1.
Capitol
Commentary
419B Legislative Office Building
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 715-3009 (919) 715-3009
ruths@ncleg.net
April 26, 2011 Legislative Update Raleigh, NC
With the rapid pace of progress during this legislative session, my biweekly Capitol Commentary
just didn't seem frequent enough to keep you well-informed about the important work your
elected representatives are doing in Raleigh. So this week, I'm launching Raleigh Roundup a
quick summary of the recent legislative news. You'll still get my analysis and opinion every other
week in Capitol Commentary, but in the off weeks, I hope you'll find that Raleigh Roundup helps
you stay up-to-date.
Raleigh Roundup from Ruth Samuelson
Last week in Raleigh:
Governor Perdue vetoed a bill that would have extended jobless benefits to 37,000
long-term unemployed North Carolinians. She objected to a provision in the bill that would
keep state government running after July 1 if we do not agree to a budget compromise by
then. The goal was to protect the timeliness of payments for both the employed and
unemployed in North Carolina.
House leaders worked toward a compromise for reforming the state employee's health
insurance plan that we hope will make it past the Governor. Although the first version bill,
which had the backing of the State Employees Association, was very similar to the reform
that the Governor suggested in her own budget, she vetoed it because it included a small
monthly premium for the first time. Our goal is to put the health insurance plan on more
solid fiscal footing and protect it from political influence.
A bill that would limit campaign contributions by vendors with government contracts began
making its way through House committees. The aim is to rein in the corrupt "pay-to-play"
practice of awarding government contracts to big donors. It has bipartisan support.
The House and Senate voted to temporarily lift the ban on plastic grocery bags along the
