Press Releases and Newsletters
In spring, mayor will decide about 6th run (News and Observer)
Since the midterm elections, local chatter has shifted from state and national elections to next year’s local races. Dispelling, at least for now, rumors that he won’t seek an unprecedented sixth term as mayor, Meeker said he’ll decide in April or May whether he’ll try to continue to lead the Capital City.
Meeker and Avery Upchurch, both Democrats, are the only mayors in Raleigh’s history to serve five terms.
“I’m sure there’s a lot of talk about it,” said Meeker, 60. “But I haven’t made a decision.”
Deficit Commission: Raise the Gas Tax. And Soon. (Transportation Nation)
(Washington, D.C. — ) The president’s deficit commission is taking aim at the Highway Trust Fund in its quest to take a hatchet to federal spending and debt.
The report from the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform–out just this morning on Capitol Hill–calls for $3.8 trillion in deficit reduction by 2020. It’s a downright austere prescription including tax increases, spending cuts and other reforms designed to, as one member put it “right the fiscal ship” of the nation. The politically-charged document has politicians running to their ideological corners in anticipation of a brutal fight over fiscal policy.
But buried on page 21 of the report is a little gem that’s sure to make the divisions just a tiny bit wider. Commission co-chairs Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson call on Congress to raise the federal gas tax by 15 cents between 2013 and 2015, and in the meantime limiting national highway spending to the amount of revenue the fund takes in annually.
This would be a marked change from how the fund works now. Currently, contracts created in authorization bills are mandatory, while the money to cover them is discretionary. The result? According to Simpson and Bowles, are “budget gimmicks” that allow Congress to steer around spending rules and write more checks on the deficit for highway projects.
“Before asking taxpayers to pay more for roads, rail, bridges and infrastructure, we must ensure existing funds are not wasted,” the report states.
The report calls for “significant reform” to control highway spending, including limiting that spending to high priority projects and doing away with transportation earmarks like the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere” in Alaska.
Whether or not these cries are heeded by Congress remains to be seen. The commission is scheduled to vote Friday on the recommendations, and few observers, including Simpson and Bowles expect it to get anywhere near the 14 votes that constitute a consensus among the 18 members.
by Todd Zwillich, Transportation Nation
Posted on December 1, 2010.
Beebe OK with letting voters decide tax hike for road improvements (Arkansas News Bureau)
LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Mike Beebe said Wednesday he’s willing to let voters decide whether to raise taxes to help pay for badly needed improvements to the state highway system.
Beebe said he cannot support many of the proposals of a special panel that is recommending measures from fuel tax increases to tapping the state’s general revenues to help make up what highway officials say will be a $15 billion gap between road needs and anticipated revenue over the next decade.
But the governor said he had no problem with the panel’s proposal for a public vote to decide on a half-cent sales tax to finance a bond issue for highway construction. “I never fault letting the voters have a say,” Beebe said.
After 18 months of work, the Arkansas Blue Ribbon Commission on Highway Finance on Wednesday submitted to the governor and Legislature its final recommendations on how to bridge the gap between $19 billion in road needs and a projected $4 billion in revenue over the next 10 years.
The recommendations include indexing gas and diesel excise taxes, levying a new excise tax on the wholesale price of motor fuels, transferring general revenue funds to pay for highway projects and a 10-year highway bond program funded by a voter-approved half-cent increase in the general sales tax.
The 40-page report also recommendations various legislation that mostly deals with funding issues at the county and city levels, plus it includes a list of issues the panel believes deserve further study.
“It’s a tough time to be raising taxes,” Beebe said. “I’m not overly optimistic that there is a reasonable solution, other than taking something of major substance and letting the people decide.”
Still, the governor said it would be “disappointing” if the report is considered by the Legislature but no action is taken.
“There may be some things that can be done. Certainly, (the report) is providing a road map and an educational opportunity for the public to understand how dire the situation is and where the options are,” Beebe said.
“There are parts where I just don’t agree with where their options are. Moving general revenue is not something I agree with.”
The commission’s proposals and preliminary revenue estimates include:
—Referring to voters a proposed constitutional amendment encompassing a 10-year highway bond program and a one-half cent sales, to end after 10 years, to finance a five-year, $1.7 billion bond issue.
—Transferring proceeds from state sales tax on vehicles and related parts to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. The transfer would be phased in over a 10-year period as long as state revenues reach a certain mark. Ultimately, the transfer would put at least $300 million annually into highway projects.
