Bladen Farm Bureau visits William at the NC LegislatureSampson Weekly Compares Candidates for NC House District 22
April 12, 2012
Each week The Sampson Weekly will feature candidates that will be in the upcoming May 8th Primary. ...Read Full Story hereNorth Carolina Center for Public Policy Research releases Effectiveness Ratings for 2011 NC General Assembly
April 2012
Rep. William Brisson ranked 25th overall out of the 120 NC House Legislators. When comparing Democrats, he moves up to 5th Most Effective, only outranked by Jim Crawford (Current Appropriations Co-Chair), Joe Hackney (Minority Leader and past Speaker of the House), Bill Owens (Past Appropriations Chair), and Rick Glazier (Cumberland Co).
During Rep. Brisson's first term in 2007, he ranked 98th. His second term in 2009, he ranked 74th. Now in his 3rd term, he moves up to 25th. Rick Glazier came in at 24th overall, currently serving his fifth term. Crawford, Hackney, and Owens are serving in their 14th, 16th, and 9th terms respectively. Rep. Brisson has quickly advanced up in these rankings, proving that his hard work is not going unrecognized. In a modest statement Rep. Brisson only remarks "I just try to do what is right for the people of my District. Not every vote I cast is popular with every group, but it is always what I think is best for the overall population."
The survey’s purpose was to identify the most effective legislators in the General Assembly. The Center asked respondents to base their ratings on legislators’ participation in committee work, their skill at guiding bills through committee and floor debate, their general knowledge and expertise in special fields, the respect they command from peers, his or her ethics, the enthusiasm with which they execute various legislative responsibilities, the political power they hold (by virtue of office, longevity, or personal skills), their ability to sway the opinions of fellow legislators, and their aptitude for the overall legislative process. Respondents were asked to use these criteria, as well as their own personal knowledge of the General Assembly and personal perceptions of those who serve there, in replying to the Center’s questionnaire.
NC Chamber Endorses William Brisson for NC House
Mar 28-2012
“Rep. Brisson has been supportive of our initiatives to position North Carolina to be more competitive in the global race for jobs and economic prosperity,” said Lew Ebert, president and CEO of the North Carolina Chamber and member of the North Carolina Chamber PAC Board. “As a result of significant legislation passed last year, companies that already employ millions of North Carolinians can look to expand and grow, spurring further business investments and job creation. However, there is work still to be done, and we know that we can count on a continued commitment to enhancing our state’s business climate from strong, jobs-minded legislators like William Brisson.”...Read Full Press Release here
Rep Brisson responds to Trial Lawyers Fable
Mar 22-2012
As sent to Bladen Journal, News & Observer, and Sampson Independent
In Response to “Group Criticizes Brisson House Bill”, published in Bladen Journal on Tuesday, Mar 20, 2012.
First of all, I stand behind my original statement “if I sponsored the bill, it’s a good bill.” The paper did not print the question that I was asked over the phone, nor the fact that I was in my tractor, in the field, trying to get the corn planted for this year! I had not seen or heard anything about the ad he was questioning me on. As for the reporter, he wasn't’t sure what bill they were talking about either. “Something to do with a pharmaceutical bill that you sponsored.” Sure, in hindsight, I should have just told him that I would call him back when I had more information. Every farmer knows how stressful planting and harvesting time is! But, when you vote on what’s best for your constituents, you can say “if I supported it, it’s a good thing.”
HB542 was an effort to update Tort Reform which had not been updated since 1995. There are many provisions in bills when they are first introduced. The particular provision that these Trial Lawyers are stirring up was removed from the bill(N&O pointed this out in their article “Trial lawyers target conservative Democrat for drug vote”). They (N&O) also stated “Of course, the trial lawyers know pharmaceutical companies aren’t giving money directly to Brisson, because that would be illegal.” It DID NOT grant immunity to pharmaceutical companies as the trial lawyers would have you believe.
The real question you should ask is “Why would NC Trial Lawyers spend so much money ($50,000 in ads is the word on the street) to try and defeat one Bladen County Farmer?” Also, “Is it just a coincidence that his opponent is a personal injury lawyer?” I believe you can answer those questions just by reading the summary below on what HB542 accomplished below.
HB542 was a much-needed update to current statutes for North Carolina. It keeps insurance costs down, ensures that good doctors can stay in practice, and helps guarantee that NC remains an attractive place for business.
- When a lawsuit involves personal injury, the cost of medical care is almost always an issue. Before, Plaintiff’s lawyers have been able to introduce full charges and to have the jury compute damages from that figure. This bill shifts focus to the actual amount paid or required to be paid. Often this amount is ½ or less than the full charges!
- The standards for expert testimony were strengthened.
- In small cases where there is an unwarranted refusal by the defendant to negotiate or settle a claim, and the plaintiff ultimately is awarded more than the defendants best offer made 90 days or more before trial, the judge may impose the plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees on the defendant as “court costs”. HB542 limits this to cases at or below $20,000 in damages (previously $10,000), imposes the 90 day look-back requirement (not previously addressed), and caps plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees in these situations at $10,000 (previously unlimited).
- Landowners do not owe a duty of care to a trespasser and are not subject to liability for injury to a trespasser. There are exceptions for intentional harm and such.
This bill passed the House on an 85 to 32 vote and the Senate on a 42 to 8 vote. Here’s what Gov. Perdue had to say when she signed HB542 into law. “As we seek to grow jobs in North Carolina, it is essential that we remain a business-friendly state where companies will want to invest and expand. With that goal in mind, I am pleased to sign these two bills. House Bills 542 and 709 exemplify how good, balanced laws can be created when advocates for business and citizens roll up their sleeves and work together. House Bill 542 will ensure that when an accident happens, the laws in North Carolina both protect those injured and also prevent undue or disproportionate penalties from being imposed upon our companies. This law helps strike a fair and delicate balance.”
Thank you for taking the time to read this. As always, please contact me if you want to discuss this or anything else. Although, I do have a couple of more weeks to finish planting my corn! 
NC Legislator & Bladen County Farmer
Racial Justice override off - for now
By Laura Leslie
Posted: 7:46 p.m. Jan 4, 2012
Updated: 3:45 a.m. Jan 5, 2011
as on WRAL.com
House Republican leaders sent Senate Bill 9 to the Judiciary I committee this evening after failing to muster the Democratic votes needed to override the governor's veto of the measure.
Majority Leader Skip Stam pointed out that under the House rules, S9 or any veto could technically be taken up at any time, so the bill could re-emerge later tonight. But he indicated S9 probably would not.
House Speaker Thom Tillis also named a new committee to study possible changes to the Racial Justice Act.
The House Select Committee on Racial Discrimination in Capital Cases includes Chairman Tim Moore (R-Cleveland), Paul Stam (R-Wake), Justin Burr (R-Stanly) , Sarah Stevens (R-Surry), Shirley Randleman (R-Wilkes), John Faircloth (R-Guilford), Tim Spear (D-Washington), Larry Hall (D-Durham), Joe Hackney (D-Orange), and Earline Parmon (D-Forsyth).
The deal to send the issue to committee for further study was brokered by Reps. Jim Crawford (D-Granville) and Bill Brisson (D-Bladen).
"It's obvious we do have a problem" with the Racial Justice Act, said Brisson. But he said the fact that Tillis and his staff were willing to negotiate proves they value the concept behind the law.
"They didn't want to throw it in the trash can," Brisson said. "They just want to get it right."
Meantime, the Senate, which finished its business earlier, has been asked to stay, which wouldn't be necessary to adjourn, so it seems likely some other issue could yet come up - possibly an override of another veto, like S709, the drilling and fracking bill.
