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Dear PENC
Member,
The purpose of this newsletter is to focus on one of your most important member benefits: Public Policy Advocacy.
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Budget Talk
Courtesy of the NC Insider Legislative News Service
Legislative budget writers may look to deeper agency cuts or eliminating programs to try to generate enough money to fund priorities not included in Gov. Mike Easley's budget plan. House Budget subcommittees recommendations were released yesterday revealing some potential budget cutting. Meanwhile, critics complained that Easley's proposed budget eliminated inflationary increases for various school programs that are particularly needed in light of rising energy, food and other costs. And at a morning news conference, Rep. Doug Yongue, D-Scotland, and Sen. Vernon Malone, D-Wake, were joined by school system nutrition directors to urge the legislature to provide $20 million to help pay for higher nutrition standards and rising food costs. Yongue, a co-chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said programs are being examined to see if they've outlived their usefulness. "We feel like there are a lot of programs out there that need some scrutiny," Yongue said. "Some need to be eliminated."
Easley budget adviser Dan Gerlach said that criticism of the governor's inflationary cuts aren't surprising considering the changing economic picture. "But everyone is saying this is the time to tighten our belts. That's exactly what we did," Gerlach said. He pointed out that Easley had already freed up $25 million to help cover rising fuel costs for schools in the current fiscal year, and that administration officials have no problem with adjustments to cover rising costs. A budget timeline has the House rolling out its budget plan in two weeks even though the General Assembly plans to meet in Greensboro today to commemorate its bicentennial and the upcoming Memorial Day holiday will likely limit legislative action that evening. (THE INSIDER, 5/21/08).
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Legislative Leaders Say “No” to Tax Increases
Senate leader Marc Basnight said that there won't be any tax increases this year. In a brief speech to the North Carolina Chamber last week, Basnight said that the legislature will focus on boosting education and fixing the mental health care system. "I don't believe you'll see taxes this year whatsoever -- any kind of increase," said Basnight, D-Dare. Gov. Mike Easley has proposed raising alcohol and cigarette taxes to help pay for higher teachers' pay and improvements to the state's mental health care system.
Meanwhile, Senate Republican leader Phil Berger told the group that teachers should be paid differently. Berger said teachers should get extra pay for working in challenging environments or for taking jobs that school systems are having trouble filling, such as those in math, science and special education. "More money, blindly spent, by adding to existing strategies is not the right answer," he said. He criticized Easley's proposed budget for cutting a pilot program that used pay as an incentive to hire math and science teachers. Berger also called for the state to make "a serious commitment" to career, vocational and technical education. (Dome, THE NEWS & OBSERVER, 5/15/08).
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If you are not already registered to vote - do it today! For additional information on public policy issues including state and federal candidates, Engineers Day and the Engineers PAC of NC, please call me at 919-424-4412 or email bbailey@penc.org. |
Sincerely,
Betsy Bailey
Professional Engineers
of North Carolina
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Price Announces Federal Grants to Protect NC Infrastructure
Washington, D.C. - Congressman David Price (D-NC) today announced $9.3 million in federal grants to protect critical infrastructure in North Carolina, including ports and transit facilities. As Chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Price has worked to enhance federal support for infrastructure protection and has successfully rejected attempts by the President to cut port and transit security grants.
"The federal government must work with the states and local communities to identify and protect critical infrastructure, such as port and transit facilities," Price said. "My subcommittee has made a bipartisan commitment to holding up the federal end of this partnership by providing the resources to meet infrastructure security needs."
Price announced the following grants for protecting North Carolina's infrastructure, which are administered and designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):
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Charlotte Transit: $1,224,537 for the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS).
- NC Port Facilities: $5,679,154 for Wilmington's port; $1,770,401 for Morehead City's port.
- Buffer Zone Protection: $597,000 to provide security to various facilities throughout North Carolina that are considered critical infrastructure (facility designations are classified).
For the current fiscal year, President Bush requested $175 million for transit, despite warnings from experts that America's public and private transit facilities were inadequately protected from a potential attack. Recognizing the threat to transit that was apparent in the terrorist bombings in London, Madrid and Mumbai, Price's subcommittee recommended, and Congress approved, $400 million for transit (included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, enacted in December).
Similarly, while President Bush requested only $210 million for port security grants, Price's subcommittee recommended, and Congress approved, $400 million to protect American ports (included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, enacted in December). In 2003, the Coast Guard estimated port security needs at $7 billion. Including this $400 million, Congress has now provided resources to address 23% of the needs the Coast Guard identified.
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Contact
Us
Professional Engineers
of North Carolina
920 Main Campus Dr.
Suite 101
Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone: (919) 424-4555
Fax: (919) 424-4401
Web Site: www.penc.org
E-Mail: exec@penc.org
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