—Indexing the gas and diesel excise taxes with a three-year trailing average of the Construction Cost Index. This also would be phased in over time and ultimately generate at least $419 million a year when fully implemented.
—Levying a new excise tax on the wholesale price of motor fuels. This also would be phased in and generate about at least $59 million per year.
Posted on 01 December 2010
By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau
House GOP Caucus begins staffing up (News & Observer)
Former state Rep. Bill Daughtridge of Rocky Mount has been named interim chief of staff during the transition period for the House Republicans by incoming Speaker Thom Tillis. Daughtridge, a three-term lawmaker, and was the Republican nominee for state treasurer in 2008 losing to Democrat Janet Cowell.“Bill has already hit the ground running by participating in meetings with Speaker (Joe) Hackney and House majority leaders,” Tillis said in an email to GOP lawmakers.
Daughtridge is president of the Daughtridge Corp. of Rocky Mount, a family owned company started by his grandfather that delivers propane and fuel oil in Eastern North Carolina.He has a BA and and MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar.
Dodie Renfer has also been hired as director of member services for the House transition team. Renfer had served as political director for the state Republican Party the past 15 months.The new spokesman for the transition is Jordan Shaw, who had been communications director for the state Republican Party. He will handle “talking points on key issues” for GOP lawmakers as well as handling press inquires.
Shaw had previously worked three years for the Virginia state legislature, before moving to North Carolina in 2008.
Submitted by robchristensen on 2010-12-02 13:34
2011 Metro Mayors Fall Meeting December 1-2
The Metro Mayors will meet in Charlotte December 1-2. Click here to register.
2011 Metro Mayors Winter Meeting February 24-25
The Metro Mayors will be meeting in Greensboro February 24-25. Registration is now open by clicking below. The agenda is posted below also.
While I Was Healing…. Big Changes in Raleigh
I have always thought if Hollywood made a movie about my life they would cast Sandra Bullock to play me. (Pause here to chuckle at my ridiculous ego for thinking I have that interesting a life or that I fancy myself resembling Sandra Bullock.) Reflecting on the last month in politics I think it would be a twist on the movie, While You Were Sleeping, and Sandy would play me asleep in the bed, while the world of North Carolina politics turned on its axis.
While I was out recovering from surgery this month, a seismic shift occurred in Raleigh. For the first time in more than a century the Republican Party gained control of both chambers of the General Assembly. The House did an about face moving from 68 Democrats and 52 Republicans to 68 Republicans and 52 Democrats. The Senate did it one better, moving from 30 Democrats and 20 Republicans to 31 Republicans and 19 Democrats. The new freshman class represents about one quarter of the General Assembly.
The Senate Republicans are moving swiftly to be ready to govern when they return to Raleigh January 26th. The Republican Senate has already caucused and announced plans to elect Sen. Phil Berger-Rockingham as President Pro Tempore and they chose Sen. Harry Brown – Onslow as their majority leader. Sen. Berger recently announced his intention to appoint Sen. Tom Apodaca- Henderson as chairman of the powerful Senate Rules Committee. Sen. Berger also appointed Sen. Rucho-Mecklenburg and Sen. Stevens- Wake as co-chairs of the transition team. Berger announced he has hired Jim Blaine, the executive director for the Senate Republican Caucus, as his chief of staff. The Senate Republican freshmen have named Sen.-elect Bill Rabon-Brunswick as their leader. Of note, this will be only the second time since 1901 the Senate will be presided over by a Lieutenant Governor of a different party.
The rumor mill is churning with talk of Sen. Stevens-Wake and Sen. Brunstetter- Forsyth as Co-Chairs of Appropriations and Sen. Hartsell-Cabarrus and Sen. Tillman-Randolph as Finance Chairs.
The House Republicans are moving quickly as well. They chose Rep. Thom Tillis- Mecklenburg as their nominee for Speaker. Tillis, just re-elected to his third term, left his job as a management consultant at IBM last year to focus on the Republican legislative campaigns. He was known for focusing the Republican caucus on a single message of jobs by encouraging them to wear a rubber band on their wrist and snap it anytime they strayed off message. House Republicans choose Rep. Stam- Wake as their majority leader, Rep. Folwell- Forsyth as their nominee for Speaker Pro Tempore and Rep. Avila- Wake as their joint House/Senate caucus leader.
House Republicans have established eight policy committees which are already up and running. The committees include budget; jobs and economic development; transportation; health care; education; environment; private property and personal liberty; and criminal justice. The caucus is focused on their 100 day plan developed from their 10 point pledge during the campaign to balance the budget without raising taxes, pass a resolution opposing the recently passed federal healthcare overhaul, passage of an eminent domain constitutional amendment, and more. Media interviews with the new leadership have included talk of addressing annexation, voter identification, and taxes.
