NC Metropolitan Coalition Legislative Update – June 3, 2002 Legislation to Secure Local Revenue Picks Up Steam Four bills designed to "put barbed wire around" key local revenues were introduced in the General Assembly last week, two in each chamber. We can expect additional bills with the same basic intent to be introduced over the next week or so. The good news is that the bills appear to have a high level of bi-partisan support, with substantial numbers of legislators making the extra effort to co-sponsor the bills. Our message of the last few months has been heard loud and clear – and is reflected by the growing legislative support for our efforts. Information on the specific bills is below, including the list of co-sponsors and a www site you can use to track the progress of each bill. Several members have indicated that they intend to vote for our proposals, but were unable to sign on as co-sponsors, because the line of in front of the House Clerk's Office to sign these bills as a co-sponsor was too long!! The high level of interest in our legislative priority to secure local revenues is all the more notable given the fact that we are competing for legislative attention in the context of the broader state budget crisis and the continuing upheaval over redistricting. Our city and town officials have done an extraordinary job of putting our issue in front of the media and on the General Assembly's agenda – keep up the good work!! House Bills: HB 1490 – Secure Local Revenues Primary sponsors: Reps. Pryor Gibson, Wayne Goodwin, Phil Baddour, Lyons Gray (utility franchise, telecom, Powel Bill, beer and wine). THIS BILL HAS 74 of 120 members signed on as co-sponsors (see www site below) http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2001&BillID=H1490 Co-sponsored by: Allen; Allred; Baddour; Baker; Barbee; Barefoot; Barnhart; Bell; Blust; Brubaker; Buchanan; Capps; Carpenter; Church; Clary; Coates; Cole; Cox; Crawford, M; Creech; Culp; Cunningham; Decker; Esposito; Fox; Gibson; Gillespie; Goodwin; Gray; Gulley; Hackney; Hall; Harrington; Hiatt; Hilton; Holliman; Hurley; Insko; Jeffus; Johnson; Justus; Kiser; Lucas; Luebke; McComas; McCombs; McLawhorn; McMahan; Morris; Nesbitt; Nye; Owens; Pope; Preston; Rayfield; Redwine; Saunders; Sherrill; Shubert; Smith; Starnes; Thompson; Tucker; Underhill; Wainwright; Walend; Walker; Warner; Warren; Warwick; Weiss; Wilson, C; Wilson, G; Yongue HB 1491 – Constitution Prohibit Holding Local Fund. Primary sponsors: Reps. Pryor Gibson, Wayne Goodwin, Phil Baddour, Lyons Gray (amend the Constitution) THIS BILL HAS 63 of 120 members signed on as co-sponsors (see www site below) http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2001&BillID=H1491 Co-sponsored by: Allen; Allred; Baddour; Baker; Barbee; Barefoot; Barnhart; Bell; Blust; Buchanan; Capps; Carpenter; Church; Clary; Cole; Cox; Crawford, M; Creech; Culp; Cunningham; Decker; Esposito; Fox; Gibson; Goodwin; Gray; Gulley; Hall; Harrington; Hiatt; Hilton; Holliman; Hurley; Insko; Johnson; Justus; Kiser; Lucas; McCombs; McLawhorn; McMahan; Morris; Nesbitt; Nye; Pope; Preston; Rayfield; Redwine; Saunders; Sherrill; Shubert; Smith; Starnes; Thompson; Tucker; Underhill; Wainwright; Walend; Walker; Warren; Warwick; Wilson, C; Wilson, G Senate Bills: SB 1124 – Secure Local Revenue. Primary sponsor: Sen. Eric Reeves (utility franchise, telecom, Powel Bill, beer and wine). THIS BILL HAS 13 of 50 members signed on as co-sponsors http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2001&BillID=S1124 Co-sponsored by: Austin M. Allran, Brad Miller, Eric Miller Reeves, Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr., James Calvin Cunningham, James Forrester, John H. Carrington, Kenneth R. Moore, Philip E. Berger, Robert A. Rucho, Robert C. Carpenter, Stan Bingham, Virginia Foxx SB 1122 – Constitution Prohibit Holding Local Funds – Primary sponsor: Sen. Eric Reeves (amend the Constitution) THIS BILL HAS 12 of 50 members signed on as co-sponsors http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2001&BillID=S1122 Co-sponsored by: Austin M. Allran, Eric Miller Reeves, Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr., James Calvin Cunningham, James Forrester, John H. Carrington, Kenneth R. Moore, Philip E. Berger, Robert A. Rucho, Robert C. Carpenter, Stan Bingham, Virginia Foxx All indications are positive at this juncture – but we have along way to go. The House bills have been assigned to the House Rules Committee. The Senate bill remains unassigned at this point. The challenge we will face is to keep our issue in the forefront as legislature moves forward on the state budget – and as the distractions and complexity of the session grows. Continue to encourage legislators to support the bills – and act on them in short order so our cities and towns can have a degree of clarity in your own budget deliberati For more information, please contact : Beau Mills, Director NC Metropolitan Coalition www.ncmetros.org