The Raleigh Report
From the Office of Cullie Tarleton
June 8, 2009
Much of the energy at the General Assembly last week was focused on preparing the final version of the House’s proposed budget.
Our budget subcommittees are crafting their final budgets to submit to the full Appropriations Committee. I’m on the Education Appropriations Sub-Committee and we voted on our budget last Thursday before I left Raleigh. The cuts we had to make in Education and Health and Human Services are enough to make you sick to your stomach. The cuts are terrible. There’s simply no other way to describe them. After the bill is voted upon by the full committee, it will go the House floor for additional debate, and a final proposal could be approved as early as late this week or early next week. A conference committee comprised of members of the House and Senate will then negotiate a final version of the budget to submit to the governor.
This budget will contain little good news, as I’ve warned for several months now. The global economic downturn has reached North Carolina and our tax revenue is down about 20 percent from last year. We will have to cut all areas of our budget to meet this smaller revenue target. Education, particularly our community colleges, will get smaller cuts, but still must be trimmed in this environment.
I received many telephone calls and emails from constituents last week about the proposed budget. I welcome your calls and emails. I try to answer them as quickly as possible. Rest assured, we’ll do the best we can dealing with the budget deficit we face. I deeply regret the cuts we’re making, but until our economy recovers, we will have to reduce services.
Thank you as always for your interest in state government. I have included some information below to update you about the progress of several pieces of proposed legislation. I hope you will be in touch if I can be of any assistance.
Justice
Lawyers representing death row inmates may be permitted to meet with their clients on the same day that the court rules on the inmate’s appeal under a House bill that has passed the Senate. The proposal (HB 1037) helps ensure that death row inmates hear the court’s decision from their own lawyer, rather than from another source. The bill now goes to the governor to be signed into law.
The state would be required to collect, maintain and publish statistics on the use of deadly force by law enforcement that results in death under a bill that has been approved by the Senate (HB 266).
Elections
The Secretary of State would be required to notify potential candidates and political parties to remind them of the state law that prohibits an individual from holding two elected offices at once. The bill (HB 170) has now been approved by both bodies of the legislature and will go to the governor’s desk for a signature. This is a bill I introduced following the 08 election. We had two county commissioners in N C who once they took the oath as official presidential electors were no longer county commissioners. We handled that through special legislation but this bill will require the Secretary of State to make sure all potential electors understands the current law.
A bill that would make it unlawful for a school board member to willfully fail to discharge the duties of office has been approved by the Senate. House Bill 43, “School Board Members/Failure to Discharge Duty,” allows school board members who fail to discharge their duties to be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor. They would be subject to removal from office by the court as a part of the punishment for the offense.
Health
The Department of Health and Human Services would be directed to work with the Division of Medical Assistance, the Division of Aging and Adult Services, the University of North Carolina and East Carolina University Schools of Dentistry, the North Carolina Dental Society, and current special care dental providers to examine dental care options for special care populations under a bill that passed the House this week (SB 188). The intent of the legislation is to improve the availability of dental services for special care populations.
Senate lawmakers have approved legislation regarding unemployment insurance compensation for certain severely disabled veterans who have been discharged due to a service-connected disability (HB 1124). If enacted, severely injured veterans could receive unemployment benefits if they lose their jobs because of a disability incurred or aggravated during active military service or because of absences from work to obtain care and treatment for the disabilities.
Miscellaneous
Congratulations to Jessica Lawrence and Daniel Miller both seniors at Watauga High School who won their state competition and placed third in the nation in national competition in auto repair. Another reason why Career and Technical Education programs in our public schools is so important. Congratulations also to their automotive instructor at Watauga High School, Larry Jones. Jessica, Daniel and Larry visited the Legislature last week and were recognized by the members.
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