Press Releases and Newsletters
Synthetic Drugs (THE NEWS & RECORD)
A Senate judiciary committee voted Thursday to ban synthetic drugs that mimic the effects of marijuana. “With synthetic cannabis, the physiological and psychological effects can be much more severe,” Greensboro police Capt. Richard Whisenant told the committee shortly before the vote. Possession of the drugs would become a misdemeanor under the bill, which is backed by commanders at Camp Lejeune and the state’s Child Fatality Task Force. If passed in its current form, the ban would go into effect April 1. The bill next goes to the Senate floor and, if approved there, onto the House for consideration.(Mark Binker, THE NEWS & RECORD, 2/03/11).
Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES)
If Gov. Beverly Perdue does propose regulating and taxing video gambling in her proposed budget, it appears she’ll have some work to do in convincing the state’s sheriffs and police chiefs that it is a good idea. The governor this week said legalizing the games is on the table as a way to generate more revenue for the state government as it faces a $3.7 billion budget hole. Chris Mackey, a Perdue spokeswoman, said the governor realizes the games keep coming back in new forms after successive attempts to ban them. But the N.C. Sheriff’s Association and N.C. Association of Chiefs of Police have already lined up against such a proposal. “The sheriffs’ association looks at this electronic sweepstakes the same as it did video gambling,” said Eddie Caldwell, the association’s attorney. “It’s the same thing, just a different device.”
North Carolina’s 100 sheriffs are against legalizing the machines because of the threats to public safety — such as money laundering and organized crime — that often come with gambling, Caldwell said. The video poker industry, which had been regulated by sheriffs until it was banned in 2007, spawned public corruption and bribery of law enforcement officers. Poker machines made thousands of dollars a day. Former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford is in federal prison for taking bribes to look the other way on illegal gambling. George Erwin, the police chiefs’ association executive director and former Henderson County sheriff, said there are concerns that poorer North Carolina residents, who can least afford to gamble, will become the industry’s best customers. “The association is confident that the governor, once she does her own investigation, will come to the same conclusion that the sheriffs have that this is not appropriate for North Carolina,” he said. (Jon Ostendorff, ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES, 2/03/11).
U.S. House will push for less transportation funding and local programs at risk
Update from National League of Cities:
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has formally announced a series of field hearings on transportation authorization that will begin February 14 in West Virginia. The purpose of the hearings is to gather input for the next effort to reauthorize federal transportation programs, which expired on September 2009. The current short term extension expires March 4. NLC is coordinating with our local organization colleagues to ensure good local representation on these panels. If you have members testifying who need any background information, we’re happy to provide it to them. Please let me know if you do learn of local officials who will be on the panels.
Chairman Mica is predicting a smaller bill than the current legislation that will take into account actual revenues from the federal Highway Trust Fund, which has not met obligations in current law. With decreasing gas tax revenues and no chance of a gas tax increase, Mica and the new Committee members will be pushing for less funding with local programs at risk, in particular!
Here is the current committee listing for the House: http://republicans.transportation.house.gov/singlepages.aspx/763
From the Committee press release:
Field hearings begin February 14, 2011 in West Virginia, home state of the Committee’s Ranking Democrat Member Nick J. Rahall. At least a dozen other sessions across numerous states are currently planned for February 17-25, including a joint House-Senate hearing in Los Angeles in cooperation with Senator Barbara Boxer, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. (Further details regarding meetings will be announced at a later date.)
The Committee will travel to the following communities to gather information for the transportation reauthorization bill:
Beckley, West Virginia; Charleston, West Virginia; the Philadelphia Metropolitan area; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Rochester, New York; Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; the Chicago Metropolitan area; Vancouver, Washington; Fresno, California; Los Angeles; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Jonesboro, Arkansas; the Memphis Metropolitan area.
http://republicans.transportation.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1060
Feb. 3, 2011 Weekly Update
It is only the second week of session but major bills were moving including action on balancing the State budget, allowing North Carolina to opt out of the federal health care law and eliminating the charter school cap. I cannot stress enough that the session is moving very fast.
SB13 Balanced Budget Act of 2011 passed out of committee and through second reading on the Senate floor today. Before the start of session the Governor and General Assembly leadership were discussing granting the Governor additional powers to balance the State budget with the goal of having the Governor hold back $400 million from the current budget to put towards the $3.7 billion hole in next year’s budget. But the bill was expand yesterday in Senate Appropriations to include intercepting millions from the State’s economic development funds including the Golden Leaf Trust Fund, the One North Carolina Fund and the JDIG (Jobs Development Investment Grants) program among other items. The Governor and Secretary of Commerce spoke out against the provisions relating to the economic development funds. The bill still has to get through third reading on the Senate floor next week. Some reporters are already speculating about a veto showdown.
