Legislative Update from Rep. Frank Iler May 24, 2016

Last week in the North Carolina General Assembly we passed the 2016 budget out of the House Appropriations Committee and out of the full House, we had official visitors from our county boards of commissioners, and I had visitors from home, Oak Island.

On Tuesday, the full House Appropriations Committee met in an all day session. We had been working in separate committees on each section of the budget. For the first time we heard the entire budget presented during the morning session.  I presented the transportation section, along with our co-chairs, Representatives Shepard, Tine, and Torbett. After each section there were question and answer periods. Then in the afternoon we considered amendments from the committee. There were about 65 amendments. Some were ruled out of order, so we actually voted on around 45 of them. Then we voted on the bill, House Bill 1030 – 2016 Appropriations Act. The vote was almost unanimous, as I only heard one NO vote.Wednesday, the budget was on the House floor. There we considered about 22 amendments and passed it by a monumental vote of 103 – 12.  Thursday, there were 5 additional amendments offered on third reading, and the vote was again 103 – 12. One reason that the process seemed more streamlined than last year is that these budget provisions are adjustments to the two-year budget, not an entirely new budget. The budget bill now moves to the Senate for their changes. It will then be negotiated before passing both chambers in its final form.

The House budget gives all teachers and other state employees a raise, gives additional tax breaks to middle income taxpayers, and adds to the rainy day fund so we don’t get caught short again like the last recession. One major transportation provision funds ferry replacement and operations like a state infrastructure asset and does away with ferry tolls.

On Wednesday, county commissioners from across the state were in Raleigh to discuss their concerns with us. I was glad to meet and have lunch with Brunswick County Commissioners Marty Cooke, Pat Sykes, Randy Thompson, and Frank Williams.

Thursday, there was a breakfast and meeting of the N.C. Association of Resort Towns and Convention Cities. I was proud to see officials from Oak Island there, including Mayor Cin Brochure, Councilman Jeff Winecoff, and Manager Lisa Stites. They later came to the House gallery, where they saw the final budget vote. Then we met at my office and had lunch together to discuss civic and beach issues.

This week, we will have many of our House policy committees meeting while the Senate works on the budget. I will be chairing the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday, where we plan to take up two interesting bills.