The Raleigh Report
From the Office of Representative William Brisson
May 26, 2011
The state Senate introduced its full budget proposal this week and it causes a great deal of additional damage to our children and families. The plan calls for the layoffs of all teaching assistants in grades 1-3 -- at least 13,000 by the most recent estimates -- and keeps in place most of the $1 billion in education cuts put in place by House budget writers. This plan also takes the destructive step of dismantling the state’s Smart Start infrastructure. The proposal cuts funding for the Smart Start program by 20 percent and abolishes the North Carolina Partnership for Children, the statewide umbrella organization for Smart Start. The remaining money is transferred to the state Department of Health and Human Services. The state can send money to local Smart Start groups, but only those who can reduce their administrative expenses in half would qualify. Smart Start administrators believe the new requirement, in addition to the reduced funding, will force many local agencies to shut down and stop serving needy children.
Many of my colleagues joined with Smart Start officials for a well-attended press conference this week to point out the potential harm this budget will cause if it is adopted. Smart Start workers, parents and business leaders who support the program attended the gathering to show their opposition. North Carolina’s Smart Start is a national model for early childhood education and has been for nearly 20 years. We should preserve as much of the program as possible if we intend to continue improving the education and care of our children. For more information about the Senate budget, you can view the text of the bill and the money report online at www.ncleg.net.
I also want to share some information with you about a few other bills that were considered in the House this week. Please contact me if I can be of additional assistance and thank you for your interest in state government.
Health
_ Residents of adult care homes will receive better care under a bill approved unanimously in the House this week. The bill (H474) strengthens the continuing education requirements, training and evaluations of medication aides in the homes. It also improves infection control regulations and requires annual inspections for compliance with infection control standards. The bill came about as a result of the deaths of six adult home care residents who died of an infection that was spread through the shared use of a medical device.
Unemployment Benefits
_ The House majority introduced a bill this week that again ties federal long-term unemployment benefits to language that would force the governor to layoff thousands of state employees and teachers. Gov. Perdue vetoed an earlier version of the bill and asked the legislative leadership to give her a bill containing only the benefit extension. They have refused and I have joined with my colleagues several times to attempt to pass legislation that would extend the benefits (H676). The bill was approved in committee this week and is expected to reach the House floor next week. Republicans defeated a proposal in committee that would have stripped out the budget language and left only the benefits extension in place. An estimated 42,000 people in North Carolina qualify for the benefits and are losing about $11 million in total payments. None of the money would come from the state.
Finance
_ Despite the opposition of the state’s military leaders, the majority pushed through a bill this week that will allow lenders to increase the cost of certain kinds of loans. About a half-million people in the state use the installment loans. Opponents say the loans are predatory. Col. Stephen Sicinski of Fort Bragg said he and commanders at Camp Lejeune and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base oppose the measure because it would lead to financial problems for young military members. Financial problems distract soldiers from focusing on their work. The bill cleared the House Banking Committee on a party line vote with Democrats opposing the bill at the military’s request. It now goes to the House floor. (H810)
Notes
With several veterans of the military in the audience, the House unanimously passed a resolution this week honoring the state’s veterans. The resolution expresses gratitude for their service and honors the memory of those who died in the line of duty. A full copy of the resolution is available online. (H930)
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.