Capital Beat

Half-staff

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 10:55:21 -0500

From Gov. Mike Easley's office:

RALEIGH -- Gov. Mike Easley today ordered all North Carolina state flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms who passed away on July 4. Flags will be flown at half-staff from Monday July 7 until sunset on Tuesday July 8. In addition, a condolence book will be available for North Carolinians to sign in memory of Helms, who represented North Carolina in the Senate from 1973 to 2003. Citizens can sign the book from Monday morning through the close of business on Tuesday. The condolence book will be sent to the Jesse Helms Center at Wingate University.

I've asked where the condolence book will be, but don't know the answer yet. Update: AP says the book will be available in the state Capitol.

Gun restriction bill stalls

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 08:12:51 -0500

From a story in Sunday's paper:

A measure aimed at preventing shootings like the one that claimed more than 30 lives at Virginia Tech in 2007 has sat in a legislative committee but will move forward before the end of the year, its sponsor said. “If your mental condition has deteriorated to the point where you have to be ordered into treatment, society has a right to protect itself,” said Sen. Tony Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat and majority leader in the Senate. The bill, which is backed by Attorney General Roy Cooper, has cleared a Judiciary Committee but has sat in Senate Appropriations since June 12. Rand said that senators have been distracted trying to compile the state’s $21.3 billion budget but that he would work to get it passed before the General Assembly adjourns, likely later this month. Under the bill, if a court orders someone into mental treatment, that person will be entered into a nationwide database used for criminal records checks. That person would be unable to buy a gun legally in North Carolina.

Click here for the whole story. The bill, (S2081) is opposed by Grass Roots North Carolina, a gun owner's rights group. My suspicion is you will almost certainly see it move out of the Senate in the next week, but I don't have a good read on what its prospects may be in the House.

N.C. Budget: Greensboro and beyond

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:18:10 -0500

Any state budget can be read on a couple of levels. One, of course, involves the statewide spending priorities and policies it sets. Another way, of course, is to see what's in it for your parochial interests. Because funds were limited this year, the number of "special projects," money for nonprofits and projects local to one community or another, was limited. Still, you don't have to look all that hard to find funding of particular interest to certain communities. Looking for things of interest to Greensboro and the Triad, here's my running list (after the jump):

Quacking like a duck: Bob Crumley's latest commercial

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:39:09 -0500

Cross-posted from Decision 2008. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- I wrote back in February is the about a Bob Crumley commercial that seemed as if it might have some campaign implications. Crumley is a Republican Greensboro-area lawyer running for Attorney General against Roy Cooper, the Democratic incumbent. I noticed this weekend that Crumley is running a new ad. The tag line refers people to his law firm's web page. But you tell me: does the ad seem more like a commercial one might use in a campaign?

Tires

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:38:19 -0500

My colleague Taft Wireback has been writing about the tires again:

An effort to reform North Carolina's method of buying retreaded tires is moving haltingly through the General Assembly amid disagreement over techniques used by the current contract holder. A bill introduced by state Rep. Nelson Cole of Rockingham County would block the state from paying White's Tire Service of Wilson for controversial "spot repairs" to about $3.4 million a year in recycled tires. Cole's bill also bans removing the original manufacturer's trademark and other identification from retreaded tires. It's a step White calls critical to its process, but critics say it is unnecessary and voids important warranties. "Being unable to readily identify tires that might be involved in a recall just doesn’t make sense," said Cole, a retired auto dealer and vice chairman of the House Transportation Committee. "Granted, their tire looks better, but I don't know what that has to do with safety or saving money."

Forgive the cliché, but this issue has been going around and around the General Assembly all session long. It's unclear whether it will be resolved before the honorables make tracks out of town.

N.C. Budget: Bits and Pieces

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:09:21 -0500

Sometimes things in the state budget just catch my attention. They don't have to be earth shattering or all that expensive, just odd bits included in the major statement of fiscal policy statement for the year. To wit:

