News-Record.com

As I mentioned, Gov. Mike Easley has vetoed a bill that would allow people to transport wide boats on state roads without a permit.

And apparently some readers picked up a bit or sarcasm when I said the honorables would be “delighted” to head back to Raleigh to reconsider this thing. A bit.

Here’s why: The constitution does require the honorables to be brought back into session if there’s a veto by the governor, unless they turn down the opportunity in writing. That’s been done before.

And while a special session isn’t unprecedented or all that uncommon in recent history, it’s still kind of a big deal. The fact that a big deal is being made over the boat bill might be a little less noxious if there weren’t other things that might actually might warrant a special session in some folks’ estimation lurking about, like say:

• * An under-funded state health plan.
• * Continuing problems in the state mental health system.
• * Shortfalls in road construction funding.

So is running back to Raleigh so people who schlep around 9.5-foot boats can tow them at night, over narrow two-lane roads while moderately beered up a good idea? You tell me.

On the flip side, it doesn’t seem like the honorables are planning on taking a whole lot of time redrafting the legislation or otherwise messing about.

The bill first goes to the House and Rep. Hugh Holliman, the Democratic leader there, said this morning “I don’t anticipate spending a lot of time with it.”

He said that barring some breakthrough, folks should expect to see an up-or-down veto over-ride vote. And, he said, this is unlikely to be a caucus decision, which means each individual member will be free to vote their conscience.

“I don’t think you’ll see any arm twisting,” Holliman said.

Three-fifths of those who show up tomorrow will get a vote on the bill. If everyone who voted for it the first time votes for the bill this time around, the veto should be easily overridden. There were only five “no” votes on its final passage in the House, including Reps. Bordsen, Fisher, Insko, Luebke and Wess. The final senate vote was 43-0.

Two updates: A couple of folks have passed on thoughts regarding the boat bill. The first (actually, the first couple) suggested that maybe Easley should get a dart for calling the General Assembly back the session when it looks like he could be massively voted down on a relatively minor bill.

Point taken. This doesn't really strike one as a case of choosing one battle's wisely. And if Easley does suffer his first veto over-ride, that could be a reason: legislators hacked off about the bad timing and the odd thing to pick a fight about.

Secondly, a friend in the Senate President Pro Tempore's office sent along some "stats for your enjoyment." So I thought you'd enjoy too. This is the pro-side of the boat bill argument. (Just to be really clear, I don't give a rats behind much about what the law is, but it seems to me there are issues with bigger constituencies that might be addressed.)

Safety issues

* Current law forces wide boats to travel during daytime hours when traffic is more congested. This bill allows boaters to travel early in the morning or at night, or on weekends and holidays, when school buses are not on the road and traffic is not as heavy.

* This bill requires new safety measures for boats and trailers – boats and trailers wider than 8 ½ feet must be equipped with amber lights at their widest point to ensure greater visibility.

* Existing law already requires someone pulling a boat/trailer in excess of 10,000 pounds to be 18 or older.

* Of 230,000 total vehicle accidents statewide (yearly average), an average of about 7 accidents per year involve boats greater than 8 feet wide.

* From 2005-2007, fewer than 5% of boat trailers involved in accidents were wider than 8 ½ feet.

* For accidents that were directly due to boat width (sideswipes and hitting parked vehicles), on average, there were only 2 accidents per year involving boats wider than 8 ½ feet.

Economic issues

* NC is home to more than 3,000 boatbuilding or boating-related companies, employing more than 25,000 workers.

* More than $500 million in sales of boats, motors, and boating equipment is generated annually in NC – fifth in the country.

* NC has 370,000 registered boats, ranking 11th in the US in boat registrations.

* NC is 4th in the nation in the number of outboard (trailerable) boats.

* NC saw more than $662 million in total boating trip spending in 2007.

* Boating and fishing are important sectors of NC’s tourism economy.

* Since 2007, boat sales in NC have dropped by more than 20 percent.

* More than 14% of the boatbuilding workforce has been laid off within the past year.