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Governor McCrory Signs Bill Eliminating Privilege Taxes

The Governor tweeted this photo today. The tweet said 'It's that time again...time to sign some bills! #ncpol #ncgov '

Governor Pat McCrory has signed a bill that will eliminate  the privilege taxes municipalities can levy on businesses. On Thursday, the state House passed the Senate version of a far-reaching tax bill, which would completely eliminate privilege taxes beginning in July of 2015.

Normally, a bill that has been altered in both chambers would go to a conference committee, where lawmakers could hash out their differences and agree on a final version. But not this time, says Rep. Paul Luebke:

"It is wrong to have a bill come back not go to a conference committee where we can debate the question of whether the cities should be able to have $100 per business or nothing per business as the Senate did. It's wrong not to go to conference committee," says Luebke.

However, Rep. Julia Howard, the bill's primary sponsor, says she is hopeful that there can be negotiations on some kind of a tiered privilege tax system before the change would go into effect in 2015. In a statement, Governor McCrory says he has asked Howard and Senator Bill Rabon to work with local governments to find a solution. The measure will also levy taxes on e-cigarettes.

Jessica Jones covers both the legislature in Raleigh and politics across the state. Before her current assignment, Jessica was given the responsibility to open up WUNC's first Greensboro Bureau at the Triad Stage in 2009. She's a seasoned public radio reporter who's covered everything from education to immigration, and she's a regular contributor to NPR's news programs. Jessica started her career in journalism in Egypt, where she freelanced for international print and radio outlets. After stints in Washington, D.C. with Voice of America and NPR, Jessica joined the staff of WUNC in 1999. She is a graduate of Yale University.
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