NC General Assembly 2013

"Shortly after the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) told the press 'we really believe in transparency,' new documents show the organization directing legislators to hide ALEC meeting agendas and model legislation from the public."

Read more: http://bit.ly/16eApZd from CommonDreams.org

Great image of the cycle of money, influence peddling, and state government bills.

Last fall, voters across North Carolina made their choices at the ballot box. In the next general election we will see whether they still like those they chose.

I recently read a post from state Sen. Thom Goolsby, R-New Hanover. He explains why he and Sen. Buck Newton, R-Wilson, introduced a bill taking away our choice to vote a straight ticket. Republicans like more choice in theory. Because freedom. But they insist on taking away this choice. Plus a few others.

If you’re a city, why bother?

Why bother building airports or water systems or tennis courts or roads or, well, anything?

"It’s a legitimate question, now that the Republican representatives Tim Moffitt, Nathan Ramsey and Chuck McGrady — may I call them “The Three Spigoteers?” — have filed the bill that would turn over Asheville’s water system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District.

That’s with no compensation for land the city bought and owns for reservoirs, or the system itself — water treatment plant, pipes, infrastructure, you name it..."

Read more of the column from the Citizen-Times in Asheville:
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013303310048
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-submitted at request of Ellen Lyle, an activist in Asheville, who can be contacted by email at ellendlyle@gmail.com

Tue Mar 12: Public Hearing, Voter ID
4pm in Rm. 643, Legislative Office Bldg.

Wake County Democratic Party Chair Dan Blue pointed out that this voter suppression bill (which will pass) still deserves wide publicity and study across the state and not just by politicos in Raleigh. But it won't get that unless there is a public outcry from the many thousands of voters who are at risk of losing their voting rights.

If you can, attend the public hearing. If you cannot attend, listen in on NC Voter Radio or through the audio link at www.ncleg.net online.

“It’s odd that we have a constitutional right to vote,” [said] Rep. Mickey Michaux, D-Durham. “This voter ID bill is something of a solution looking for a problem.” Michaux noted that voters who cast absentee ballots are not asked for photo ID.

If you missed Vos' presentation to the Joint Committee this morning (as I did), you can watch the video over the net here:

WRAL.com:
DHHS Secretary explains state of the agency

State Department of Health and Human Service Sec. Aldona Wos gives a presentation to the Joint Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services on the state of the agency after a week of scrutiny.

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I have been listening to the video online, and I have never seen a presentation like it in my days at the General Assembly. Overall impression: this woman is in way over her head.

On the Record: Reps. Deborah Ross, Jim Fulghum of Wake County

Rep. Deborah Ross, D-Wake, and Rep. Jim Fulghum, R-Wake, go On the Record about what has already happened in the early stages of this legislative session and what appears to be on the horizon

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Roundtable discussion with Laura Leslie of WRAL.com and David Crabtree of WRAL with their invited guests from the NCGA. (Video)

State Auditor Beth Wood to discuss Medicaid Audit

The Senate Committee on Appropriations on Health and Human Services will meet at the following time:

ROOM 643 Legislative Office Building, Jones Street, Raleigh
Thursday February 14, 2013 8:30 AM

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NC Secretary of Health & Human Services Wos to present priorities for NCGA biennium to Joint Committee Meeting next Wednesday.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations on Health and Human Services will meet at the following time: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 8:30 AM

ROOM 643 Legislative Office Building, Jones Street, Raleigh

(for more info see www.ncleg.net for the NCGA legislative calendar and contact information)

Good sources of info on the NC General Assembly from www.WRAL.com:

THE WRAP: Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and reporter Mark Binker talk over that committee reduction and appointments bill in Tuesday's edition of The Wrap @NCCapitol. (Video)

ISSUES: The 2013 N.C. General Assembly Issue Tracker has been updated with legislative action from Tuesday: http://www.wral.com/news/state/nccapitol/asset_gallery/11997682/

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And just for good measure, a suggestion for those going to the Legislature today:
DO GOOD: Wednesday is the North Carolina Retail Merchant's annual food drive at the legislative building. If you're going to be downtown today, bring my some nonperishable food for a good cause.

We know that the [NC General Assembly's] Regulatory Reform Committee will shortly receive a draft bill to take our water system from the city of Asheville and merge it with the operation of the Metropolitan Sewerage District.

I would like to speak out on the need, if this must proceed, to provide just compensation to the city based on the same equitable principles used by our founders.

The American Constitution is clear in requiring just compensation whenever the government takes private property. It is an indisputable and a cardinal creed.."

read more at the Asheville Citizen-Times site here:
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013302030014

I am passing along these opinion pieces, because many of us see this attempt to privatize the Asheville Water System as a possible precedent for such action across the state affecting many other water supplies.

from WRAL.com:

Raleigh, N.C. — Senate Republicans opened their session Wednesday with an effort to opt out of provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act set to take effect next year.

Senate Bill 4 would exempt North Carolina from establishing a state-run health insurance exchange or an exchange jointly operated by the state and federal government. The exchanges provide people without employer-sponsored health plans with a marketplace to purchase their own coverage.

Read the article here:
http://www.wral.com/bill-would-block-affordable-care-act-changes-in-nc/1...

This bill will be heard in the Senate Insurance Committee tomorrow morning at 10 am at the NC Legislative Building, Room 1027/1128.

I have Medicare Advantage Plan, so this does not affect me directly. But it does add to the list of planned bills that lead me to see the Republicans as heartless bastards.