February 26, 2009

We received notice this week that with the passage of the federal stimulus bill, North Carolina is on track to receive about $6.1 billion over the next 27 months. The Governor’s office and members of the General Assembly are working diligently to determine how the money will be best spent.

Governor Perdue has already announced 70 highway and bridge projects that will soon get under way across the state. These 70 projects will be paid for with $466 million in federal stimulus money. The money is half of what the state will receive for transportation projects and had to be obligated within four months. It is expected to create about 14,000 jobs for the state.

The following projects will begin in Lee County: resurfacing Route US 1 from US 1 Business to SR 1423 at a cost of $3,000,000 and widening NC 78 to 3 lanes from US 1 to SR 1001 at an estimated cost of $7,000,000. It is estimated that these projects will begin sometime in June 2009.

Even as our focus remains on the state’s fiscal situation, we have also remained busy with other matters. Below are a few of the bills filed recently that you many be interested in, including several that would help members of our military.

As always, feel free to contact my office if you need any assistance.


Military

_ The state would add two more family assistance centers to help military personnel and their families under a bill filed in the House (H15). The additional centers would cost an estimated $600,000.

_ The Division of Motor Vehicles would be allowed to waive the commercial motor vehicles skills test for qualified military personnel who have operated similar vehicles for at least two years prior to applying to the state. The bill (H271) also waives the requirement if the applicants have completed similar skills test while in the military

_Money would be appropriated to the North Carolina Military Business Center according to a bill filed in the House (H58). If enacted, the legislation would appropriate $1.25 million for 2009-10 and $1.25 million for 2010-11 from to the community college system for the center. The center helps assist businesses in the states win federal contracts and helps develop business originating from the state’s military bases.

Education/Dropout Prevention

_Legislation has been filed that would shorten the waiting period between retirement and re-employment for retired teachers, so that teachers may return to the classroom without a loss of retirement benefits (H229). Existing law requires teachers to not work for at least six months after retirement or risk losing unemployment benefits. This bill would reduce the waiting period to four months.

_Money would be appropriated for the North Carolina PTA Parent Involvement/Dropout Prevention initiative according to a bill filed in the House this week (H308). If enacted, the legislation would appropriate $1.5 million for the 2009-2010 fiscal year and $1.5 million in recurring funds for the 2010-2011 fiscal year to the North Carolina Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc., a nonprofit organization, for the continuation of the North Carolina PTA Parent Involvement/Dropout Prevention Initiative.

Recycling

_ Restaurants, bars and other establishments with ABC licenses already required to recycle would receive a tax credit of up to $500 annually based on how much they recycle under legislation filed in the House this week (H249).


Health

_The Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Branch of the Division of Public Health in the Department of Health and Human Services would receive $700,000 over the next two years for a public awareness campaign about stroke signs and symptoms and the importance of immediate response. The bill (H267) specifies that the money would be spent as part of a partnership with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
Notes

_Members of the General Assembly honored the life and memory of Thomas Ghio “Sonny Boy” Joyner this week with a resolution (H131). In addition to honoring Joyner, state lawmakers joined the citizens of Weldon in recognizing the town as the Rockfish Capital of the World.