Today@NCCapitol (July 22): A bunch of smart ALECs?

Several lawmakers prepare to head to the American Legislative Exchange Council this week. Before that, House members dig into their budget differences with the Senate.

Posted 9:00 a.m. Jul 22, 2015 — Updated 9:00 a.m. Jul 22, 2015

Mark Binker

and

Laura Leslie

RALEIGH, N.C. — Good morning and welcome to Today@NCCapitol for Wednesday, July 22. Here's what's going on at the General Assembly.

HEADING TO ALEC: House Speaker Tim Moore and eight other Republican House members are heading to the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, meeting in San Diego this week, according to a spokeswoman for Moore. Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger's office said there was no list of which, if any, senators are going. Berger, R-Rockingham, is not going, a spokeswoman said.

ALEC has sometimes been controversial because it allows business lobbyists to mix with, and draft legislation for, sitting lawmakers.

"Speaker Moore will be leaving Wednesday evening, after session," said Mollie Young, a spokeswoman for Moore, R-Cleveland. "As far as budget negotiations, we are in full swing. ALEC will not cause much of a disruption. Meetings occurred today."

SPEAKING OF ALEC: The North Carolina Justice Center will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. to call on lawmakers headed to ALEC to reject the group's lower-tax philosophy.

FIRST UP: The House Appropriations Committee will meet at 8:30 a.m. to discuss differences between the House and the Senate on the state budget.

HOUSE: The state House meets at 1 p.m. Among the measures on its calendar, members are scheduled to officially reject a regulatory reform package.

SENATE: Among the bills on the chamber's calendar are the ABLE Act, which allows the parents of disabled children to save for the future, and a bill that would keep school districts from suing counties over school funding for the next five years. WRAL plans to carry the Senate floor session live online at 2 p.m. Check the Video Central box on the homepage.

COMMITTEES: The General Assembly publishes a full committee calendar every day. Here are some of the meetings we're watching. Among the meetings on Wednesday's calendar is the Senate Finance Committee, which will hear House Bill 168, a bill giving home builders a tax break on property they hold during development.

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