The Raleigh Report

 

From the Office of Representative William Brisson

May 5, 2011

 

 

The House passed the initial version of its budget proposal this week. After many hours of discussion and offered amendments, the budget passed by a 72 – 47 vote. Four of my Conservative Democrat colleagues and I voted in support of the majorities bill. This bill has several strong points and does a pretty good job with the money that we have to work with. While I am still fighting to improve the Education portion of the budget, I voted in favor of the bill when it was amended so that the Bladen Correctional Facility in White Lake will not be closed and more money was provided to counties for school construction. A little more than 40 million was added to bring the total to around 100 million. This money is desperately needed in many counties to make payments owed for construction, Bladen County included.

 

Please keep in mind that this is just the initial proceeding for the budget. It will now move to the Senate and who knows what their version will look like. It will come back to the House and go through a Joint Committee to make the final changes. I hope to be a member on that Committee. I would like to see the sales tax stay in place to help lower the cuts to Education. There have been some polls that indicate the citizens do support this if it will help ease the burden on Education. I have heard from many teachers in our District and have assured them that in the final negotiations, I will fight hard to protect them and the children! 

 

 For a look at the full budget, visit www.ncleg.net. Links to the most recent budget documents are available on the left side of the page.

 

I will continue to share information about the budget with you in the weeks ahead. The plan is now in the Senate and will have to return to the House of Representatives for at least one more vote before going to the governor.

 

 

Notes

 

_ The House of Representatives honored former legislator Gordon P. Allen Sr. in the chamber this week. Allen was a former state representative and state senator from Person County. He served in the Senate from 1969-75 and was Senate President Pro Tempore from 1971-75. He returned to the General Assembly as a member of the House of Representatives from 1997-2005. Allen died on December at the age of 81.

 

 _ The majority continues to ignore the needs of 37,000 unemployed people in North Carolina who could easily qualify for extended help from the state government with a minor change in state law. All 52 Democrats have signed a petition to force the bill from committee and onto the House floor for action. No Republicans have joined us.

 

Please remember that you can listen to each day’s session, committee meetings and press conferences on the General Assembly’s website at www.ncleg.net. Once on the site, select "Audio," and then make your selection – House Chamber, Senate Chamber, Appropriations Committee Room or Press Conference Room.