NCFRW – Legislative Report by Brenda T. Formo

February 16th, 2011 | Author: Katy Benningfield

Here is the current edition of the North Carolina Federation of Republican Women (NCFRW) Legislative Report, written and edited by Brenda T. Formo. This is posted with permission, as is. It’s an excellent roundup and your blogger looks forward to receiving it each week.

If you are interested in joining your local club, please check this page for more information. (You must have a PDF reader installed on your machine.)

US House of Representatives

Continuing Resolution

On Friday, Feb 11 the House Appropriations Committee released a Continuing Resolution (CR) for the 2011 fiscal year budget which is expected to be voted on this week. Republicans have cut $100 billion from the CR.

Patriot Act

On Feb 14, 2011 the final vote was taken on HR 514, “To extend expiring provisions of the USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 and Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 relating to access to business records, individual terrorists as agents of foreign powers, and roving wiretaps until December 8, 2011.” The bill passed with a vote of 275 to 144 with 14 not voting.

NC Representatives voting for the bill: G.K. Butterfield (D-1^st), Renee Ellmers (R-2^nd), Walter B. Jones, Jr.(R-3^rd), Virginia Foxx (R-5^th), Howard Coble (R-6^th), Mike McIntyre (D-7th), Larry Kissell (D-8^th), Sue Myrick (R-9^th), Patrick T. McHenry (R-10^th), Heath Shuler (D-11^th), and Brad Miller (D-13^th).

NC Representatives voting against the bill: David E. Price (D-4^th) and Melvin L. Watt (D-12^th).

United Nations Tax Equalization Refund Act

On Feb 9, 2011 the House voted on HR 519, a motion to suspend the rules and pass the “United Nations Tax Equalization Refund Act.” The bill was to “establish as United States policy that the United Nations should return $179 million overpaid into the U.N. Tax Equalization Fund as of Dec. 31, 2009, and that the U.S. should press the U.N. to change its fund assessment procedures to reduce discrepancies.” (MegaVote) The vote failed, which required a two-thirds majority, in a vote of 259 to 169 with 6 not voting.

NC Representatives voting for the refund bill: Renee Ellmers (R-2^nd), Walter B. Jones, Jr. (R-3^rd), Virginia Foxx (R-5^th), Howard Coble (R-6^th), Mike McIntyre (D-7th), Larry Kissell (D-8^th), Sue Myrick (R-9^th), Patrick T. McHenry (R-10^th), and Heath Shuler (D-11^th).

NC Representatives voting against the refund bill: G.K. Butterfield (D-1^st), David E. Price (D-4^th), Melvin L. Watt (D-12^th), and Brad Miller (D-13^th).

House Rules Committee

On Feb 14, 2011, the House of Representatives’ Rules Committee voted to “shut down Rep Steve King’s ability to offer an amendment to completely defund Obamacare on the continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of the year,” according to Erick Erickson at RedState, a conservative internet (sic) site. Erickson says that the Republicans lost a “prime opportunity” to “shut down Obamacare with its historic ‘power of the purse’” because the continuing resolution is a “must-pass bill.” Erickson stresses that Republicans should “force the Democrats to use political capital to get the provision out of the bill in the Senate.”

NC “State of the State” & Legislation

Governor Beverly Perdue presented her “State of the State” address on February 14, 2011 in which she commented on the $2.4 billion deficit and her proposed budget. Sounding more like a Republican or perhaps having a change in attitude, Governor Perdue wants tax relief for corporations in NC decreased to 4.9% from 6.9%, saying it would be the lowest in the Southeast and one of the lowest rates in the country.

The governor also made proposals for her “Career and College Promise” initiative and maintaining education funding for teachers and teaching assistants, indicating that education is sacrosanct and saying that she will not budge on it.

Republican leaders, Phil Berger and Thom Tillis both questioned the funding of the governor’s favored College Promise program, but indicated agreement with the lower tax rate for corporations.

NCGOP Chairman, Robin Hayes provided an articulate response emphasizing that Republicans want less tax, less spending, and less regulation. Predictably, the Democrat party Chairman David Parker blamed the NC fiscal problems on President Bush as opposed to Democrat spending decisions.

Balanced Budget Act of 2011

On Feb 10, 2011 the NC Legislature ratified the Balanced Budget Act of 2011. The House votes were 66 to 51 with 1 not voting. The Senate passed the measure earlier in the week. The bill takes advantage of $540 million in savings from the current budget and is now ready for Governor Perdue’s signature. Speculation from Democrats is that she will veto the legislation. According to Bloomberg News, “Three-fifths of the members voting on an override in the House and Senate would have to agree” to overturn the veto and make the legislation law.

Sources:

Investors.com, “Editorial: Obama’s Gutless Budget Proposal, Feb 14, 2011;

Heritage Foundation, “Morning Bell: Obama Budget Doubles Down on Deficit Spending Failure,” by Conn Carroll, Feb 15, 2011; Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “House Budget Cuts,” by Jamie Dupree, Feb 15, 2011; The Daily Caller, “White House budget gives House GOP a chance to regroup,” by Chris Moody, Feb 14, 2011 and “Ryan: Obama punted budget, it’s ‘Debt on Arrival,’” by Mary Katherine Hamm(sic), Feb 14, 2011, and “House Republicans’ CR a step in right direction, though not complete solution, says conservative groups,” by Matthew Boyle, Feb 15, 2011; CNN.com, “Obama defends budget priorities,” Feb 15, 2011; Real Clear Politics, “To Close Fiscal Deficit, We Must First Close Our Leadership Deficit,” by Senator Tom Coburn, Feb 15, 2011; The Hill, “McConnell: Obama budget ‘unserious’ and ‘irresponsible,” by Josiah Ryan, Feb 14, 2011; The Wall Street Journal, “Obama’s ‘Keynesian Misadventure,’” by Stephen Moore, Feb 14, 2011; Chicagotribune.com, “Passing on most painful choices, Obama sends Congress $3.7 trillion budget with some cuts,” by Andrew Taylor, Feb 14, 2011; hotair.com, “Budget reveals the Boldness Deficit,” by Ed Morrissey, Feb 15, 2011; house.gov; MegaVote: NC 6th, 2/14/2011; RedState.com, “RedState Action Alert: Take Down the Rule,” by Erick Erickson, Feb 15, 2011; newsobserver.com, “Perdue urges cut in business taxes,” by Rob Christensen and contributor Andy Curliss, Feb 15, 2011; News 14 Carolina, “State of the State” address from Governor Perdue, Feb 14, 2011; nbc17.com, “Perdue: NC Budget will Eliminate ‘Thousands of State Positions,’” by NBC17 Staff, Feb 14, 2011; ncga.state.nc.us; “Senate Bill 13,” Feb 15, 2011; Bloomberg.com, “NC Legislature gives final OK to savings bill,” by AP, Feb 10, 2011.

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