Friday, June 09, 2006

Groups Visiting The Legislature This Week 6-9-06

Nearly 1,200 mental health advocates converged on the General Assembly on Tuesday. The group, Coalition 2001, was here to urge lawmakers to fully fund programs that aid patients with mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse problems. Legislators are expected to provide a substantial amount of new funding in this year’s budget to help implement mental health reforms and improve community based programs, although it doesn’t appear that the funding will be quite as much as the advocates are requesting.

Tuesday was Equality NC’s lobby day, and I was visited by several constituents opposed to the proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

Wednesday was a big day for Guilford County visits. A large group was down, celebrating Public Library Day, including several members of the library board and staff from Greensboro and High Point. It was also the Greensboro Chamber’s day to visit the legislature, and more than 80 Chamber members and staff came to see us, as well as host a lunch and a reception. In addition, it was the League of Municipalities’ “Town Hall” day and several folks were down from the city council and staff.

Greensboro native and UNC system President Erskine Bowles led a contingent of university notables who sat in the gallery of the House and Senate on Wednesday afternoon. Many of the 16 chancellors including Vick Hackney from A&T and Pat Sullivan from UNCG and members of the UNC Board of Governors, including several from Greensboro, also visited the Legislative Building.

We will be back in session on Monday at 7:00 p.m.

No comments: