Notes 5-04-07

County commissioners came to Raleigh this week to lobby lawmakers on a number of issues, but were primarily concerned about reducing how much they pay for Medicaid. The Guilford County contingent visiting for the day included Commission Chairman Paul Gibson, Commissioners Kay Cashion and Kirk Perkins, and Manager David McNeill. My colleagues and I in the House support providing as much Medicaid relief as the state can afford, and we will do what we can as we debate our budget proposal in the coming week.

Wednesday was clean water lobby day, with more than 125 clean water advocates visiting the legislature to lobby for better policies regarding the handling of hog waste as well as the transfer of water from one river basin to another (interbasin transfers). Another priority is the funding of seven additional positions at DENR to deal with sedimentation and erosion control, North Carolina's top water quality problem, mentioned above. An additional issue is the provision of emergency drinking water supplies and notification to well users of known or suspected contamination. I have sponsored bills addressing all of these issues.

I was pleased to have been appointed by Speaker Hackney to the State Energy Policy Council this week to serve until January of 2009. The Council is charged to advise and make recommendations on energy policy to the Governor and the General Assembly, serving as the central energy policy planning body of the state.

Thank you as always for allowing me to share this information with you. Please let me know of your concerns so that we can continue to work together for the betterment of the citizens of Guilford County and North Carolina.

Cheers,

Pricey