North Carolina Legislative Report - September 28, 2012

September 17 - 28, 2012 

On the Floor

The NC General Assembly completed the short legislative session on July 3rd and has adjourned sine die until January 30, 2013.  The MVA Public Affairs Legislative Report on North Carolina will be distributed bi-weekly while the North Carolina Legislature is not in session.

While session is over, the General Assembly will continue to have various interim committee meetings throughout the year.

Committee Highlights

There were no major committee meetings this week but there are scheduled meetings next week, including Revenue Laws Oversight Committee.  See the Legislative Calendar below.

In The News

Uranium Enrichment Plant

A unit of GE Hitachi was granted permission Tuesday to operate a plant near Wilmington that uses laser technology to enrich uranium. But it will be months before the company decides whether it will actually build the facility. That decision – whether to commercialize the technology – could make a big difference in the Wilmington-area's economy.

Duke Commitment (September 27, 2012)

Duke Energy Corp. CEO Jim Rogers said Thursday the Charlotte-based company he heads remains committed to Raleigh after its merger with Progress Energy. "Raleigh is central to our future," he said. "We're committed to Raleigh for the long term. I couldn't imagine it any other way."

Economic Development (September 25, 2012)

Forsyth County officials on Monday unanimously approved slightly more than $1 million in economic development incentives for Deere-Hitachi in Kernersville, hoping the company will expand its plant and add the equivalent of at least 340 full-time jobs. Officials also approved up to an additional $510,000 in incentives to Deer-Hitachi from the state One North Carolina Fund.

Hospitals dominate cancer market (September 24, 2012)

Large nonprofit hospitals in North Carolina are dramatically inflating prices on chemotherapy drugs at a time when they are cornering more of the market on cancer care, an investigation by The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer has found. The newspapers found hospitals routinely mark up prices on cancer drugs two to 10 times over cost, with some markups significantly higher.

UNC Management (September 27, 2012)

UNC Health Care is taking over management of High Point Regional Health System. As part of the deal, UNC will provide $150 million for High Point Regional’s capital improvements and $50 million for the establishment of a new community health fund. Like some other hospitals under the UNC umbrella, High Point Regional will remain a private, not-for-profit organization.

Presidential Poll (September 25, 2012)

Another poll is showing Democratic President Barack Obama leading Republican opponent Mitt Romney in North Carolina. The poll, conducted by National Research for the conservative Civitas Institute, shows the Obama-Biden ticket leading the Romney-Ryan ticket 49 to 45 percent.

Ad Buys (September 27, 2012)

Data from media buyers show Republicans are far outspending Democrats in TV time for commercials boosting their candidate for governor in North Carolina. So far, Republicans have spent or reserved $12 million in ad time for GOP gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory, while Democrats spent or reserved $5.2 million on ad time boosting Democrat Walter Dalton.

Judicial Debate (September 26, 2012)

Eight candidates seeking North Carolina appellate court seats this November focused on fairness and impartiality at a forum Wednesday night. The candidates for one state Supreme Court seat and three Court of Appeals seats expressed their judicial philosophies without wading deeply into the details. The candidates said the job of an appeals court judge is to leave the creation of laws to other branches of government.

Attorney General (September 24, 2012)

The N.C. attorney general’s office announced Monday that it has sued two Charlotte foreclosure assistance companies that it claims ripped off customers by collecting up-front fees but then not helping them with their loans. Both companies -- Community Mortgage Assistance Program and Lender Exchange -- denied wrongdoing when contacted by The Charlotte Observer.

Inappropriate Relationships (September 24, 2012)

Some employees at the North Carolina Legislature have been put on notice about romantic relationships with people who lobby the General Assembly following resignations in Speaker Thom Tillis' office. The Legislative Ethics Committee is circulating new guidelines it says will guard against inappropriate and unethical behavior.

Targeting Murry (September 27, 2012)

The state Democratic Party is targeting Republican Rep. Tom Murry for supporting fracking with a pair of new campaign mailers. One of the mailers, sent to addresses in Apex, Cary and Morrisville, accuses Murry of supporting fracking in Wake County and District 42 just because "big oil likes it." Another mailer features a young girl playing in the sand on a beach.

U.S. House Race (September 26, 2012)

In the first debate of their U.S. congressional race, Democrat Jennifer Roberts and Republican Robert Pittenger disagreed about rail funding, health care and the deficit-reduction plan co-authored by Charlotte’s Erskine Bowles. But it was a dig from Roberts that punctuated the 30-minute debate at the Charlotte Chamber. “I do not plan to use Congress as my private investment club,” she said, referring to Pittenger’s real estate investment business.

House Seat (September 24, 2012)

A candidate for the North Carolina House has received the title "representative" before the fall election. New Hanover County Commissioner Ted Davis Jr. has been appointed to the House by Gov. Beverly Perdue to succeed Rep. Danny McComas, who resigned earlier this month to become the next chairman of the State Ports Authority.

8th District (September 24, 2012)

In an 8th congressional district debate Monday that focused on issues important to senior citizens, Democratic U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell said he opposes any changes to Social Security and Medicare, while Republican Richard Hudson said he’d favor offering "choices" to those now his age (40) and younger. Read more.

Legislative Calendar

Tue, October 02, 2012 

• Education Oversight Committee, Jt Leg
• 10:00 AM      

Wed, October 03, 2012 

• Revenue Laws Study Committee
• 9:30 AM   

Thu, October 04, 2012 

• Digital Learning Environments in Public Schools (LRC)(2011) - Friday Institute - NCSU Centennial Campus Off-site
• 10:00 AM 

Fri, October 05, 2012 

• Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee
• 9:00 AM 
• General Statutes Commission
• 10:00 AM 

Mon, October 08, 2012 

• Intentional Death Committee of Child Fatality Task Force
• 10:00 AM 
• Joint Mental Health Subcommittee
• 1:00 PM   

Wed, October 10, 2012 

• Perinatal Health Committee of Child Fatality Task Force
• 10:00 AM   
• Blue Ribbon Commission Sub-Com on Housing
• 10:00 AM   
• Blue Ribbon Commission Sub-Com on Adult Care Transitions
• 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM   

Thu, October 11, 2012 

• Environmental Review Commission
• 9:30 AM   
• Joint Legislative Committee on Information Technology
• 1:00 PM

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