I have always thought if Hollywood made a movie about my life they would cast Sandra Bullock to play me. (Pause here to chuckle at my ridiculous ego for thinking I have that interesting a life or that I fancy myself resembling Sandra Bullock.) Reflecting on the last month in politics I think it would be a twist on the movie, While You Were Sleeping, and Sandy would play me asleep in the bed, while the world of North Carolina politics turned on its axis.
While I was out recovering from surgery this month, a seismic shift occurred in Raleigh. For the first time in more than a century the Republican Party gained control of both chambers of the General Assembly. The House did an about face moving from 68 Democrats and 52 Republicans to 68 Republicans and 52 Democrats. The Senate did it one better, moving from 30 Democrats and 20 Republicans to 31 Republicans and 19 Democrats. The new freshman class represents about one quarter of the General Assembly.
The Senate Republicans are moving swiftly to be ready to govern when they return to Raleigh January 26th. The Republican Senate has already caucused and announced plans to elect Sen. Phil Berger-Rockingham as President Pro Tempore and they chose Sen. Harry Brown – Onslow as their majority leader. Sen. Berger recently announced his intention to appoint Sen. Tom Apodaca- Henderson as chairman of the powerful Senate Rules Committee. Sen. Berger also appointed Sen. Rucho-Mecklenburg and Sen. Stevens- Wake as co-chairs of the transition team. Berger announced he has hired Jim Blaine, the executive director for the Senate Republican Caucus, as his chief of staff. The Senate Republican freshmen have named Sen.-elect Bill Rabon-Brunswick as their leader. Of note, this will be only the second time since 1901 the Senate will be presided over by a Lieutenant Governor of a different party.
The rumor mill is churning with talk of Sen. Stevens-Wake and Sen. Brunstetter- Forsyth as Co-Chairs of Appropriations and Sen. Hartsell-Cabarrus and Sen. Tillman-Randolph as Finance Chairs.
The House Republicans are moving quickly as well. They chose Rep. Thom Tillis- Mecklenburg as their nominee for Speaker. Tillis, just re-elected to his third term, left his job as a management consultant at IBM last year to focus on the Republican legislative campaigns. He was known for focusing the Republican caucus on a single message of jobs by encouraging them to wear a rubber band on their wrist and snap it anytime they strayed off message. House Republicans choose Rep. Stam- Wake as their majority leader, Rep. Folwell- Forsyth as their nominee for Speaker Pro Tempore and Rep. Avila- Wake as their joint House/Senate caucus leader.
House Republicans have established eight policy committees which are already up and running. The committees include budget; jobs and economic development; transportation; health care; education; environment; private property and personal liberty; and criminal justice. The caucus is focused on their 100 day plan developed from their 10 point pledge during the campaign to balance the budget without raising taxes, pass a resolution opposing the recently passed federal healthcare overhaul, passage of an eminent domain constitutional amendment, and more. Media interviews with the new leadership have included talk of addressing annexation, voter identification, and taxes.
Unconfirmed rumors include Rep. Brubaker- Randolph as the House Appropriations big chair and Rep. Barnhart- Cabarrus and Rep. Steen- Rowan as co-chairs.
House Democrats will caucus on Dec. 21 to elect a minority leader. Current House Speaker Joe Hackney- Orange has announced his intention to seek the post. Senate Democrats have not announced a caucus date yet and current majority leader Sen. Nesbitt-Buncombe, Sen. Garrou-Forsyth, and Sen. Clodfelter- Mecklenburg, have all been mentioned as candidates for minority leader.
In media interviews both the new Republican leadership and the Governor have indicated an interest in working together across party lines to address the State’s challenges. That could be required because while Senate Republicans hold a veto proof majority House Republicans are four votes short of the three fifths or 72 votes they would need. There are a few issues that are not subject to gubernatorial veto including amendments to the North Carolina Constitution and redistricting.
If you don’t know by now that North Carolina is facing a $3.5 billion budget hole then you have been living under a rock for months. Governor Perdue asked state agencies to submit proposed 5, 10 and 15 percent cuts to their budgets. Her request was met with some suggestions for cuts and some suggestions for raising revenue including a proposal from the court system to raise fees to help offset cuts to the courts. The Governor has said she will be announcing a major reorganization and consolidation to state government shortly which will help address the hole. Traditionally the General Assembly awaits submission of the Governor’s budget and uses that as a starting point for crafting their own proposals, but Republicans have indicated they have a different plan in mind. They have indicated they will undertake a thorough review of the entire state budget department by department. They have also said their goal is to complete the State budget in record time.
Our Chairman, Durham Mayor Bill Bell, and I are attending the North Carolina Free Enterprise Foundation luncheon next week where we will hear from both Republican and Democratic legislative leadership. We are also reconvening our issue committees in January to further discuss our 2011 Advocacy Agenda and then will meet in Greensboro February 24th and 25th for our Winter Meeting (more details to follow on the meeting shortly).
I am glad to be back to work and will be keeping you informed via email, our website, and my Twitter feed on the changes taking place in our Capitol city. I have received very positive feedback from those who follow me on Twitter as they get up to the minute short updates on what is happening. I would encourage you to follow me on Twitter @Metromayors.
