal impact of allowing corporations to deduct net operating losses as opposed to net economic losses
  • Simplification of the franchise tax base calculation and the elimination of the franchise tax
  • Feasibility of expanding the sales tax base to include additional services
  • Applicability of corporate income tax rate reduction trigger
  • Low income housing tax credit
  • Distribution to cities of sales tax on piped natural gas and electricity.

 

1 To receive refund, entities must meet business, minimum investment, and industry-specific requirements. Generally applies to the following businesses: air courier services, aircraft manufacturing, financial services, motor vehicle manufacturing, paper-from-pulp manufacturing, pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing and distribution, semiconductor manufacturing, solar electricity generating materials manufacturing, turbine manufacturing  

Senate Unveils Voter ID Bill (From AARP)

State Senate released its version of voter ID legislation (House Bill 589).  The Senate plan would eliminate about half of the photo identification allowed by the House including ID cards from UNC system colleges, community colleges, local governments, private employers, law enforcement agencies, and government public assistance programs.  Like the House plan, the Senate proposal would require voters to begin showing IDs with the 2016 primary.  Education about the ID requirement would begin next year. 

Several provisions of the Senate voter ID plan are as follows:

  • Any voter age 70 or older at the time of presentation at the voting place shall be permitted to present an expired form of any allowable ID that was unexpired on the voter’s 70th birthday.
  • If a qualified voter is able to travel to the voting place, but is unable to enter the voting enclosure to vote in person without assistance because of age, physical disability or physical barriers encountered at the voting place, then that voter shall be allowed to vote either in the vehicle conveying that voter or in the immediate proximity of the voting place.  The voter shall present valid photo identification or a copy of one of the following documents that shows the name and address of the voter: a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document.
  • Provides for the issuance of a special identification card when a person does not have a driver’s license.  There is no fee for this card if certain criteria are met.  One of the criteria for obtaining a special ID card without a fee is not having other acceptable photo identification.   The bill spells out provisions for issuing a certified copy of a birth or marriage certificate to any person over the age of 62 for the purposes of obtaining a photo ID.
  • Requires county boards of elections to dispatch multipartisan teams to assist nursing home residents in voting. Currently there is limited assistance to such persons – only a near relative, legal guardian or multipartisan county board team can assist a voter.  If the county fails to dispatch a multipartisan team within 15 days, those voters can get assistance from anyone but: (1) an owner, manager, director, employee of the hospital, clinic, nursing home, or rest home in which the voter is a patient or resident; (2) an individual who holds any elective office under the United States, this State, or any political subdivision of this State; (3) an individual who is a candidate for nomination or election to such office; or (4) an individual who is an office holder, a campaign manager or a treasurer for a political party or organization.

·         The Senate Rules Committee is expected to act on the voter ID bill Tuesday, July 22 at 2pm, with the full Senate voting on the bill quickly after that.  The House may not agree to the Senate plan which will set the stage for negotiations between the two bodies.

·         ID’s required for voting are:  NC driver’s license, NC ID card, US passport, US military ID, Veterans ID, tribal enrollment card- federal tribe, out of state ID with a voter’s registration within 90 days of the election; if no ID at polls, vote provisional and have to return to board of elections by 12 noon on the day before the vote canvass with a required ID.

NEW MEMBERS OF THE NC DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 2013 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD

Ex-officio Members:

Dan J. Forest, Lieutenant Governor
Sharon Decker,  Secretary of Commerce
Elaine Marshall,  Secretary of State          
Lyons Gray, Secretary of Revenue
Susan Kluttz, Secretary of Department of Cultural Resources
June Atkinson, Superintendent of Public Instruction
Tom Ross, President- University of North Carolina
Scott Ralls,  President- Community College System

 

Four Members of the Senate

Appointed by the President Pro Tempore:

 

Senator Harry Brown
Senator Bill Rabon
Senator Tamara Barringer
Senator Ben Clark

Four Members of the House

Appointed by the Speaker:

Representative Jeff Collins
Representative Tom Murry
Representative Paul Stam
Representative Craig Horn

 

Twenty-three Members, Appointed by the Governor 

Kelly King -Winston-Salem
Non-Profit Economic Development Organization Representative  

           

Pat Corso  -Pinehurst
County Economic Development Representative

John Kane, Sr. -Raleigh
County Economic Development Representative 

 