* For those who remember Gov. Mike Easley's proposal to have a sales tax holiday for Energy Star rated appliances, it's in the final budget. It will be in effect from "12:01 A.M. on the first Friday of November and 11:59 P.M. the following Sunday." Qualified items include Clothes washers, Freezers and refrigerators, Central air conditioners and room air conditioners, Air-source heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps, Ceiling fans, Dehumidifiers and Programmable thermostats. The exemption doesn't apply to products purchased by a business or rentals.
* The Lorax got his: There is a $1 million per year earmark over the next five years in the DOT budget for planting seedlings along the roads. "The Department shall consult with and use the expertise of the United States Forest Service and the Division of Forest Resources of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the development and implementation of the plan. The plan shall include the planting of trees, shrubs, and other vegetation that (i) are native to the various regions and areas of the State in which they are being planted, (ii) will provide clean air and otherwise benefit the State's environment, (iii) are appropriately placed for the safety of those traveling on the roads and highways, and (iv) reduce the costs of mowing and maintaining the rights-of-way along the State's roads and highways."
* The problems associated with illegal immigration have been at the center of several political races this year, including the U.S. Senate race between Republican Elizabeth Dole and Democrat Kay Hagan. And there is, in the budget, at least two mentions of immigration. One is in the section expanding Health Choice/Kids Care, the state/federal health insurance program for children. One of the enrolment requirements is that a child must "Be a resident of this State, meet applicable federal citizenship and immigration requirements, and be eligible under federal law." The second immigration mention is in a section that concerns money the state is spending to help sheriffs participating in the 287(g) program, the federal partnership that allows local law enforcement to identify and help deport illegal immigrants. The honorables have ordered a report on how those funds are used "Recommendations on ways that federal, State, and local resources can be used to further improve the effectiveness of the Illegal Immigration Project and other immigration enforcement initiatives."
* Back when the Senate wrote its budget, Pro Tempore Marc Basnight inserted a section that would require the state to use biodegradable water bottles. That appears to have been toned down to a study that requires "The University of North Carolina, in collaboration with the Division of Waste Management of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall study the current state, usage, and recycling of plastics (including, but not limited to, beverage bottles and plastic bags) in North Carolina." Note that plastic bags were a concern for Rep. Pricey Harrison.

Jesse Helms

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:12:25 -0500

I can add very little to what is being written and said about Jesse Helms, the former U.S. Senator from North Carolina who died today. I met him exactly once when I was at the very beginning of my career in Washington and the interaction lasted no longer than the subway ride from one of the Senate office buildings to the Capitol. I can say that growing up in Maryland, Jesse Helms is about all I knew of North Carolina politics. By the time I moved to North Carolina, Helms was serving the last year of his last term as Senator. My boss has this remembrance:

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:47:07 -0500

Word comes from Gerry Cohen that the budget bill is now online. (Very large PDF.) The money report (the other half that has a lot of the information in terms of spending increases and cuts) should be online sometime today, he says. Also: Here's my early budget story from today's paper. Happy 4th of July.

Hackney and Basnight on the budget

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:12:17 -0500

House Speaker Joe Hackney and Senate leader Marc Basnight briefed reporters on the budget deal the two chambers brokered earlier today. Here is video of their opening remarks. Basnight talked about the $90 million set aside for teacher bonuses - causing Hackney to chuckle - and Hackney discussed funds for the mental health system: Gov. Mike Easley had asked for $45 million in recurring cuts to the budget, trimming from spending targets that had been in place a month ago. The legislature came up with $30 million by delaying two tax cuts - one the elimination of the gift tax and the other an expansion of the EITC. Hackney and Basnight said that the $45 million in cuts were unnecessary but that they were trying to make Easley happy. Except they came $15 million short of what Easley wanted. Here's the discussion on that piece: Teachers got a 3 percent average raise in the budget. Teachers at the lowest three rungs of the salary scale will get a $1,100 bump in salary. Teacher salaries have been been a major emphasis for Easley and the legislature didn't give him exactly what he asked for. Also, fuel costs have been a concern. More on that: The budget will authorize about $850 million in borrowing over the next four years and spend another $109 million in cash to build buildings around the state. Much of that will go toward the university system. If you're into public financing discussion, this is the video for you: Two terms you may or may not know from that discussion: COPS: Certificates of Participation. Government borrowing that does not require voter approval. 2/3 Bonds: When a government in North Carolina pays back a bond, it can (within two years) go out and borrow again 2/3 (two-thirds) of the amount it has repaid.

Budget agreement reached

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:50:30 -0500

Members have been signing off on the conference report for the budget this afternoon. Although I'm told there are still a few remaining straggling items, the compromise is largely brokered. Rep. Paul Luebke, a chairman of the House Finance Committee, told reporters about the finance package. The state will eliminate the gift tax and raise the Earned Income Tax Credit to 5 percent starting in the 2010 tax year. Essentially, those two items were originally due to go into affect for the 2009 tax year, but the two sides put them off in order to ensure the budget doesn't go into deficit. Delaying the two tax cuts a year will create $30 million in budget availability. Speaker Joe Hackney and Senate Leader Marc Basnight are due to brief reporters at 4:15 p.m.