Unconfirmed rumors include Rep. Brubaker- Randolph as the House Appropriations big chair and Rep. Barnhart- Cabarrus and Rep. Steen- Rowan as co-chairs.
House Democrats will caucus on Dec. 21 to elect a minority leader. Current House Speaker Joe Hackney- Orange has announced his intention to seek the post. Senate Democrats have not announced a caucus date yet and current majority leader Sen. Nesbitt-Buncombe, Sen. Garrou-Forsyth, and Sen. Clodfelter- Mecklenburg, have all been mentioned as candidates for minority leader.
In media interviews both the new Republican leadership and the Governor have indicated an interest in working together across party lines to address the State’s challenges. That could be required because while Senate Republicans hold a veto proof majority House Republicans are four votes short of the three fifths or 72 votes they would need. There are a few issues that are not subject to gubernatorial veto including amendments to the North Carolina Constitution and redistricting.
If you don’t know by now that North Carolina is facing a $3.5 billion budget hole then you have been living under a rock for months. Governor Perdue asked state agencies to submit proposed 5, 10 and 15 percent cuts to their budgets. Her request was met with some suggestions for cuts and some suggestions for raising revenue including a proposal from the court system to raise fees to help offset cuts to the courts. The Governor has said she will be announcing a major reorganization and consolidation to state government shortly which will help address the hole. Traditionally the General Assembly awaits submission of the Governor’s budget and uses that as a starting point for crafting their own proposals, but Republicans have indicated they have a different plan in mind. They have indicated they will undertake a thorough review of the entire state budget department by department. They have also said their goal is to complete the State budget in record time.
Our Chairman, Durham Mayor Bill Bell, and I are attending the North Carolina Free Enterprise Foundation luncheon next week where we will hear from both Republican and Democratic legislative leadership. We are also reconvening our issue committees in January to further discuss our 2011 Advocacy Agenda and then will meet in Greensboro February 24th and 25th for our Winter Meeting (more details to follow on the meeting shortly).
I am glad to be back to work and will be keeping you informed via email, our website, and my Twitter feed on the changes taking place in our Capitol city. I have received very positive feedback from those who follow me on Twitter as they get up to the minute short updates on what is happening. I would encourage you to follow me on Twitter @Metromayors.
Tom Apodaca: (See comments on annexation, eminent domain, and local sales tax) (Asheville Citizen Times)
State Sen. Tom Apodaca, who will head the Senate’s powerful Rules Committee when the General Assembly reconvenes in late January, said Republicans likely will consider controversial budget-slashing solutions such as mergers of county and city school systems and cuts in education system administrative positions.
That could have a direct impact on Buncombe and Asheville, which have separate school systems.
“It’s not fair to a Polk County or a Henderson County (which are consolidated) that additional monies are coming into another county when they only have one administrative unit,” Apodaca said Tuesday, stressing that all such proposals are strictly hypothetical right now. “What it’ll be is (the legislature would) say, ‘OK, we’ll pay for one (administration) unit in Buncombe County. If you desire to have your own system, you’re going to have to pay for it.’ You would have to cover administration; you would (cover) your teacher salaries.”
Apodaca, R-Henderson, said North Carolinians also can expect the new, Republican-controlled legislature to limit municipalities’ ability to annex property and to require voters to present identification when voting. He also expects limits on eminent domain use.
First elected in 2002, Apodaca, come January, will be able to determine which legislation moves forward, which committee it goes to and who sits on those committees. For the first time in more than a century, Republicans control both chambers of the legislature.
Apodaca met Tuesday with the Citizen-Times editorial board for a wide-ranging interview. The state budget — and the looming $3 billion deficit — will take top priority, he said, followed closely by job creation. “I think that’s the mandate given to us by the voters,” he said.
Here are edited excerpts, presented in question-and-answer format:
Question: Will there be changes in annexation laws?
Answer: I think you’re going to see substantial changes to annexation rules in North Carolina. If someone wants to be annexed, that’s wonderful; I’m all for it. When you get into involuntary annexation, I think the people should have a say, and I’ll even go as far as to say they should have a vote. If the majority wants to be annexed, fine. If the majority doesn’t, then we need to look at a different way.
Q: Teachers are worried sick about losing their jobs with the looming budget deficit. Will teaching positions be cut?
