public policy advocacy for the professional engineer                         March 2010

Dear {cst_ind_full_name_dn},

Your Legislative Update for the month of March is below.  Please feel free to forward this on to others who might find the information useful!

Survey Results Are In...


Back in January, PENC asked you to participate in a survey to help in determining the unemployment rate among Professional Engineers licensed in North Carolina. Click here to view the results compiled from the responses of over 1,700 PEs.

Join the PAC!

epac logo With election filing closing last Friday, a record number of Republican candidates have put their names in the hat. Of the 13 congressional seats
up for reelection, 48 Republicans have filed to run. Republicans have filed in every state Senate race, even those in strong Democratic districts, and in the state House, Republicans are on the ballot in most key House districts.

Will the Democrats be able to hold on to their majorities in the General Assembly or, will we see Republicans gain control in not just one but possibly both chambers of the state legislature? Regardless of whether you're a Republican, Democrat or Independent, this volatile political climate will produce an exciting election either way.

As Engineers what can you do to become involved in the political process? Click here to find out...

 

  In Other News


STATE BUDGET/ECONOMY:

Bid Matching
Gov. Beverly Perdue has signed an executive order that would give North Carolina companies an advantage in competing for state business.
Click here for full article...

Budget Talk
North Carolina will be facing at least a $500 million budget shortfall by the end of June, according to top lawmakers.
Click here for full article...

Restructuring Government
Gov. Beverly Perdue cautioned last week that 2012 will again be a bleak year for North Carolina's budget.
Click here for full article...

TRANSPORTATION:

Bridge Replacement

North Carolina has been awarded $10 million of the $300 million in federal stimulus funds it requested last year to widen Interstate 85 near Salisbury and to replace an obsolescent four-lane bridge over the Yadkin River. Click here for full article...

 

Road Scores

The state Department of Transportation has taken a first step toward deciding which projects are built based more on objective standards and less on politics.
Click here for full article...


Bridge Complaints
Senate leader Marc Basnight complained in a letter to President Barack Obama last week that federal bureaucrats are blocking a state plan to replace the deteriorating Herbert Bonner Bridge in Dare County.
Click here for full article...

 

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT:

Landfill Lawsuit
A lawsuit filed after lawmakers derailed plans to build a 490-acre landfill in Camden County continues to work its way through the state's court system.
Click here for full article...

Swine Waste The state's major power suppliers are seeking bids for electricity generated from swine waste.
Click here for full article...

Coal Ash
Only one other state has as many toxic coal ash pits as North Carolina, according to a new report by a coalition of environmental groups. 
Click here for full article...

Camp LeJeune Water
A federal judge has denied a government motion to dismiss a lawsuit claiming the government knowingly exposed hundreds of thousands of North Carolina-based Marines to contanimated drinking water.
Click here for full article...


If there are questions or you need additional information, please feel free to contact me at bbailey@penc.org or phone 919-834-1144, ext. 1.


Sincerely,


Betsy Bailey
Professional Engineers of North Carolina

In This Issue
Survey Results Are In

Upcoming Events

National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenge Summit

Marriott City Center Raleigh, NC

March 3-5, 2010

Click here for more information

 

Legislative Committee Meetings of Interest:


The Legislative Study Commission on Water and Wastewater Infrastructure, Working Group #4 - Long-Term State Assistance & Funding meets,
March 3, 10:30 a.m.
605 LOB.

 

The Infrastructure Funding Priorities Working Group of the LSC on Water and Wastewater 

March 4,  3 p.m. 
414 LOB.

 

The Study Commission on Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Working Group #3 Financing the Current Critical Gaps March 10, 2 p.m.

605 LOB.

 

The Infrastructure Funding Priorities Working Group of the LSC on Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

March 11, 10 a.m.

414 LOB.

 

The State Building Commission 

March 16, 10 a.m. 

State Construction Office, Ste. 450, Education Building, 301 N. Wilmington St., Raleigh. Contact: 807-4072.

 

E-PAC Luncheon with Invited Speaker  Senator Marc Basnight.

April 6th, 12:00 pm
Cardinal Club  

 

Engineer’s Day at the NC General Assembly

With ACEC
Tuesday, June 8 – More information coming soon!

Quick Links
Contact Us
Professional Engineers
of North Carolina
1015 Wade Avenue, Suite A
Raleigh, NC 27605

Phone: (919) 834-1144
Fax: (919) 834-1148
Web Site:
www.penc.org
E-Mail: exec@penc.org