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Bills, bills, bills
posted at 2007-03-22 23:32 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
The Senate calendar today had more listings than some towns' phone books. That can only mean one thing – a bill filing deadline. So far, Bill Drafting Chief Gerry Cohen says lawmakers are running a steady 35% ahead of last year’s record number of bills. As of tonight, the total stands at 2498 = 1482 in the Senate, 1016 in the House. And the House has three more filing deadlines coming up. So how many trees DOES it take to run state government?
Rhodes Warrior
John Rhodes came back to Raleigh today with a fan club in tow. The Mecklenberg Republican lost his ‘06 primary to Thom Tillis after alienating House Dems and Reps alike with his ultra-conservative antics. But he gained a small yet loyal following of folks who see him as martyr who spoke truth to power. They put on a special John Rhodes Day extravaganza today in honor of one of his more outrageous speeches calling for the resignation of disgraced former Speaker Jim Black.
The “Go Light Your World” commemoration they held out on the Bicentennial Mall was undoubtedly meaningful to those few who attended. Candles were lit, speeches were made. But to the impartial observer, it was a bit surreal, wedged between the free coffee tent, the hotdog cart, and the snowcone booth, serenaded by an errant sax player, and surrounded by a teeming sea of schoolkids.
Inside the building, few paid much attention. Organizer Larry Bumgarner said out of the seven lawmakers who said they’d meet with him, only four showed up.
Re-Googled?
Senator Kay Hagan has introduced a bill that looks like another sweet deal for Google. The bill exempts large “datacenters” receiving economic incentives in rural counties from having to pay sales and use tax on equipment, substituting a 1% (limited) privilege tax instead. But the exemption goes away if the “datacenter” fails to meet its agreed-on investment and job targets.
Okay, maybe there’s another big server farm looking at NC that needs an additional deal-sweetener. But that seems a bit far fetched. And last I heard, Google had committed to NC – thanks to a very sweet incentives deal that’s been sparking controversy ever since. Is Google rethinking? If not, why do it?
More on incentives
The NC Justice Center released a report yesterday that says NC officials are using an overly optimistic formula to estimate the economic impact of firms who want incentives to move here. Bottom line? The state's giving more than it's ever going to get. The N&O's Jonathan Cox has the full story.
Ribbit
Rep Tim Spear (D-Chowan) wants to make the bullfrog the Official State Amphibian. (No, we don’t have one of those yet – can’t imagine how we missed it.) Anyway, Spear says he introduced the bill at the behest of some fourth grade constituents -- not, as some have joked, on behalf of Budweiser. No reaction yet from the newt and salamander lobbies.
Speaking of Budweiser....
You could be paying more for your brew soon under two Senate proposals. Well, actually, Cumberland Dem Larry Shaw’s bill would increase the tax on pretty much every alcoholic beverage except fortified wine (?!), then use some of the money for underage drinking prevention programs. WIlkes Dem Steve Goss, on the other hand, wants to double the tax on beer because it's bad for you - a point to which he dedicates 10 whereas-es, making this the longest-winded “sin tax” bill in recent memory.
"Ripped from the Headlines"
Who says Senators don’t read the papers? Finance Chair Dan Clodfelter wants to give the Governor the power to suspend a DA for misconduct. Maj. Leader Tony Rand filed this slap at New Hanover Dem Thomas Wright. And J2 chair Fletcher Hartsell is proposing an education initiative called “No Adult Left Behind.” I haven’t had the chance yet to check the Funeral Services bill for an Anna Nicole provision.
Comments? Drop me a line.