A: It’s too early to say. We won’t have a real sense until April 20, 25, on collections coming in. I don’t want to get too far ahead on that, but it doesn’t look good all over right now. Nothing is off the table. That’s what I keep trying to stress to my teachers — and I’m hearing from them. I say, ‘Remain calm. We’ll see what happens. We’ve got to have you. If you’re doing your job, I think you’ll be in good shape.”
(Apodaca then mentioned the possibility of school system consolidations)
With the budget situation, I don’t know how you’re going to have more than one administrative unit per county. I think we have 115 in North Carolina. (We’re) going to be real hard-pressed to salvage some of those administration districts when we’re short on money.
Q: Would you consider across-the-board pay cuts for all state employees, including teachers?
A: That would be something you have to talk with the teachers about, if we got to that point. But I think before we get worried about a classroom teacher, if I was above a classroom teacher, I would have concerns. Administratively, even starting with our (Department of Public Instruction) in Raleigh, it’s grown substantially. Back in ’94 it was cut in half, and it’s gradually grown, by three times larger than what it was in ’94. We’re going to have look administratively first, because the most important part is the classroom teacher. We’ve got to try to salvage that.
Q: What state programs may be cut or considered for cutting?
A: We’re going to have to look at staffing levels, and you’re going to hear more and more about performance-based budgeting — meaning (a way to ensure) what we’re spending the money for is getting the desired result, and is there a way we can do it for less?
Q: Will the one-cent sales tax that is set to expire be taken off?
A: My understanding is it will be taken off as promised. (Apodaca said in general, though, he is not opposed to sales taxes as a way for municipalities to generate revenues to meet specialized needs).
Q: Do you see any movement on the Sullivan Acts? (The Sullivan Acts, passed in the early 20th century and updated in 2005, keep Asheville from charging noncity customers more for water or requiring their annexation as a condition of connecting to waterlines, as other cities may do. City officials say those restrictions result in higher water rates and taxes. The city sued in state court but lost)
A: I haven’t seen anything from the city making me think we need to repeal those at this point. One point I’ve always liked to make is when this water authority started, it was a “marriage” between Buncombe County and the city of Asheville. Asheville decided they wanted a divorce, and they didn’t chop up any community property with the county when they got rid of it. I’ve never been able to get past that point.
Q: What is your position on eminent domain?
A: The fear is of what they did in Connecticut a few years ago, where they weren’t able to buy the property and went in (with a questionable economic development plan that benefited private developers). If (eminent domain) does benefit the state, yes. We’re saying you can’t go in with a “quasi-economic development” goal and take someone’s property.
BY JOHN BOYLE • DECEMBER 1, 2010
GOP gets jump-start on power in Raleigh (Charlotte Observer)
The legislature’s new leaders prepare for tough work to bridge the budget shortfall.
RALEIGH Republican lawmakers are busy preparing for their historic transfer of power, taking a series of steps aimed at both confronting a projected $3.5 billion budget shortfall as well as mastering the mechanics of running a branch of government that has been in Democratic hands for the past 112 years.
The GOP is using the 12-week period between the Nov. 2 elections and the opening of the legislative session on Jan. 26 not only to organize the House and the Senate, but also to begin preparing for what is likely to be a difficult budget crisis.
“The goal is to be ready day one,” said Sen. Richard Stevens of Cary, a former Wake County manager and co-chairman of the Senate transition team.The Republicans are hiring staff, choosing committees and committee chairmen, and eventually distributing offices. Such pre-session activity goes beyond the routine this year, because control of the legislature is shifting from Democrat to Republican control.
Such seemingly mundane back-office politicking is being closely watched in the lobbying offices, state agencies, public relations firms and advocacy group headquarters across North Carolina, because they will go a long way in establishing power relationships in state government and politics for the next two years.
The Republicans also plan to get an early start on the budget and other issues.
Anticipating that it would win control of House since February, the House Republican caucus set up eight policy committees to deal with issues that will face the legislature: budget; jobs and economic development; transportation; health care; education; environment; private property and personal liberty; and criminal justice.
This month the committees will convene meetings in Raleigh to hear from legislative staff, state agencies and affected groups. The GOP caucus is also considering holding several meetings with town hall formats across the state if time allows.House Speaker-elect Thom Tillis, a management consultant and retired IBM executive from Charlotte, said he hopes the caucus policy committee meetings will allow lawmakers to get an early start in dealing with the budget crisis.
Tillis said the committees will try to “create a general direction around focus areas.”He said the many people leading the GOP caucus committees will probably play similar roles when the House committees are appointed.
