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Mon.: Spoilin' for a Fight
posted at 2009-03-24 00:49 | Last modified 2009-03-24 07:26
State Schools Superintendent June Atkinson is turning up the heat in the ongoing power struggle at the Department of Public Instruction.
In late January, Governor Bev Perdue announced her appointment of Bill Harrison to a new dual post as CEO of the state school system and Chair of the State Board of Education. That change was recommended in the Evergreen Report, a study by an outside consulting group who said the department's existing leadership structure was dysfunctional. You can see the report here.
Atkinson, not surprisingly, doesn't agree with Evergreen's assessment -- and she says Harrison’s new job is unconstitutional. She told the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee today the voters elected her, not Harrison or Perdue, to run the DPI.
Some may believe that having one person as the state board chair and CEO will bring clarity. But what about the 2.2 million people who elected a state superintendent? Where does their vote count?
Atkinson wants state lawmakers to intervene in the matter. She says they should take legislative action to either a) make her the top boss at DPI, or b) put up a constitutional amendment and let voters decide whether her office should be appointed rather than elected.
The people and the children of the state deserve a governance system that is constitutional, and one that does not mislead the public. And you, as members of the General Assembly, can make that happen.
Rumor has it NCICL’s Bob Orr is getting ready to file a lawsuit over Perdue’s changes at DPI. Atkinson says she hasn’t decided yet whether she’ll sign on. You can hear more of her comments today below. (8:34)
Listen Now!
Furloughs
A new House bill filed today would give the Gov authority to furlough state employees as a last resort to balance the budget. Sponsor Ray Rapp (D-Madison) says H708 would let the governor cut payroll expenses without cutting state jobs.
Workers who make more than 30K annually could be asked to take up to 20 days of unpaid leave per year. (Those who make less than 30K would be exempt.) 20 days equals 4 weeks out of 52, which could potentially add up to a 7.7% pay cut in the worst-case scenario. However, as Rapp points out, the bill is set up to allow maximum flexibility so the Governor can work with agency heads to spread the pain as thinly as possible. The furloughs wouldn’t affect employees’ health care, and the state would continue to make contributions to their retirement accounts.
Governor Perdue has said she doesn’t like the idea of furloughs. But Rapp thinks she may need to reconsider.
I would find it hard to predict where we’ll be six months from now, and what kind of steps she may need to take to battle this budget situation. So what we’re trying to do is give her an extra tool to put in that toolbox as a last resort measure. If she needs it, she has it.
SEANC doesn’t like the idea, either. Rapp says he’s had a lot of calls and emails from state employees who oppose the bill.
It’s a heartfelt attempt to avoid layoffs of state employees, and that’s what the furlough bill is about…I just hope that they understand the motivation behind this. I would much rather have them working reduced hours than I would have them out of a job.
Note: Rapp’s bill only applies to emergency action the governor might need to take next fiscal year. It doesn’t cover any furloughs legislators might mandate as part of their spending plan, though one can safely assume they’ll add similar language to the budget bill if needed.
Here's my full interview with Rapp today on H708. (2:40)
Listen Now!
"Action-Packed!"
Tomorrow’s shaping up to be another crazy day:
- 9:00 – Senate Approps/Base Budget hears feedback on the Governor’s spending plan from Treasurer Janet Cowell, UNC President Erskine Bowles and Comm College President Scott Ralls, plus - bonus! - dueling DPI heads June Atkinson and Bill Harrison. It's in 643: listen live here.
- 9:30 – Equality NC kicks off its legislative lobby day. The anti-bullying bill is high on the agenda.
- 10:00 – H2, the smoking ban, is back again in House J1. Minority Leader Skip Stam (R-Wake) is expected to offer some amendments, most likely including an exception for private clubs. Exceptions like this ultimately kneecapped the bill last session. What happens in J1 Tuesday might well determine its fate this session, too.
- 11:00 – Sen Larry Shaw (D-Cumberland) and friends hold a presser calling for collective bargaining rights for state employees. With furloughs and health plan cuts in the headlines, this year could be its best chance ever.
- 2:00 – The State Health Plan Reform bill (S287) is back on the Senate calendar again, though I’d be shocked if it gets to a vote.
What am I missing? Drop me a line.
