The Raleigh Report
From the Office of Cullie Tarleton
December 21, 2009
Those of us in public service realize that we must constantly work to
try to improve your confidence in government. Some public officials have
breached your trust in the past, but I will not be one of them. As I
tell people all the time, "It's not difficult to do it right". I
continue to work diligently in favor of stronger ethics laws, cleaner
campaigns and better lobbying laws, and I expect that we will continue
this important work in the coming session.
I hope you will contact me if you have questions, or if I can be of service. You can reach me at culliet@ncleg.net, 828-295-3353 or on Facebook. Thank you as always for your support and your interest in our state.
Ethics
A new state law requires the governing boards of cities, counties, boards of education, sanitation districts, unified governments, and consolidated city-counties are required to adopt a code of ethics to guide them in the performance of their official duties. The law (H1452 - S.L. 2009-403) also requires board members to receive at least two hours of ethics education within 12 months of appointment or election.
These three measures passed the House this past session but have not
yet passed the Senate. Others may be introduced in the short session.
* H1136 would expand the state's revolving door provision, to cover executive branch employees, and bar them from lobbying for 6 months after they leave.
* H944 would require more disclosure of campaign fundraising and donations by appointees to state boards and commissions.
* H961 would prohibit vendors who win large state contracts from giving large campaign donations to the elected official whose office makes the contracting decision.
Voting
North Carolina's absentee voting laws have been improved under a new state law (S.B. 253 - S.L. 2009-537). The law is specifically intended to improve the ability of military and overseas voters to cast timely ballots. This is incredibly important because it is vital that those defending democracy have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
Notes
In the few days, two major companies have announced plans to bring hundreds of high-paying jobs to North Carolina. Appliance manufacturer Electrolux expects to create at least 738 jobs at its new headquarters in Charlotte and add $60 million to the state's annual payroll, not including benefits. The company employs 55,000 people worldwide. Also, international risk management consultant IEM will move its headquarters from Baton Rouge, La., to Durham County, creating 430 jobs over the next six years. The nearly 25-year-old company will pay an overall average wage of nearly $63,000. Company President and CEO Madhu Beriwal said the area's "highly educated workforce, history of innovation, and culture of public and private collaboration" influenced her decision to relocate the company. What we need and what I'm always working for is to get one of these new companies up here in the High Country.
For the 15th year in a row, North Carolina leads the nation in the
total number of teachers who have earned certification by the National
Board of Professional Teaching Standards with 15,695 teachers now
certified. This group of teachers accounts for nearly 19 percent of the
83,000 National Board Certified teachers in the nation. North Carolina
also ranked first in the nation in the number of newly certified
teachers, with 1,509 of the 8,874 educators nationwide who earned the
recognition this year. In North Carolina, we appropriate money in our
budget every year to offset the costs of the certification process and
teachers receive a raise after earning the distinction. Those of us who
care about education know that having highly qualified teachers means
better results for our children. We have a large number of National
Board Certified teachers in the district. I'm grateful to them both for
their commitment to our children and education and thank them for
committing the time to earn their National Board Certification.
Talon Systems Inc., an international manufacturer of household storage
cabinets and furniture, will hire 90 workers over the next three years
and invest $5.9 million to open its first U.S. manufacturing plant in
Statesville. The project was made possible in part by a One North
Carolina Fund grant of $46,590.
The Environmental Assessment report for Boone's proposed new water
intake is now available for the public's review. The report can be
reviewed at Boone Town Hall or the USDA office in Jefferson. There is a
one month period for the public to respond in writing to the report. All
responses must be made in writing (letters, not email) to be received by
January 4, 2010 to Sandra Lawrence, USDA Rural Development Office, 134
Government Circle, Suite 201, Jefferson, N.C. 28640.
This week is one of the special weeks of the year as we celebrate Christmas. Sylvia joins me in expressing our very best wishes to you and your family for a wonderful Christmas and Holiday season along with our hope for a happy and prosperous New Year for each of you. Let's remember our men and women who are serving in the military and especially those who are in harms way and will not have the opportunity to celebrate with their families. May God bless them and keep them safe.
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