Greetings From Raleigh 02-16-07

Work at the General Assembly picked up substantially this week following Speaker Hackney’s announcement on Monday night of the 44 House committees and subcommittees, which will meet during the 2007-08 session. There has also been a substantial increase in the number of bills that legislators are currently working on, and plan to introduce over the next two months.

We were also briefed on budget items this week relating to public education and retiree health benefits and long-term liability, which will help us prepare for the budget discussions that will occur during the next four months.

The biggest news of the week was the announcement Thursday that former Speaker Black pleaded guilty to taking cash from chiropractors while promoting legislation benefitting them. It was a sad day for him, his family, the NC Legislature, and all North Carolinians.

Governor Mike Easley will be delivering his “State of the State” address on Monday, February 19. This will be Gov. Easley’s fourth ---and likely final -- address, which is given every two years, and usually highlights the requests he intends to make in his upcoming two-year budget proposal. Gov. Easley’s budget is expected to be presented to legislators soon. Check your local TV listings if you would like to watch the speech.

Please remember that you can learn more about the General Assembly by visiting www.ncleg.net. Our newly updated website allows citizens to listen in on each day’s legislative session, committee meetings, and press conferences, learn more about introduced legislation, and view each day’s schedule and list of bills to be voted
on.