Several important bills, including state budget proposals, are currently being debated and finalized in the North Carolina General Assembly.
Following a stalemate between party leadership, 2021 presents a chance for North Carolina to enact its first new budget since 2017.
The state has been running on a continuation budget since 2019 and disagreements between Republican legislators had caused a stall for the upcoming year.
The North Carolina Senate approved its two-year state budget proposal in June. The House of Representatives is expected to put forth its proposal the second week of August.
State Democrats, including Governor Roy Cooper, were critical of the Senate proposal because it provided tax cuts for corporations and high wage-earners.
Orange County Representative Graig Meyer said, however, because Republicans control the House as well, its proposal will likely look similar.
“I don’t think it will look significantly different from the budget the Senate already passed because the House and Senate already agreed on what their bottom line was going to be,” Meyer said. “So, it’s not like the House can spend a lot more money than what the Senate proposed, it’ll probably be tinkering with things here and there.”
After the two branches put forth their proposals, budget negotiations between the branches and Governor Cooper will ensue. Meyer said this period is where he expects some of the differences between Democrats and Republicans to be sorted out.
He also said he believes it is important to pass a state budget now because the state has nearly $8 billion in cash reserves.
“We can afford to take care of the state’s needs coming out of the pandemic,” Meyer said. “There has never been a time where we have been in such a good financial position with such clear needs in front of us. We need to step up to that challenge.”
Meyer said without a budget, the state is leaving the most vulnerable people to fend for themselves.
Another hot topic within the General Assembly is a medical marijuana bill. The legislation would allow those with debilitating medical conditions, such as epilepsy and HIV, to use marijuana products.
Meyer said he believes the bill is a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t go far enough.
“We believe that the people of North Carolina are ready to regulate adult use of marijuana for medical and recreational use,” Meyer said. “Tax it and use that money to reinvest it in the communities that have been so badly hurt by the failed war on drugs.”
The medical marijuana bill is still far from reaching the governor’s desk. It has been approved by two Senate committees and a vote by the full Senate could be held as soon as this week. Meyer said, however, because the bill is controversial, it is possible that it will grind to a halt.
Clean energy has also been a controversial topic in the General Assembly. Earlier this month, the House passed a bill allowing Duke Energy to become a regulated monopoly. Under the legislation the energy company has more power to set its own rates and decreases the responsibilities of the North Carolina Utilities Commission. The commission is meant to prevent unfair electricity rates on consumers.
Meyer said he believes the bill is harmful because it does not meet the state’s greenhouse gas emission goals and it will likely hurt consumers.
“So, it’s really a bill that’s bad for consumers’ pocketbooks and doesn’t get us close to what we need to do on climate change. I am really bothered by how Duke has pushed this and used their political weight.”
The bill does reduce coal emissions, but Meyer said it mandates too much natural gas use.
Governor Cooper has also indicated he will veto the bill because it does not move toward clean energy.
To prepare for August budget negotiations and other action, the Senate is not expected to have any floor votes this week. The House is also taking an abbreviated work week.
Featured photo via Robert Willett/The News & Observer
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