Susan Fisher

Budget talks gained momentum this week as negotiators met during the weekend and for several hours each day to work toward a compromise. They have reached a general agreement on salaries and many other items already and continue to work toward a quick resolution. They plan to have the final deal ready soon.

While these talks continue, the House has continued to work on issues important to the people in our communities, such as annexation, health and education. We will continue to work on these vital matters as we wrap up this session and I look forward to returning home full-time soon.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. I would be pleased to assist you in any way.

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The Senate approved its version of the state budget on Thursday, clearing the way for negotiations on a final version to begin. Like the House, the Senate budget focuses on education, health care and bolstering the state’s economy.

Both plans offer pay raises of 3 percent for teachers and 2.75 percent or $1,100, whichever is greater, for state employees. Both proposals also set aside $50 million for tax credits, but differ in how the money would be used. Negotiators from each chamber will be appointed soon and discussions to work out the differences are expected to begin soon. Each chamber will have to approve the compromise before sending it to Gov. Mike Easley for his approval.

We continue to work on important changes in our laws that will make our communities and our children safer. The House passed several of those changes this week and I will share more information about them with you. If you would like information about anything else or if I can be of help to you, please let me know. Thank you as always for your interest in state government.

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June 18, 2008

Dear Rep. Fisher,

I am writing to thank you for being a champion for the environment in the 2007 Long Session. Last year, we tracked ten critical environmental votes—on issues ranging from clean, renewable energy to wildlife conservation to cutting pollution from school buses. On each of these issues, you cast your vote to protect the environment, even when powerful special interests were advocating otherwise.

This summer, we are distributing scorecards to 40,000 households across the state as a part of our door-to-door campaign to build support for global warming pollution limits for new cars and trucks. You can also view our online, interactive scorecard by clicking on this link:

http://www.environmentnorthcarolina.org/legislative-scorecard

As the short session begins its final weeks, we look forward to working with you to defend new coastal stormwater rules, encourage water conservation, and take the first step towards enacting global warming pollution standards for cars, trucks, and SUV’s. For a reminder of our other legislative priorities, you can click on this link:

http://www.environmentnorthcarolina.org/legislature/legislative-agenda

Thanks for standing up for the environment when it needed you most.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Ouzts, State Director

Now that the House of Representatives has sent its budget proposal to the Senate, my colleagues and I have been considering other policy matters, both in our committees and on the House floor.

This week, we addressed issues of public safety, health, transportation and local governance, among other matters.

The Senate is expected to complete its proposed budget soon and then a conference committee comprised of members of both chambers will negotiate a final proposal to present to the governor.

As always, if you have any questions about these matters, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your interest in state government and the opportunity to represent you.

Public Safety

Prisoners who are disabled or terminally ill would be released from custody under legislation Gov. Easley signed into law this week. The new law (S1480) requires the inmates to have an appropriate health care plan in place before their release is granted. The change is expected to save the state thousands of dollars in health care costs and free up as many as 160 additional beds in the state prison system. The state spends an average of $87,000 a year to care for such patients, according to state correction officials. Inmates convicted of the most serious crimes, such as murder and rape, would not be eligible for release and those who regain their heath would have to return to prison.

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This week, I will share with you some of my goals for this session along with the House approved proposed budget that gives financial support to those goals. I apologize in advance for the length of this letter, but as always, take what you need from it and leave what you don’t.

Helping Families Make Ends Meet

These days everyone is feeling the pinch of a tight economy. North Carolina is faring better than many other states because of our sound fiscal policies and we remain one of the few states in the nation without budget problems this year. Still, many people in this state need financial relief and we intend 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. Read the rest of this entry »

The General Assembly held an historic session in Greensboro on Thursday to help the state’s third-largest city celebrate its bicentennial. Members of both the House and Senate came to the session, where both chambers passed a resolution honoring the city and its institutions of higher education. The session was held on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University. It marked only the third time the legislature has met outside of Raleigh since it became the state capitol.

Back in Raleigh, I and my colleagues continue to make progress on revising the state’s budget. We remain confident we will have the bill ready by June 2 and approved by the end of this fiscal year. We have less money in over-collections than we have had in past years when the economy was growing more rapidly so we are looking even more carefully for spending cuts and efficiencies. Read the rest of this entry »

Last Tuesday, I returned to Raleigh for the first day of the “short session.” Typically during this session, legislators adjust the state budget approved in the previous session and take up some of the unresolved matters from the previous year. Most of those matters are contained in funding bills filed last year and still eligible for consideration this session. I will remind you about some of them this week.

Thank you for your continued interest in state government. Please let me know if I can be of assistance. Read the rest of this entry »

This week my colleagues and I are preparing to come back for the short session that begins Tuesday.

Much of our work during this year’s session will focus on adjusting the state budget. We will also consider the recommendations of the committees that met during the interim. Legislation that passed one chamber during the last session also remains eligible for consideration.

This week, I thought it would be useful to point out some of the legislation that has already passed the House and is eligible for consideration in the Senate. Thank you for your interest in state government and please let me know if I can be of assistance. Read the rest of this entry »

Health care issues are extremely important concerns for North Carolinians. We all want our families and loved ones to be healthy and strong. As government officials, it is our job to help make sure you have the options and care you need.

Legislators serve on several interim committees focused on health care issues. These committees range in scope from public health service to licensing midwives.

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There are several study committees meeting during the interim that deal with the way our state and local governments operate. Legislators serve on these committees to ensure that government serves you in best way possible and meets your needs.

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