The General Assembly heard presentations on the State’s fiscal health and tax policy in the Appropriations and Finance Committees this week. The General Assembly’s economist said the state’s economy appears to be improving and the State’s revenue forecast is scheduled to be out in the next few days.
The Governor has indicated she is considering including video poker in her budget rumored to be sent to the General Assembly in the next few weeks. Read more about that here. The Republican General Assembly leadership continues to move toward passing a budget by June 1 with the House planning to approve its version by April 22 and the Senate planning to pass their version three weeks later.
Bills were introduced in the House and Senate (H9 and S27) to place a moratorium on annexations. Read more about that here.
A bill supported by our Metro Police Chiefs, SB9 Make Synthetic Cannabinoids Illegal, successfully moved out of Senate J2 today. The City of Greensboro police spoke in favor of the bill.
Member Mayors and City Managers, if you have not already done so, be sure to register for our upcoming 2011 Winter Meeting in Greensboro. Confirmed guest speakers include Governor Perdue, President Pro Temp Berger and U.S. Senator Hagan. Other invited speakers include Speaker of the House Tillis and U.S. Senator Burr.
As always, call me if you have any questions.
N.C. bills would place moratorium on involuntary annexations (Wilmington Star News)
Bills filed in the N.C. House and Senate would place a moratorium on involuntary annexations in North Carolina until July 1, 2012.
If passed, a ban might further delay the city of Wilmington’s annexation of 950 acres, more than 3,300 residents and numerous businesses in the Monkey Junction area.But it could mean more than a delay if the annexation is also covered by law changes likely to follow the moratorium.
The Monkey Junction annexation – approved by Wilmington City Council in 2009 – hasn’t taken effect because a legal challenge by affected residents is awaiting action by the N.C. Court of Appeals.The moratorium bill was filed to prohibit involuntary annexations across the state as lawmakers work on an annexation reform bill during the current General Assembly session. Republicans in charge of the Legislature have vowed to make sweeping changes to annexation laws.
“Our goal would be to introduce and pass reform legislation this year,” said Rep. Nelson Dollar, R-Wake, a primary sponsor of the annexation moratorium bill.But it’s not clear whether pending annexations, including Monkey Junction, would have to abide by the new statutes. Legislators said those questions may be answered as the bills move through the General Assembly.
Reps. Danny McComas of New Hanover County, Carolyn Justice of Pender County and Frank Iler of Brunswick, all Republicans, are co-sponsors of the House moratorium bill.Freshman Sen. Thom Goolsby, R-New Hanover, is a primary sponsor of a similar moratorium bill filed in the Senate on Wednesday.“It puts on hold any moves to annex areas, period,” he said. “It will help those people at Monkey Junction.”
The annexation moratorium bill is Goolsby’s first piece of legislation as a primary sponsor. “It’s something that I spoke about all throughout my campaign,” he said. “It’s very important to a lot of our local people. ”The moratorium bill is a precursor to the annexation reform bills anticipated in coming weeks. Dollar said 46 other states either ban involuntary annexation or have a mechanism in place that provides a voice for affected property owners.
“North Carolina is one of only four states that doesn’t offer its citizens some level of protection, some level of real participation in the process,” he said.Giving affected residents a meaningful voice would be a central issue in discussions about annexation reform, Dollar said. Several options are likely to be considered. They include allowing only residents in the proposed annexation area to vote or allowing all current and future residents of a municipality to vote. “Our preference is to have a vote of the people in the proposed (annexation) area only,” Dollar said of Republicans pushing annexation reform.He added: “We have also left it open, and we have all along, to explore the full range of ways in which homeowners can have a meaningful voice in the process of an involuntary annexation.”
The House moratorium bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
The Wilmington City Council has plans to annex small areas of unincorporated New Hanover County every other year for the next two decades. Council members say it’s the fairest way to grow the city’s property tax base and keep the tax rate down for city residents, while ensuring that people who use city services, such as roads and parks, pay their share to maintain them.
Annexation opponents say the current laws, which allow cities to take in and tax residents without any vote by the affected citizens, amounts to taxation without representation.
Patrick Gannon: (919) 836-0889
On Twitter: @StarNewsPat
Copyright © 2011 StarNewsOnline.com — All rights reserved. Restricted use only.
