MAKING THE TRAINS RUN ON TIME
Republican leaders in the General Assembly are setting a fast-paced agenda. This week the majority released a calendar that has the state budget being adopted by June 1. Subcommittees of the Appropriations Committee were given rules and deadlines this week. The House is to approved the 2011-12 spending plan by April 22; the Senate on May 13, and final approval June 1. This would be the earliest the state budget has been approved in recent memory.
Committees have been told that no expansion items (new programs) are permitted. There is to be no “management flexibility” allowed. And there will be no special provisions that involve spending or policy changes.
House Speaker Thom Tillis of Mecklenburg in his acceptance speech floated June 4 as the date for adjournment. But that is optimistic. If Gov. Perdue vetoes the Legislative Plan, they could be there much longer.
POSSIBLE DERAILMENTS: Republicans have thrown down the gaunlet: taxes scheduled to die on June 30 will be history. Result: $1.5 billion gap in the spending plan or half the estimated shortfall to maintain the current $18.5 billion General Fund budget. Republicans are pressuring Governor Perdue to give up over $140 million in funds allocated—but not yet spent—for recruiting of new businesses to the state. She already has pulled in $400 million from fund balances with state agencies. Republicans want an $800 cash cushion. In the Senate, there are enough Republicans (31) to override a veto. In the House, five Democrats would have to join Republicans to override a veto.
Six Democrats joined the Republicans to elect Tillis as Speaker, including former Rules Chairman Bill Owens of Elizabeth City.
REGIONAL LEGISLATORS MOVE UP: Unifour legislators, in a hotbed for Republicans, moved up in some key roles. Rep. Mark Hilton of Conover is a co-chair for the Subcommittee on Education Appropriations, as is Rep. Hugh Blackwell of Valdese. Upon his return after a four-years absence, Rep. Mark Hollo of Taylorsville moved into the seat of co-chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, Hollo is a physicians assistant and his district includes Hickory. Rep. Mitchell Setzer and Edgar Starnes are co-chairs of the Finance Committee which considers all revenue bills (expected to be very rare this session). Rep. Jonathan Rhyne of Lincolnton is chair of the House Banking Committee and chair of Judiciary Committee C.
Sen. Austin Allran of Hickory, the longest serving senator, is chair of Judiciary Committee 2. Each legislator serves as a member of several other committees.
GENDER CHANGE: Legislative assistants who handle correspondence, appointments, and clerical duties usually have been women, some working parttime. This session an increasing number are men, some recent college graduates who have struggled in a recession-driven job market. One male assistant is an attorney from a small town. A few are attracted to the world of politics and government.
Carlton Huffman, whose family owns Huffman Knitting and Huffman Hosiery in Granite Falls, is the legislative assistant to Rep. Jonathan Jordan of Watauga County Huffman formerly worked for presidential –candidate Pat Buchanan and lived in Washington DC area.
HANG TOUGH, GOVERNOR: Mitchell Gold, CEO of Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams Furniture, is among 15 prominent corporate executives who sent a letter to Gov. Perdue urging her to submit a budget with full funding for education and infrastructure needs, even if it requires more revenue. They said the state’s reputation for an excellent business climate is at risk. Other signers included Jim Goodman, CEO of Capital Broadcasting, and Ann Goodman, public relations director, at SAS Institute and wife of Jim Goodnight, billionaire co-founder of SAS. The Goodnights are prominent Republicans.
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