Greetings From Raleigh 7-21-06

Legislators made considerable progress this week on many bills, but I believe we will be in session for at least another week as members of the House and Senate try to resolve differences over ethics and lobbying reform bills, strengthening our sex offender laws, establishing a lottery oversight committee, creating a “first-in-the-nation” innocence commission for our judicial system, strengthening our state’s DWI laws, among others. At least ten pieces of legislation were sent to conference committees this week, where small groups of House and Senate members will work through the weekend and early next week to reach agreement before sending them to Governor Easley for signature. Then we’ll be ready to close the 2006 session and adjourn.