Happy Fourth of July

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:59:40 -0500

Click here to listen to Sen. Phil Berger, Republican of Rockingham, reflect on the Senate floor today about the meaning of the nation's birthday. He concludes:

"From then until today, we have struggled to live up to those principles. And in many ways we have fallen short. In many ways, we disagree on details. But as we go forward to picnics, parades, time with our families, and as we celebrate, we can all agree that we should continue to strive to fulfill the promise of that summer day in 1776."

Budget Update: Thursday Afternoon

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:25:42 -0500

Speaker Joe Hackney spoke a few minutes ago to the full House, which is holding session this afternoon. "With respect to the budget ... we have reached agreement with the Senate on almost everything. There are a few items remaining. It is hoped that will be concluded by the end of the day." Click here for more from the AP. If all that holds, look for a budget vote next week. After that, the race to adjournment will begin.

Video Slot Update: Wednesday evening

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:47:30 -0500

For those following the video slot discussion: The bill has been put off until Monday's floor calendar. Last night, Rep. Hugh Holliman and others I spoke with were saying the bill needed to go to Finance. At some point since then, a decision was made that the thing could hit the floor as is. Then someone realized that they didn't have an incarceration note, something that accounts for the cost of jailing folks who are prosecuted under the new crimes the law would create. To allow time for that report to be generated, it is put off until next week. Confused? Good. So were lots of other people following the bill today. It was gently suggested to me today that this could have been a lottery-initiated action. The state-sanctioned gambling enterprise, the logic goes, would want to eliminate any potential competition. "We were not involved in the bill. We didn't even know about it," said Alice Garland, a lobbyist for the lottery. Garland said that the lottery has not studied if or how much money they might lose to video slots and pointed out that sales of lottery tickets jumped last year to $1.087 billion. "We're aware of these games but we just haven't gotten involved at all," she continued. "Our focus is on increasing our own sales."

Hmmmm....

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:42:59 -0500

Sunday night: Rep. Hugh Holliman, majority leader and one of the House budget negotiators says that enrolment growth in the UNC system is a major difference between the House and Senate. Monday night: Rep. Mickey Michaux, the senior budget chair in the House, says that enrolment growth in the UNC system is a major difference between the House and Senate. Wednesday, about 45 minutes ago: House Speaker Joe Hackney says, "The enrolment hasn't been an issue for at least a week." I'm so confused.

Video poker update: Tuesday night

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:47:14 -0500

For those following the video poker issue here's where things stand as of Tuesday evening: It has passed the House Judiciary I Committee on a unanimous vote. House leaders have decided it must go through the Finance Committee. My guess is they are thinking the bill is going to be a bit controversial and want to make sure it has a fiscal note. (Bills that spend or potentially spend money need to have cost estimates attached to them, or certain members of the House and Senate can kill them by fiat by pointing out that said cost estimate has not been done. Running a bill through Finance can sometimes assuage the worries of money-minded folks and seems to get a fiscal note done as a byproduct.) I have heard from members that there is more than one lobbyist looking at this bill and I'm told by Rep. Hugh Holliman that some with an interest in the video slot devices complained they didn't have a chance to get heard on the bill. Apparently these folks will get a chance in Finance. I don't know when that Finance hearing will be. From what I can gather, this isn't in the top tier of bills that the House Democrats will push to get done, but it's considered fairly important and they'll make a go at getting it over the Senate before the end of the legislative session. A couple folks have called frustrated they can't find the video slot language online. That's because the House gutted a senate bill and substituted what was there. Take a look at the latest edition of S 180 now and you should be able to see what we're talking about. The bill creates two new offenses: one for possessing video slot machines and another for promoting and selling the service. (Basically, it's aimed at getting you whether you're in retail or wholesale.) It does not criminalize the act of playing one of these machines. And it goes into effect on Dec. 1, so presumably people would have time to cash out and get rid of them. From what I've been able to discern, House leaders aren't interested in having anything that resembles video poker hanging about the state. Part of this, I'm sure, has to do with hangover from the Jim Black era, when video poker was involved in one of many scandals culminated in the former House Speaker go to jail. Some quotes from today's Judiciary I hearing: "I would characterize this as whack-a-mole," said Rep. Ray Rapp, a Madison County Democrat. "Just when we think we've gotten it taken care of in terms of video poker and gaming, it pops up again." ..... "When I met them a couple months ago, I'll be honest with you, I first thought these people are video poker reincarnated. And they're not, they just got unlucky," said Theresa Kostrzewa, a lobbyist for Hest Technology, who asked the committee to delay making a decision on the bill. Video poker was part of a string of scandals that plagued former House Speaker Jim Black, who was later convicted on corruption charges. "I told them, you're going to be guilty by association, but I know you're no breaking the video poker law," Kostrzewa said. "They're playing a legal sweepstakes game."