Carolina Journal Exclusives

NCGA Preview: Week of February 7

Balanced Budget Act, health care exclusion set for votes this week

By Anthony Greco

February 07, 2011

RALEIGH – Unlike previous sessions, where it might take weeks for legislation to reach a final vote in one legislative house and move to the other, the 2011 General Assembly is off to a quick start. Two high-profile bills are expected to cross over to their second chamber this week — one tackling the state’s estimated $3.4-billion deficit, the other putting formally North Carolina in opposition to the Obama administration’s federal health care reforms.

The House is expected to take up Senate Bill 13, Balanced Budget Act of 2011, and the Senate is expected to begin debating House Bill 2, Healthcare Freedom Protection Act.

The balanced budget act attracted the most controversy last week. The bill would give Gov. Bev Perdue additional authority to redirect nearly $800 million in unspent money appropriated for this fiscal year. She has agreed to divert at least $400 million. Perdue and other Democrats have resisted taking money away from economic incentive funds like Golden LEAF, One North Carolina, and Job Development Investment Grants. Republican leaders say shifting the unspent money to the General Fund would not affect job creation.

S.B. 13 passed its initial floor vote, 30-18, along party lines. Senators must take a final vote on the bill before sending it to the House

The Healthcare Freedom Protection Act is set for debate in the Senate Judiciary II Committee this week after passing first reading Thursday. H.B. 2 would allow people to opt out of the federal health care reform law’s requirement to buy health insurance. It also would compel Attorney General Roy Cooper to join a multi-state lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal law.

The Senate Education/Higher Education Committee will continue hearings on S.B. 8, No Cap on Charter Schools Bill. As its title implies, the bill would remove the state’s 100-school cap on charter schools. It also would create a commission separate from the State Board of Education to oversee charter schools, among other functions. The bill has bipartisan support, although Democrats have suggested they may add new regulations ensuring that charter schools maintain racial and socioeconomic balance.

MAJOR LEGISLATION:

• H.B. 11, No Postsecondary Education/Illegal Aliens, George Cleveland, R-Onslow

• H.B. 27, Forensic Sciences Act, Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland, Paul Stam, R-Wake

• H.B. 33, State Law to Provide for Acceptable IDs, Mike Hager, R-Rutherford

• H.B. 41, Tax Fairness in Education, Paul Stam, R-Wake

• S.B. 3, Broaden Sweepstakes Law, Don Vaughn, D-Guilford

• S.B. 27, Involuntary Annexation Moratorium, David Brock, R-Rowan

• S.B. 37, Eminent Domain, Brent Jackson, R-Sampson

KEY COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

A list of the regularly scheduled House Committee meetings is here.

• The Senate Judiciary II committee will hear H.B. 2, Protect Healthcare Freedom Act Tuesday.

• The Senate Education/Higher Education Committee will hear S.B. 8, No Cap on Number of Charter Schools Act.

• The House Judiciary Subcommittee B will hear H.B. 27, Forensic Sciences Act.

NEW BILLS:

The only piece of major legislation likely to be introduced this week is “Laura’s Law,” by Rep. Tim Moore, R-Cleveland. The bill would stiffen penalties on repeat offenders who drive while impaired. The bill is named for Laura Fortenberry, a 17-year-old girl who died in an alcohol-related accident, the Gaston Gazette reports. Howard Pasour is charged in the accident, a repeat DWI offender who had three convictions in Gaston County. Moore’s office says the bill will be filed after a news conference Tuesday.

To reach a member of the House or Senate, you can find individual home pages on the websites.

Anthony Greco is an associate editor of Carolina Journal.