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Promises made. Promises kept. July 12, 2012
July 3rd marked the end of the 2011/2012 legislative cycle. What will be recorded in history as the shortest "short session" ever was marked with a number of accomplish-ments. Your conservative legislature, in spite of 19 vetoes by the governor, kept our promises to put NC back on the path toward financial prosperity, fiscal accountability, sound education reform and stronger private rights of our citizens. We passed a $20.2 billion budget adjustment, capped the gas tax, provided a 1.2% raise for teachers and state employees for the first time in over 4 years and restored education funding - all without raising taxes.
Relevant to our local District 3, we were able to secure a one-year moratorium on ferry tolls in order to study impact and look for alternatives to tolling. The budget adjustment also allocated $500,000 to help local communities protect our military bases from closure and restored a portion of funding for Tryon Palace. All of these successes were with bi-partisan support. Below are some key accomplishments in greater detail.
It has been an honor to serve you in the NC House, and I look forward to the opportunity to serve you in the NC Senate!
Norman
Fiscal Accomplishments
Balanced Budget: On July 2, 2012 Republicans in the House and Senate voted to override the Governor's veto of a $20.17 billion budget adjustment for 2012-2013
(HB 950). This bill fine-tuned some items from the previous budget.
No tax rates were increased.
Regulatory Reform: SB 810 "Regulatory Reform Act of 2012" loosens regulatory requirements on citizens and businesses.
Presented to Governor on 6/28/12.
Licensure: HB 799 will accelerate the process by which military personnel and their spouses can be licensed to lawfully practice their occupation once they have moved to NC. It allows the state Board of Education to issue teacher licenses to military spouses who are teachers in their home state.
It was passed by the House and Senate on 7/2/12 and presented to the Governor.
Education
Funding: The 2012-2013 adjusted budget restores
$251 million to public education. It provides
$27 million for an education reform program that focuses on student literacy, improving graduation rates, and rewarding effective teachers. The budget fully funds enrollment growth in K-12, community colleges and the university system.
Raises: Teachers and all state employees were granted a 1.2% raise, the first in five years, and community colleges and the university system are given funds for a 1.2% raise for recruiting, retaining, or rewarding excellent instructors.
Policy: HB 7 allows community colleges to opt out of the William D. Ford Federal Director Loan program. The House and Senate
overrode the Governor's veto on 6/18/2012 at the request of the Trustees of many community colleges.
Environment
Natural Gas: SB 820 "Clean Energy and Economic Security Act" creates the Mining and Energy Commission, which will develop regulations for horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Licenses will not be issued until further legislative action.
It became law on 7/2/12 after the House and Senate voted to override the Governor's veto.
Property Rights
Protections: HB 925 requires that residents of an area have the opportunity to vote prior to that area being annexed by a municipality.
It became law on 6/11/12.
Gun Rights
Protections: HB 843 repealed GS 14-288.7 which made it a Class 1 Misdemeanor to transport any dangerous weapon or substance in an area where there is a declared state of emergency.
The act also prohibits municipalities and counties from restricting or prohibiting lawfully possessed firearms within a declared emergency area. It became law on 6/11/12.
Transportation
Gas Tax: The budget cuts and freezes the gas tax at 37.5 cents per gallon. This is 1.4 cents less than the current rate.
Ferry Tolls: After much behind the scenes work, the final budget language included a one-year moratorium on ferry tolls for the Cherry Branch-Minnesott ferry. A later technical correction also includes the Aurora - Pamlico River ferry. This will allow time to look at the impact of ferry tolling on citizens and study possible alternatives to ferry tolling.
Criminal Justice
Human Trafficking: SB 910 is a bipartisan bill that increases the penalties for the unlawful sale, surrender, or purchase of a child. This is a new tool to suppress human trafficking.
Murder: SB 105 increases the penalties for second degree murder and death by motor vehicle. It was presented to the Governor on 6/28/12.
Death Penalty: SB416 amends death penalty procedures. Major changes detail the use of evidence to prove racial discrimination. It eliminates the defendant's ability to use statewide statistical evidence. Statistical evidence alone is not enough to determine racial discrimination. It also limits the use of stat data to approximately a 15 year window around the time the death sentence was sought or imposed. It ends the moratorium on the death penalty.
It became law on 7/2/12 after the House and Senate voted to override the Governor's veto.
Death Penalty: SB416 amends death penalty procedures. Major changes detail the use of evidence to prove racial discrimination. It eliminates the defendant's ability to use statewide statistical evidence. Statistical evidence alone is not enough to determine racial discrimination. It also limits the use of stat data to approximately a 15 year window around the time the death sentence was sought or imposed. It ends the moratorium on the death penalty.
It became law on 7/2/12 after the House and Senate voted to override the Governor's veto.
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