RALEIGH, N.C. — Good morning and welcome to Today @NCCapitol for Wednesday, June 19. This is WRAL's roundup of what you need to know about North Carolina state government today.
FIRST UP: The House Finance Committee is scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m. this morning. It will consider the bill transferring control of the Charlotte airport to a new regional authority and discuss a constitutional amendment that would limit the growth of government based on population growth and inflation. The committee also takes up a bill to allow for small, lightly regulated investments in start-up companies.
"It probably would be more productive if the specifics of those conversations remained between us, the House and the governor," said Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham.
House Speaker Thom Tillis was less circumspect about the negotiations, saying that House Republicans did not favor the Senate provisions regarding Social Security and were concerned that tax shifts would force local governments to raise property taxes. Also, he said, while both House and Senate plans would slow the growth of government, House leaders worried that the Senate cut too much too fast.
"We need to do it at a pace we can absorb and be sure of," Tillis said.
WRAP: Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and reporter Mark Binker review Tuesday's news at the General Assembly, including late breaking tax discussions and a dust-up over a Durham development,
in The Wrap @NCCapitol.
HOUSE TODAY: The state House meets at 2 p.m. Bills on the calendar include a measure to allow DOT to raise some speed limits to 75 m.p.h. and a final vote on Gov. Pat McCrory's transportation funding plan, which concentrates more dollars on projects of statewide and regional importance.
SENATE TODAY: The state Senate meets at 2 p.m. Bills on the calendar includes a measure that increases the penalties for drivers who pass a school bus with its stop-arm extended and a bill that rolls back energy efficient building standards for commercial projects. House Bill 998, the tax reform bill, is still on the calendar as well.
WRAL.com will carry the House session live UNLESS House and Senate leaders announce a deal on the tax reform measure that will be debated on the Senate floor today. Check the Video Central box on the home page for the stream.
MCCRORY: Gov. Pat McCrory will meet with his Education Cabinet at 1 p.m. today at the Commerce Department.
COMMITTEES: For a complete list of committee hearings, check the main @NCCapitol page. Among the highlights.
Senate Education (10 a.m. | 544 LOB): The committee will hear a bill designed to quickly certify members of the military to teach in classrooms. They will also discuss a measure that would give students with disabilities publicly-funded scholarships to attend private school. WRAL.com will carry the meeting live. Check the Video Central box on the home page.
Senate Health (11 a.m. | 544 LOB): The committee is expected to take up an as-yet unannounced proposed committee substitute for a state symbols bill. WRAL.com will carry the meeting live. Check the Video Central box on the home page.
Senate Finance (1 p.m. | 544 LOB): The committee takes up a measure to clear the way for mega-dumps.
NEWS: Stories we were following Tuesday included:
MORE STORIES: News from other outlets worth noting include:
Associated Press: The General Assembly gave final approval Monday night to legislation that mandates a ballot question include wording that approved borrowing will include paying interest in addition to the debt principal. The question also must state that additional taxes may be levied to pay for the debt and interest.
N.C. Health News: A law winding its way through the General Assembly would make it impossible to hold food manufacturers liable in cases of obesity.
Wilmington Star-News: Calling his removal unconstitutional, former New Hanover County Commissioner Brian Berger has filed a court appeal asking to be reinstated to the county board. Berger was removed from the board May 20 following an amotion hearing. Commissioners voted 3-2 to oust him, with Berger and Commissioner Jonathan Barfield voting against the move.