100 Day Legislative Update

November 2nd, 2011 by

1.  Balanced Budget and Reduced Tax Rates

  • With bipartisan support, the House voted 73 – 46 to override the veto of Governor Bev Perdue.  The House and Senate achieved this historic milestone on June 15, 2011.
  • This fulfills our first two promises to the people of North Carolina:  A balanced budget and a budget that does not raise tax rates.  Our budget contains the largest tax rate cut in the history of North Carolina.  It makes our state more competitive with our neighbors again.  It puts almost $1.5 billion back in to the hands of hard working North Carolinians.  It is balanced.  The business school at UNC Chapel Hill estimates that the Republican budget will create up to 14,900 new private sector jobs in North Carolina.

2.  Protect Health Care Freedom Act

  • HB 2, protects North Carolinians from the “individual mandate” in the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), passed the House and Senate and was sent to the Governor.  She Vetoed the bill.  Republican leaders filed an Amicus Curiae (Friend of the Court) brief on May 11, 2011 to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia.  The Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 in favor of the states.

3.  North Carolina is a Right-to-Work state.  Republicans will continue to support laws that secure the right of employees to decide for themselves whether or not to join a union.  We will stop any legislation that allows collective bargaining.

4.  Reducing regulatory burden on small business.

Both House and Senate members have proposed legislation to limit the financial burden of regulation on businesses.

  • Senate Bill 22 – An act to limit new agency regulatory requirements that result in substantial additional costs.  SB 22 passed both chambers and was signed into law by the Governor on March 25, 2011.
  • House Bill 162 – An act to exempt certain activities related to small-scale processing of agricultural products from waste water permit requirements.  The bill passed the House and Senate and was signed by the Governor on April 19, 2011.
  • House Bill 200 – The Appropriations Act of 2011 limits the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Labor and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services from imposing standards or limitations that are more restrictive than the Federal government.  The Act became law on June 15, 2011.
  • House Bill 542 – An act to provide tort reform for North Carolina citizens and businesses was signed by the Governor and became law on June 24, 2011.
  • House Bill 619 – An act to specify the Secretary of Revenue’s authority to adjust net income of a corporation or to require a corporation to file a combined return was signed by the Governor and became law on June 30, 2011.
  • House Bill 709 – An act to Protect and Put NC Back to Work by reforming the Workers’ Compensation Act passed the House and Senate and was signed by the Governor on June 24, 2011.
  • Senate Bill 781 – An act to increase regulatory efficiency in order to balance job creation and environmental protection was vetoed by the Governor.  The House and Senate overrode the Governor’s veto on July 25, 2011 and the bill became law.

5.  The balanced budget passed by the House and Senate fully funds the teachers in the classroom, not the bureaucracy.

6.  Senate Bill 8 entitled, “No Cap on Number of Charter Schools” passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support and has been signed by the Governor.  The bill became law on June 17, 2011.

7.  HB 351, titled “Restore Confidence in Government” requires voters to provide photo ID before voting and allows more flexibility when applying for absentee ballots.  HB 351 was ratified by the House and Senate but vetoed by the Governor on June 23, 2011.  The House was unable to override the Governor’s veto but because of a parliamentary procedure it is eligible for reconsideration.

8.  The House and Senate have each introduced bills proposing a Constitutional Amendment that will protect private property rights.  House Bill 8 titled, “Eminent Domain” passed the full House on a vote of 98 to 18 and now moves to the Senate.

9.  HB 139 entitled, “Limit Contributions by State Vendors” discourages pay-to-play politics in North Carolina. The bill seeks to limit the campaign contributions of state vendors to Council of State offices with which they hold contracts.  HB 139 passed the House on May 24th and has been sent to the Senate.