The Raleigh Report
from the office of Representative Marian McLawhorn
May 30, 2008

Good leaders must constantly re-evaluate their plans if they are going to address the critical needs of our state. After establishing an agenda last year for this two-year session, the Democratic majority in the House has followed it up with a one-page action plan for this short session. This action plan will really help us stay on track so that we can improve on the good work of last year and address new challenges, such as the trying economy and the continuing drought. Many of these priorities will be addressed through our budget, which may be approved by the House in the coming week. I will share information about that with you after it receives approval.

Thank you for your support and interest in state government.  Please contact my office if you would like a copy of the action plan or if I can help in any other way.

Helping Families Make Ends Meet

_ These days everyone is feeling the pinch of a tight economy. North Carolina is fairing better than many other states because of our sound fiscal policies and the fact that we are one of the few states in the nation without budget problems this year. Still, many people in this state need financial relief and we want to provide it. Last year, we worked hard to establish an Earned Income Tax Credit that is expected to benefit about 800,000 people who make about $40,000 or less. This session, we plan to increase that credit. We will also find ways to lower the mortgage foreclosure rate encourage new businesses and help small businesses. Our state workers and retirees will get cost-of-living increases, and those people looking for jobs can count on strengthened job training programs at our community colleges.

Improving Education

_We all want to see our children succeed and get the best education possible. In our effort to do that last year, we helped move our teachers’ pay closer to the national average, increased financial aid funding, and gave our state universities and community colleges more money for their needs. We also approved programs to help more students finish high school and graduate from college debt free. During the short session, we plan to again increase teacher pay, expand our dropout prevention efforts, and help more students get through college.

Expanding Access to Health Care

_ In North Carolina, thousands of children still lack health insurance, which is unacceptable. My colleagues and I have agreed that this session we will continue to expand health care coverage to children who meet federal qualifications for Medicaid or Health Choice. We also pledge to create a health care policy council to address issues of health care access, minority health, and other health related issues.

_ We must also improve public confidence in our public mental health system. We took a major step last year toward better care for people with mental illnesses by approving a law that requires insurance companies to cover most severe mental illnesses the same way they cover physical illnesses. Now, we will follow that up by providing stronger oversight and expanding services for people with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse problems.

Supporting Our Military

_ We will continue to recognize the service of our military members and the sacrifices of their families. During the long session we passed laws to protect them from predatory insurance companies, and we established three assistance centers to help them and their families. This year, we plan to change the law to allow tuition-free education at a North Carolina community college or University of North Carolina system school for dependent children of veterans who are killed while serving our country. We also plan to give a property tax exemption to veterans, who have a 100 percent service-connected disability, and we hope to set aside more money for mental health, substance abuse and traumatic brain injury services for returning war veterans

Protecting the Environment

_ North Carolina is one of the nation’s fastest growing states, and we must continue to make sure that our forests, parks, historic downtowns, wildlife sanctuaries and stream borders are protected for generations to come. Doing so is essential to our state’s economy, air and water quality, our heritage, and the health of our people.

_ We must also demonstrate environmental stewardship by working to reduce the effects of current and future droughts and to help reduce energy consumption. This year, we will again provide grants for energy efficiency to state agencies, and we want to give consumers a sales tax holiday for energy-efficient appliances.

Ensuring Prosperous and Safe Communities

_ There is no question about it. We must have safe communities. We worked last year to strengthen laws to protect victims of domestic violence and to protect children from sexual abuse.  We funded initiatives to help with these issues, as well as provided grants to prevent gang violence and curb illegal immigration. We will continue that work this year, along with strengthening our juvenile justice system and reforming our probation and parole services.

Improving Transportation

_ During the interim, several members served on the Blue Ribbon 21st Century Transportation Committee to address transportation needs. The House plans to enact several of the committee’s recommendations this session. One of the recommendations includes beginning to phase out the transfer of money from the state Highway Trust Fund to the General Fund.

Strengthening Confidence in Government

_ During the long session we passed laws to bring more transparency to government. We hope to expand on these efforts to maintain our ethics and campaign laws by hiring more people to provide oversight through the State Ethics Commission and the State Board of Elections.

Please remember that you can listen to each day’s committee meetings and press conferences on the NC General Assembly website. Once on the site, select “audio,” and then make your selection – Appropriations Committee Room or Press Conference Room. You can also use the website to look up bills, view lawmaker biographies and access other information.