Published: Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 5:02 p.m.
SB9 Make Synthetic Cannabinoids Illegal
Senate J2 passed it out today. Here is a copy of the proposed committee substitute and bill summary.
Annual study warns against authorizing new NC debt ( News& Observer)
RALEIGH, N.C. A panel led by State Treasurer Janet Cowell says North Carolina government has no extra room to authorize new debt if it wants to keep its top credit rating because of a poor revenue situation.
Cowell’s office released on Tuesday the annual Debt Affordability Study. The committee said the state has exhausted its ability to borrow money through mid-2012 on things like building construction and through mid-2013 for transportation projects.
Last year’s study only suggested a little extra debt capacity was available.
The report said officials took into account a pair of temporary taxes set to expire this year and the end of federal stimulus money.
The limit doesn’t prevent $1.6 billion in borrowing already approved but with debt yet to be issued.
Published Tue, Feb 01, 2011 06:27 PM
Modified Tue, Feb 01, 2011 06:27 PM
CUTTING BACK (The Associated Press)
Republicans pushed through the state Senate’s budget committee a bill that seeks cost savings to help close next year’s shortfall both by spending cuts and taking cash from places like tobacco trust and economic incentives funds. The bill would direct Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue to find at least $400 million in budget savings this year, which Perdue has said she can meet.
But the Legislature also would siphon money from more than 20 reserve and dedicated funds, including money from the Golden LEAF Foundation and two incentives programs the Perdue administration has used to lure the likes of Red Hat. Perdue criticized the move as wrong when the state is trying to recruit new jobs and to expand existing businesses. Sen. Richard Stevens, R-Wake, a primary sponsor of the bill, said it’s all part of a plan that could find up to $1 billion to put toward next year’s projected $3.7 billion budget gap and build up the state’s rainy-day reserves.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Video Gambling (THE NEWS & RECORD)
When Gov. Beverly Perdue offers her proposed budget later this month, it could include provisions regulating and taxing the video gambling industry, according to a spokeswoman for the governor. The state has been trying for five years to stamp out video poker and its kin, such as the video sweepstakes machines. But various court rulings kept many sweepstakes machines in business.
With the industry still operating and the state facing a $3.7 billion budget deficit, Perdue is giving serious consideration to some form or legalization. “I think I can safely say she is considering the fact that this industry … will constantly seek the loopholes in any law passed to shut them down,” said Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson. She added that the decision was not “a done deal” but that Perdue has been consistent on the topic during internal discussions about the budget. Perdue called the current state of the industry “offensive” in December. She and other critics say the businesses operate in a legal gray area and target those who can least afford them. Operators say they are merely small businesses who provide employment and an inexpensive form of entertainment. “The next question is how do we regulate it fairly, and is there revenue to be gained in doing so as an extra perk?” Pearson said.
Revenue from video poker and its cousins has been a subject of debate for years. Former Rep. Earl Jones pushed a bill during the last legislative session that he said would reap no less than $500 million for the state by regulating such gaming. It’s unclear what Perdue thinks the state could earn from sanctioning video gambling, and Pearson said she hasn’t begun to sort through questions such as whether the state lottery or some other agency should manage the games.
Republican legislative leaders had mixed reactions to the possibility of regulating and taxing video gaming. “To be intellectually honest, when we say everything is on the table dealing with the budget crisis, we’ve got to be willing to look at things we’re not positively disposed to in our gut right out of the gate,” said House Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg. House Majority Leader Paul Stam, R-Wake, was more hostile to the prospect. “She doesn’t have any thought of actually getting it legalized,” said Stam. “It’s a way to have a place holder, so that she will not have to cut a half-billion-dollars.” Stam said he opposed any efforts to add any form of video gambling to the state’s portfolio. Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, said he would rather allow the Court of Appeals to look at pending cases, suggesting that the state should look at legalization only if the higher court allows the games to continue.
(Mark Binker, THE NEWS & RECORD, 2/02/11).
Budget Schedule (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Republican budget leaders have given their underlings an aggressive schedule to get a budget to Gov. Beverly Perdue a month before the new fiscal year begins. Budget subcommittee co-chairs received a draft calendar laying out the process for approving a state spending plan by June 1. The proposal has the House approving its version by April 22, followed by the Senate doing the same three weeks later. Passing a budget on time is rare. The budget was approved on schedule last year for the first time since 2003. Perdue signed that bill into law June 30.
(2/03/11).