20 At-Large Appointments

John Lassiter,  Charlotte (Board Chair)
Jim Whitehurst,  Raleigh (Vice Chair)
Jack Cecil, Asheville
Vimal Kolappa,  Chocowinity
Charles Creighton,  Edenton
Terry Hutchens,  Cumberland Co.
Jeff Turner,  Pink Hill
Chuck Swoboda,  Durham
Madhu Beriwal,  Durham
Eric Pike,  Forsyth Co.
Bob Singer , Greensboro
Melanie McNamara, High Point
Bill Shumaker, Mooresville
Fred Smith, Clayton
Glenn Sherill,  Charlotte
Thomas Skains,  Charlotte
Tom Looney,  Wake Co.
Harry L. Smith, Jr.,  Greenville
Bill Graham,  Salisbury

Current Bills:

HB 459- Chronic Care Coordination Act                                        From AARP

Status: Ratified and signed by Governor on 6/26/2013

House Bill 459 would require the Department of Health Services to coordinate the care of chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, stroke, cancer, respiratory disease, diabetes and obesity.

House Bill 459 would create a new Part 4A, “Chronic Care Coordination,” of Article 7 (“Chronic Disease”) of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes governing public health. This bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health and Division of Medical Assistance, and the division in the Department of the State Treasurer responsible for the state Health Plan for Teachers and state Employees, to collaborate to reduce the incidence of chronic disease and improve chronic care coordination in the State by doing all of the following:

  • Identifying goals and benchmarks for the reduction of chronic disease.
  • Developing wellness and prevention plans.
  • Submitting annual reports to specified committees and to the Fiscal Research Division of the General Assembly that include:
  • The financial impact and magnitude of the chronic health conditions most likely to cause death and disability, including certain conditions listed in this bill.
  • An assessment of benefits derived from wellness and prevention programs and activities designed to coordinate chronic care
  • A description of the level of coordinate among the agencies charged with care coordination responsibilities.
  • Detailed action plans for care coordination of multiple chronic health conditions in the same patient.
  • A detailed budget identifying all costs associated with implementing the mandated action plans.

 

 


Ethics Tips

It is inappropriate for any legislator to use or allow another to use his official legislative stationery paid for by the State for soliciting campaign contributions to or thanking contributors to the legislator’s political campaign. A legislator may use a facsimile of the legislator’s official legislative stationery in soliciting campaign contributions or thanking contributors to the legislator’s political campaign as permitted under [Ethical Principle and Guideline 6].

 

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.


A Note of Thanks

Dear Senator Bryant,

 

Thank you so much for your eloquent words supporting women’s reproductive health and abortion rights.  Your argument was very powerful.  Thank you for looking out for and speaking up for the health and wellness of North Carolina,

 

Jeanne Dairaghi

 

 
   

 

 

 

Dear Senator Bryant,

 

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me during my recent visit to the General Assembly. It is a privilege to speak with leaders like you, and I am grateful for the opportunity. As we care for our patients at home, we look to you to be our voice in Raleigh. Your efforts and passion for helping our community to grow and thrive are appreciated. Thank you again for taking time out of your schedule for me.

 

Sincerely,

Tanya Darrow, LA-C

 

Dear Senator Bryant,

Thank you so much for your inspiring and motivating talk with the new Teach for America Teachers last week at Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount. I cannot begin to tell you what it meant to them to hear directly from a community leader in their new home. I am struck by how quickly and compellingly you laid out the charge ahead of them. They walked out on fire from the mission you shared! Thank you also from spending a little extra time with our team afterwards. We all appreciated the opportunity and look forward to another chance to talk!

 

Best,

Daniel and the Teach for America Team

 

Dear Senator Bryant,

 

I am writing to say thanks to you and other NCGA members for your support of the arts in our community. This past year we were fortunate to benefit from a grant provided through North Carolina council funds. In July 2012, we were awarded $8,000 through the Traditional Arts Program for Students (TAPS) project. With TAPS funds were provided our students with quality arts education in traditional American Indian crafts and culture. We also used these funds to support other artistic and cultural programs and activities, such as the Haliwa-Saponi Red Earth Cultural Group, and our Winter Powwow.

 

Sincerely,

Alfred R. Richardson

Tribal Administrator

Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe

 

Dear Senator Bryant,

 

I truly appreciated all of your advice and insight that you provided while I was your page. Observing you during committee meeting and sessions gave me a better point of view of what actually goes on. You conducted yourself with the utmost professionalism. I would greatly appreciate if you would contact me whenever you are in the Vance County area and I would be more than happy to assist you in whatever way possible.

 

Sincerely,

Jordan Smith

 

Dear Senator Bryant,

 

I would like to thank both of you and your office for sponsoring my daughter, Amanda Davis, as a Senate Page. She was so excited and full of stories and experience in which she had a chance to participate in. Thank you for showing her the processes of our State Senate.

 

With great regard for all you do,

Michelle Davis

Secretary/Treasure

Cedar Grove Elementary School


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.