Legislative Update from Rep. Frank Iler – Feb. 14, 2011

The third week of the 2011 session in the General Assembly continued to be very busy.  Appropriations sub-committees, all six of them, began meeting with their full memberships every morning, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  They are joint meetings with the Senate, so Senator Rabon and I are both in the Transportation meeting as vice-chairs of our respective Appropriations sub-committees and Co-chairs of our respective Transportation Committees.

The purpose of the daily meetings is to receive information briefings from the various departments (DOT in our case) in preparation for budget work to begin soon.  Meetings are scheduled every day this week at 8:30 A.M.

Bills are beginning to move at a faster pace each week.  Last Wednesday, Senate Bill 13 – Balanced Budget Act of 2011 came to the House floor, already having passed the Senate.  This legislation would give the Governor authority to save $400 million in 2010 funds and add another $400 million in savings identified by the Senate, $800 million total that would give a head start on the 2011 budget.  After three hours of debate, it passed 66-51 on a party line vote, with all Republicans voting for it and all Democrats voting against.  Thursday, it was back for third reading, another hour and a half of debate, and passed 66-51 again.  It now goes to the Governor for her signature.  There are rumors she may veto it, even though she asked for the authority in the first section.

It is anticipated that the Senate will take up House Bill 2 – Protect Health Care Freedom this week.  It passed the House week before last and has been in a Senate Judiciary committee this past week.

Other bills of interest that have been introduced and should be considered this week are:

House Bill 41 – Tax Fairness in Education, which gives a tax credit to parents who send their children to non-public schools.  It should be heavily debated in the Education Committee.

House Bill 48 – No Standardized Testing Unless Required by Feds eliminates several year-end tests that teachers have been asking to be eliminated.  This bill could also save funds.

House Bill 49 – Laura’s Law, increases punishment for repeat DWI offenders.  It is named after a young lady named Laura who was killed by a repeat drunk driver near Gastonia.

House Bill 61 – Speaker/Pro Tem Term Limits, which limits the terms of the Speaker of the NC House and the President Pro Tem of the NC Senate to two terms of two years each or four years total.

First thing this week, the Governor will deliver her State of the State address on Monday night, Valentine’s Day, at 7:00 P.M.  It will be on UNC-TV.  For the first time the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tem of the Senate will deliver a reply immediately following her address.  By press time, this may already be history.  Either way, it is historic.