The General Assembly returned to session this week to begin our work, and there is much to do.
In the coming months, we will work to improve the state’s economic health, further reform the mental health system and address much needed transportation projects, among other things.
As is tradition, we elected our leaders in the House on the opening day of session and we are now waiting for our committee assignments. Soon after that, our committees will begin in earnest to consider the legislation that is already being filed.
Thank you again to all of you for your support as we begin this session. I look forward to working with you and hope you will call on me if I can be of any assistance.
Leadership
House Speaker Joe Hackney was re-elected to a second term as leader of the House of Representatives with my support. Speaker Hackney led our chamber through a difficult period last session and this time we are confident his leadership will help us as we prepare a budget for next year in the face of the nation’s economic challenges.
Speaker Hackney represents Chatham, Orange and Moore counties. He is a lawyer and a cattle farmer and is in his 29th year in the House.
In his acceptance speech, Speaker Hackney laid out the challenges and expectations for the legislature. Below are a few excerpts from his speech.
I also supported Rep. William Wainwright for a second term as Speaker Pro Tempore in the House. Rep. Wainwright is a presiding elder in the AME Zion Church. He is in his 10th term in the House representing Craven and Lenoir counties.
Rep. Hugh Holliman had previously been elected Majority Leader for the House Democrats. Rep. Paul Stam will be the Minority Leader for the House Republicans. Speaker Hackney has estimated that he will have his committee appointments complete in about a week.
Budget
The latest budget projections estimate that revenue for this year will be between $1.8 billion and $2.2 billion short of the budgeted amount. The governor’s office will make cuts as necessary to account for that shortfall so that the state will end this fiscal year with a balanced budget. It remains too early to tell what adjustments we will have to make to next year’s budget because of the weak economy, both because the start of the next fiscal year is six months out and also because we are awaiting word about how a proposed federal stimulus package may help.
There is no doubt we will have to look for more efficiencies, as we have done in the past, and look for programs that may no longer be useful.
Bills
More than 40 bills were filed by lawmakers in the first two days of session. More than 20 bills have been filed in the House, and others have been filed in the Senate.
The bill that has garnered the most attention thus far is a bill (HB 2 ) that would prohibit smoking in public places and places of employment. The bill would also allow local governments to adopt local laws governing smoking within their jurisdictions that are more restrictive than the state law.
Meetings/Events
I plan to attend the following meetings/events:
Please invite me to attend your county, city, community or civic, etc. meetings or events.
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.
Please remember that you can listen to each day’s committee meetings and press conferences on the General Assembly’s website. Once on the site, select “audio,” and then make your selection. You can also use the website to look up bills, view lawmaker biographies and access other information.