Legislative Update from Rep. Frank Iler – May 30, 2017

Last week in the North Carolina House of Representatives we had a session at the old Capitol building to honor the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, we finished the individual sections of the House state budget, and we passed the budget sections out of committees.

The week started early on Monday afternoon for me when I had to attend a special ethics class for General Assembly members who also serve on state boards.  My service on the Brunswick Community College Board of Trustees puts me in that category, and the requirements on attending ethics classes are strict. 

Immediately after the ethics class the Transportations Appropriations Committee chairs were meeting in our continuing effort to finish the Transportation portion of the House budget.  We were finished and had our last meeting with the chairs of the full Appropriations Committee by Wednesday.  The plan was to pass our budget by Thursday out of the full House Appropriations Committee on Transportation.  As we were meeting constantly, there were only a few votes on bills in the House and in committees.

However, on Wednesday we had a special event to honor the first Declaration of Independence.  We met in the old Capitol building in the same seats as generations of legislators had met for nearly 200 years until 1963.  House Resolution 922 – Observe Mecklenburg Independence Day was read, debated, and passed unanimously.  A group of Mecklenburg elected representatives met on May 19, 1775 and reacted to the news that colonists had been killed by the British in Lexington by drafting five resolutions declaring freedom for the residents of Mecklenburg from Great Britain. It passed and was read on the courthouse steps in Charlotte the next day, May 20, 1775.  This date is immortalized on the North Carolina flag and state seal.

Also on Wednesday, while we were waiting for our turn with the full chairs, I was able to have visitors such as the home builders from our area and three other groups of citizens.  A special treat was a surprise visit from Mayor Walt Eccard of Shallotte.  As usual, he was advocating for our whole area, particularly in regards to the sales tax distribution plan in the proposed budgets.  Also, as Chairman of the Metropolitan Planning Organization connected to the Grand Strand, he had good updated information on the study area for North Carolina’s portion of the Carolina Bays Parkway.  It is more comprehensive than the original maps from 2005, and takes into account the development areas, as well as environmental concerns.  We also had a chance to share lunch, where I was able to introduce Walt to some of my House and Senate colleagues.

Finally, on Thursday, after approval of the full Appropriations chairs on Wednesday, our excellent staff had our House Transportation budget ready for approval of the full Transportation Appropriations Committee.  After a great presentation by said staff, discussion by the committee, and consideration of several amendments it passed, mainly on a party line vote. 

This week, the entire House budget will be published by Tuesday, and an all day House Appropriations meeting on Wednesday will see it amended and passed.  Floor votes should take place on Thursday and Friday, and it will go back to the Senate for concurrence.