Pricey Harrison's newsletter Feb. 27, 2009

This has some very good information on the state's economic shortfall and where Gov. Perdue intends to make up for it. Also info on our share of the stimulus funds.
-Tara

February 27, 2009

Greetings,

The dominant news this week continues to be the economy and it just keeps getting grimmer. It now appears that North Carolina could face as much as a $4 billion shortfall in next year's budget. As a result, Governor Perdue has requested that NC agencies propose 9% across the board cuts. In addition, she has transferred $300 million to the General Fund from special accounts with large cash balances such as the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and the Education Lottery Reserve Fund. Unfortunately, she has also proposed drastic cuts to important programs that actually save the state money. These include abolishing the Criminal Justice Partnership Program and large cuts to family treatment courts, drug courts, Sentencing Services, and programs at Juvenile Justice for at-risk children, to name a few.

As reported last week, North Carolina is on track to receive about $6.1 billion in stimulus funds over the next 27 months, which should help. The Governor’s office and members of the General Assembly are working diligently to determine how the money will be best spent. Governor Perdue has already announced 70 highway and bridge projects that will soon get under way across the state. These 70 projects, several of which are in Guilford County, will be paid for with $466 million in federal stimulus money. The money is half of what the state will receive for transportation projects and is required to be obligated within four months. It is expected to create about 14,000 jobs for the state.

Even as our focus remains on the state’s fiscal situation, we have addressed many other matters, including mountain top removal, green school construction, education, and assistance to members of our military.

Mountain Top Removal

Yesterday, Representatives Fisher, Haire, Howard, and I held a press conference introducing House Bill 340*, the Appalachian Mountains Preservation Act, which would prohibit the use of mountain top removed coal in North Carolina power plants. (A companion bill, Senate Bill 341, has been filed by Sen. Goss in the Senate). We do not have mountain top removal in NC, so the only way we can object to this barbaric practice is to prohibit the use of that coal in our power plants. Nearly 500 of the oldest mountains on the planet with some of the most significant biodiversity have been destroyed in the pursuit of cheap coal. In addition, more than 1200 miles of streams have become polluted, scores of drinking water wells have dried up or become poisoned. Disease clusters have formed around these mining sites. Hundred-year-old (and older) communities have been devastated. From my perspective, the practice is indefensible, and it should stop. Bank of America recently made that determination and is no longer funding mountain top removal.

I suppose it is a good sign that the utilities and electric co-ops are lobbying hard against the bill. They are spreading unsubstantiated allegations that the ratepayers' power bills will rise dramatically, which has unfortunately scared off some of my co-sponsors and potential co-sponsors. Current coal prices range from $70-$140 a ton, and the difference between underground and surface mined coal amounts to approximately $3 a ton, which translates to pennies on a monthly power bill. It is hard for me to justify blowing up mountains and destroying lives to save a few dollars a year on my power bill. If you feel similarly, please contact your legislator and ask them to co-sponsor and support House Bill 340* (members can sponsor until approximately 8 p.m. on Monday evening). Please contact my office if you need assistance contacting your member.

Here is a link to an excellent posting on our bill authored by Laura Leslie, Capitol Bureau Chief for North Carolina Public Radio:

http://wunc.org/programs/news/Isaac-Hunters-Tavern/thurs-does-nc-3-mount...

Protest Petition

House Bill 64*, which would restore the right of the protest petition to the citizens of Greensboro, cleared another hurdle in getting the approval of the Judiciary I committee yesterday, and will be on the House floor on Monday evening. Many thanks to Representatives Jeffus, Wiley, and Adams for their help as well as the citizen activists in Greensboro who worked so hard to make this happen.

Green Schools/Education/Dropout Prevention

Representatives Glazier, Fisher, Cotham, and I have sponsored legislation, House Bill 282*, promoting green school construction. The bill would broaden the scope of the sustainable energy-efficient buildings program to include public school buildings (currently only state owned buildings and those of UNC System and the community colleges are included). It would require that the State Energy Office work with the Department of Public Instruction to design protocol standards. It also creates a green school construction revolving loan fund which we hope can be funded with stimulus money. Sen Clodfelter will be filing a Senate companion.

Legislation has been filed that would shorten the waiting period between retirement and re-employment for retired teachers, so that teachers may return to the classroom without a loss of retirement benefits House Bill 229*. Existing law prohibits teachers from working for at least six months after retirement or risk losing unemployment benefits. This bill would reduce the waiting period to four months.

Money would be appropriated for the North Carolina PTA Parent Involvement/Dropout Prevention initiative according to a bill filed in the House this week, House Bill 308*. If enacted, the legislation would appropriate $1.5 million for the 2009-2010 fiscal year and $1.5 million in recurring funds for the 2010-2011 fiscal year to the North Carolina Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc., a nonprofit organization, for the continuation of the North Carolina PTA Parent Involvement/Dropout Prevention Initiative.

Recycling

Restaurants, bars and other establishments with ABC licenses already required to recycle would receive a tax credit of up to $500 annually based on how much they recycle under legislation filed in the House this week House Bill 249*. North Carolina passed a law several years ago that requires that holders of ABC licenses recycle bottles and cans used on their premises. This bill would help facilitate compliance.

Military

The state would add two more family assistance centers to help military personnel and their families under a bill filed in the House, House Bill 15. The additional centers would cost an estimated $600,000.

Money would be appropriated to the North Carolina Military Business Center according to a bill filed, House Bill 58. If enacted, the legislation would appropriate $1.25 million for 2009-10 and $1.25 million for 2010-11 from to the community college system for the center. The center helps assist businesses in the states win federal contracts and helps develop business originating from the state’s military bases.

Taxpayer Subsidy to UNC Booster Clubs

Our effort, House Bill 83*, to repeal the $10million annual taxpayer subsidy to UNC System Booster Clubs continues to receive support from editorial pages around the state. Here are links to recent editorials from the Winston Salem Journal and the Charlotte Observer. Please write your Senators and tell them to support House Bill 83* when it comes to the Senate, and to encourage their leadership to take the bill up.

Links to salient editorials:

From the Winston Salem Journal

Journal Editorial Staff
Winston-Salem Journal - Winston-Salem,NC,USA
Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, has filed legislation that by all rights should pass in this year of desperate budget-cutting. She wants to take away that ...

Another editorial from the Charlotte Observer

Rand's pricey little perk for boosters | CharlotteObserver.com
A $3 billion shortfall has universities cutting courses and doubling up classes. This little perk costs serious money and should not stand. Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Greensboro, has introduced a bill to repeal it. ...

*Denotes bills for which I am a sponsor or co-sponsor.

Notes

Last night we had a good turnout at our annual Greensboro "Take it to Raleigh" meeting to hear from our constituents. We recognize that it is not easy for all to travel to Raleigh, and this annual event gives us a chance to interact with constituents.

Earlier in the week I was in Washington DC (at my expense) for meetings and had the chance to talk with the assistant to the President for Energy and Climate, Carol Browner, as well as the new chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, Nancy Sutley. I am very encouraged by this Administration's commitment to a sustainable energy future, and I look forward to the removal of federal impediments to our ability to pursue such at the state level.

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.

Please remember also you can also catch highlights of the week on Legislative Week In Review on Friday nights at 10p.m. on UNC-TV, repeated Sundays at 1p.m.

Please continue to keep in touch regarding your cares and concerns, working together we can create the highest quality of life for all of our citizens.

Cheers,

Pricey