Although the meetings are the creature of the House GOP caucus, Tillis said the caucus plans to invite Senate Republicans to participate in the meetings, and said Democratic lawmakers will probably be invited as well.
All about the budget
How to close the budget shortfall will dominate the legislative session. Republican leaders have ruled out a tax increase and said they plan to let expire the $1.3 billion tax increase the Democratic legislature passed in 2009.Incoming Senate leader Phil Berger, an Eden lawyer, said the best estimates put the shortfall between $3.25 and $3.5 billion. He said Republican lawmakers have been consulting with private sector economists to gauge the state’s recovery.
Berger met with Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue two weeks ago, and is arranging another meeting with governor, this time including Tillis. Berger said he and the governor pledged mutual cooperation in their meeting.The Republicans are having to spend a great deal of time organizing their chambers. The Democrats have controlled at least one house of the legislature since 1898, although the Republicans captured the House in 1994 and 1996.
Jobs lost and gained
With their new minority position, legislative Democrats will have to lay off staff. Since they will not be in control, it is not as important that Democrats develop their own agenda. They will have an opportunity to influence developments by working through Perdue.
GOP leaders in both chambers have received numerous applications from Republicans interested in working in the legislature.Berger has hired as his chief of staff, Jim Blaine, who has worked as executive director of the N.C. Republican Senate Caucus since 2005 and before that was deputy campaign manager for Patrick Ballantine’s 2004 gubernatorial campaign.
He plans to choose his key committee chairs before the Christmas holidays. This week he named Sen. Tom Apodaca of Hendersonville as Rules Committee chair.There has been considerable jockeying among lawmakers for key committee chairmanships, which can have a large impact on a legislator’s ability to effect public policy.
Berger appointed Stevens and Sen. Robert Rucho, a Matthews dentist, as co-chairs of the Senate transition team, and they have been meeting with key legislative staffers.
Berger has also met with Sen. Marc Basnight, the longtime Democratic power who has run the Senate for the past two decades.
“Marc and his staff have been very helpful in trying to help us toward a smooth transition,” Berger said. “He has authorized his folks to work with me.”
By Rob Christensen
rob.christensen@newsobserver.com
Posted: Wednesday, Dec. 01, 2010
Gov. Perdue says universities must rely on private support (Wilmington Star News)
During a tour and discussion Monday afternoon at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Marine Sciences building, Gov. Bev Perdue stressed that although the university system is still key to the state’s economic growth, the private sector is going to have to fill some of the budget shortfalls.
“We have to have the private sector come in and help pay for the research work,” she said. “We have to reach out to the private sector and do it in a different way, where the state doesn’t do all the work.”
The meeting brought together local, state and university officials to discuss business ventures that would help the state grow economically in coming years.
With a large budget shortfall expected next year, Perdue said it’s time to look to the future and ensure that North Carolina succeeds economically. She said marine biotechnology is the future of North Carolina business, which is why she tour UNCW’s center. Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo said marine sciences carry great potential to fuel industryand job growth.
“The ocean is an unbelievable resource, and it has been largely untapped,” DePaolo said. “Right now, there are one in six jobs tied to the ocean.”Jeffrey Wright, a marine science professor, said the biodiversity of the ocean is much greater than that of land and scientists are only beginning to uncover the mysteries of the ocean. He said marine research will produce food, medicine and sustainable products.
“With only 20 states having ocean frontier and only five pursuing research, we could be the leader in this new industry,” he said.
To help find viable revenue streams through ocean research, the school hopes to start construction on the MARBIONC building at the Center for Marine Sciences in January. Along with state research offices, the building will house private research offices that the university intends to lease out.
The school also hopes to capitalize on medical discoveries and fish and oyster farming, DePaolo said.
Perdue said she urges that local governments seek out partnerships with the university to help create industry that helps sustain the region.
DePaolo said she would like to see more local governments step up to partner with the school.
“We are always open to business opportunities with local governments in any way,” she said.
Perdue also said that local governments should follow the state’s model by helping small businesses receive state contracts because small business is the heart of the state’s economy. She said that the state gives preference to in-state companies that can come within five percent of the lowest bidder.
At the end of the meeting, Perdue urged local governments to help lobby the legislature to retain and improve incentives for large industries.
“Whether you hate or like them, we have to understand that they are a part of the process,” Perdue said.
Jason Gonzales: 343-2075
By Jason Gonzales
Jason.Gonzales@StarNewsOnline.com
Published: Monday, November 29, 2010 at 5:31 p.m.
