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On your mark...get set....
posted at 2007-02-26 21:42 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
After a slow first month in which lawmakers filed a record number of bills but did nothing with them, they're out of the starting gate tomorrow with the first in a long series of joint Appropriations meetings. Easley's advisors will be on hand tomorrow to start going through the Governor's 1200+ page budget proposal. To date, at least, appropriations folks have reacted cordially but cautiously to the 20 billion dollar plan.
Chiropractic adjustment?
House Caucus leaders Hugh Holliman (D) and Paul Stam (R) said at least a week ago they'd file a bill to repeal Jim Black's special provision favoring chiropractors. Freshman state senator Tony Foriest (D-Alamance) got there first today. Foriest's bill would repeal the 2005 budget provision banning insurance companies from charging higher copays for chiropractors than for MDs. Foriest says he's open to considering the idea, but says it needs to be done in open committee hearings. No word yet on who, if anyone, on the House side will run a companion bill.
Out of joint
The NC Chiropractors Association, not surprisingly, isn't thrilled about Foriest's proposal. Exec. Dir. Tom Schoenvogel said in an email today his group will fight the repeal - they want to keep Black's original proposal. Schoenvogel also sent me a copy of the NCCA's briefing paper for lawmakers. It's an interesting read - especially the part that says the copay cap had "consensus support" and was enacted "without visible opposition." If that's true, one wonders why they relied on former Speaker Jim Black to slip it into the budget as a special provision, instead of just running the bill on its own merits.
Ch-ch-ch-changes
Basnight staffer Tony Caravano is leaving his post Wednesday. He's headed to UNC's Institute of Government, where he'll work with another former Basnight staffer, Norma Mills. His replacement? Schorr Johnson, currently communications director for the NC Democratic Party. Johnson's on the job as press guy for Basnight as of March 15th. No word yet on who's replacing him at the party HQ.
Public financing
NC Voters for Clean Elections (yet another sprawling advocacy coalition) has sent letters to House Speaker Hackney, Senate leader Basnight, and Gov. Mike Easley, renewing the call for public campaign financing. You can see the announcement here... but if you're a sucker for phrases like "sordid underbelly," you can download the letter (a very large file!) here.
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