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Thurs: Worst case?
posted at 2009-05-29 00:06 | Last modified 2009-05-29 00:06
Sorry so quiet around here – I’ve been working on my skits for the Capitol Press Corps’ annual skit night. It’s this coming Wednesday, June 3rd, at Temple Beth Or in Raleigh. If you’re a Jones St. denizen, you’ll want to be there – and if you’re a civilian who’s into politics, you might enjoy it anyway. Be there or be…well, healthier than your politics-obsessed friends.
"Bloody Thursday"
The Approps Subcommittee on Health rolled out its budget proposal today, and “ugly” doesn’t even begin to describe it.
House HHS is recommending about $2B in state spending cuts – nearly 40% of its 2008-09 $5.5B budget. Once you factor in federal recovery funds, the real cuts are closer to $1.2B. When that’s the good news, you KNOW it’s bad.
House Health Chair Verla Insko called the cuts “massive.” On the upside, she says, it’s an ideal opportunity for the state to get rid of some programs that haven’t met expectations, like Community Support. But the upside’s thin compared to the damage the cuts could do over the long haul.
I think that this is a short-term way to address this issue, but long-term — this is not smart for the long-term economic development of this state.
Insko and other sub chairs are sending their proposals to the Big Chairs early next week. She’s hoping they’ll respond to the bad news with a revenue package to soften the blow.
We're hearing people talk about the need for revenue. I'm hearing - a lot of my emails are saying, "You can't make these cuts, we need more revenue." And I think that that's…I hope our leadership in the House is hearing that.
But House leaders have repeatedly said they're opposed to raising taxes or fees while the economy is in such bad shape. And polls show most voters don’t favor increases, either. Some skeptics claim budget writers are exaggerating the bad news to drum up support for tax increases. I don’t think that’s entirely the case, but it certainly wouldn’t be the first time lawmakers have played chicken to promote a tax hike.
At any rate, the House looks to be on track to roll out a budget June 15th, with the final floor vote June 18th. After that, it’s off to conference, where anything could happen – particularly if, as rumor has it, Governor Bev Perdue is working up a backup proposal that matches the latest projected numbers.
Bully for you
The anti-bullying bill is headed to House Jud 1 after passing House Education today on a voice vote. But it wasn’t exactly an easy ride.
The measure (S526) would require schools to take action to stop the bullying of any student. But it goes on to name several common causes for bullying, including disabilities and sexual orientation. Conservatives want the latter reference removed on the grounds that it would amount to special protection for gay and lesbian kids. Republican Mark Hilton represents Catawba County.
There is a homosexual agenda. This is part of it. This is nothing about bullying, it’s about pushing that agenda, it’s an attack on traditional family values. And this legislature is moving so far to the left, I think there’s gonna be a backlash in the future.
Advocates of the bill say it protects all students equally. But they say some teachers have their own prejudices, so they look the other way when certain students are bullied. Alison Davis couldn’t agree more. The mother of three autistic sons, Davis told the committee her boys are bullied everyday, and teachers don’t do enough to stop it.
I do not want to hear anymore any teacher say to me, “Mrs Davis, the lay of the land is the nail that sticks out is the one that gets hit.” I do not want to hear from another teacher, “Mrs Davis, he just better toughen up.”
The measure has already made it through the Senate. If its proponents can avert any amendments, it only has to pass three more votes – one in J1, and two on the floor – before it’s on the Gov’s desk.
Comments? Drop me a line.
