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What's the buzz legislatively?
It's a new day in Raleigh, indeed in the country. For the first time in more than l00 years we have a Democratic Governor, and a Republican House and Senate. A good time for us to remind our new public servants that mental illness is truly a nonpartisan issue. In the Senate we have l5 newly elected Senators (13 new Republicans; 2 new Democrats) with 28 newly elected Representatives (22 Republicans, 5 Democrats, 1 Independent). Click here for a list of Senators and here for a list of Representatives, with contact information. As we get closer to the session start date of January 26 their emails will be available on the General Assembly web site (see link above in Quick Links Section) Leadership Update With a new party in power, that means a change in who is in charge of appointing committee chairs and other important positions. Here's what we know so far about the new leadership:
Senate
- President Pro Tempore- Senator Phil Berger (Guilford/Rockingham)
- Deputy President Pro Tempore- James Forrester (Stanley/Iredell)
- Majority Leader - Harry Brown (Jacksonville/Onslow)
- Majority Whip - Jerry Tillman (Montgomery County/Archdale)
- Minority Leader - Senator Martin Nesbitt (Buncome County/Asheville)
- Minority Whip - Senator Josh Stein (Wake)
GOP has a 31-19 majority in the Senate
House
- Speaker of the House - Thom Tillis (Mecklenburg/Charlotte)
- Minority Leader - Representative Paul Stam (Wake/Raleigh)
- Majority Whip - Representative Ruth Samuelson
Committee Chairs
- Senator Tom Apodaca (R) Buncombe, Henderson, Polk is the new Chair of the Senate Rules committee
- Commerce - Senator Larry Brown (contingent on Berger winning)
- Appropriations Co Chairs- Senators Pete Brunstetter (Forsyth), Neal Hunt and Richard Stevens of Wake County
Last Wednesday I heard Governor Perdue speak to members of the NC House of Representatives - including newly elected (who were travelling to Raleigh on their dime, not yet sworn in), as well as current members. The room was packed, and the cameras were rolling. Her message: we are facing a 3.7 Billion dollar budget deficit
- She has three major proposals to the legislature:
- Limit session duration (90 days long session, and 45 days short session). This compares to average long session length of 202 days and short session length of 69 days. It costs 50K per day to maintain the General Assembly in session
- Pass a Voter Empowerment Act to establish an independent redistricting commission- to ensure fairness
- Increase transparency within the General Assembly - give taxpayers more access to government information
Governor Perdue also vowed to balance the budget without the extension of the temporary tax package set to expire in 2011. We believe that a cuts only approach will hurt NC and that we need a balanced approach to continue to make NC a great place to live- schools, higher education, public health and safety. A balanced approach would include revenues as well as cuts.
In an earlier briefing by Barry Boardman (Chief of Fiscal Research) to the House, some of the following facts were presented:
- On a positive note- for the first time since the recession, in planning the budget, they are forecasting 2.7% growth in our economy
- 87% of the General Fund is comprised of personal income tax, sales, and corporate tax revenues
- Sales and use taxes have plummeted during the recession; we are 12.4% behind where we were in 07-08
- Unemployment continues to be a problem; they predict it will be 3 more years before the levels return to levels prior to recession
- Health and Human Services is 20.8% of the total budget of 19 Billion.
- 76% of the budget is made up of higher education costs, schools, and medicaid
- For more details click on the following: fiscal research reports
Action Steps - Write a letter to your new legislator(s) - Use the template here
- Invite your new/and returning legislators to speak to your affiliate - educate them about mental illness
- Review the telephone tree with your affiliate members. Click here to access the telephone tree
- Have your affiliate write the Governor and ask her to take a balanced approach to balancing the NC Budget. Click here to go to a link where with a click you can write to her on this topic (you may personalize)
- We rely on our grassroots - you!- to know our elected leaders. This is especially important for our new leadership - we need Mecklenburg to connect with the new speaker, we need Alamance-Caswell-Rockingham to be on first name terms with our Senate President Berger, and we need Wake and Mecklenburg's help with our 3 appropriations chairs (Brunstetter, Hunt, and Stevens) Consider compiling a list of who in your affiliate has a personal contact with your elected officials.
- Your message - fight cuts to mental health. Already the Governor has ordered Departments to prepare 5% , l0%, and l5% cuts - following the devastating cuts of the last two years, this would be unsustainable. Further, there is talk of cutting optional medicaid services. Many things we take for granted come under optional- ACTT teams, pharmacy/medications, Clubhouses, etc. Fight the cut of optional services to mental health.
- The Coalition will be planning town hall meets around the state- more forthcoming on dates, times!
Wishing everyone a very happy holiday - to you and your families. Thank you for your continued advocacy- Make your Voices Heard in 2011! Deby Dihoff Executive Director
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