Black Lives Matter.
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

  • Voices
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Members
    • Covenant Partners
    • Issue Statements
    • Governing Board
  • Programs
    • Ecumenical Immigration Alliance
      • Ideas for Action
      • Sign Our Statement
      • The NC Sanctuary Coalition
      • Immigration Bible Study
      • Contact
    • NC Interfaith Power & Light
      • NCIPL Overview
      • Faith in Action NCIPL
      • NCIPL Articles
      • NCIPL Resources
      • Upcoming Events for NCIPL
      • Contact NCIPL
    • Partners in Health & Wholeness
      • PHW Staff
      • Mini-Grants
      • PHW Collaborative Pledge
      • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
      • PHW Articles
      • FAQs
  • Priorities
    • Racial Justice
    • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
    • Gun Violence Prevention
    • Public Education
    • NC Sanctuary Coalition
    • Farmworkers
    • Legislative Advocacy
    • Christian Unity
    • Peace
    • NC No Torture
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • Events
  • Resources
    • Publications & Reports
    • Raleigh Report
    • Lectionary
    • Sermons
  • Donate
  • Council Store
  • Show Search

Search NC Council of Churches

Hide Search

Raleigh Report – August 5, 2011

Rose Gurkin, Former Program Associate for Administration · August 8, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Click here to sign up to receive the Raleigh Report in your inbox

  • Veto Overrides
  • Other Bills Which Have Become Law
  • Redistricting
  • Adjournment Resolution

Adjournment, Round Two

The General Assembly returned to Raleigh in July for what was, in reality, Round Two of its 2011 Long Session. The primary tasks were to take up overrides on bills Governor Perdue had vetoed and to adopt redistricting plans for U.S. Congressional districts and for the state House and Senate.

Veto Overrides

Under override procedures, an override vote must first be taken in the house in which the bill originated. If that house votes to override, then the matter goes to the other house. The Senate, where there is a veto-proof Republican majority, met on July 13 and quickly passed six overrides on Senate bills. The Senate and House then spent two weeks in skeleton sessions and committee meetings, returning to full floor sessions on the 25th. They adjourned on the 28th, leaving the following outcomes on bills which have been covered in Raleigh Report:

Vetoes Overridden (so the bills have become law)

  • S 33, Medical Liability Reforms
  • S 781, Regulatory Reform Act of 2011

Veto Sustained by failed override vote

  • H 351, Restore Confidence in Government (the optimistically named bill which would require a photo ID in order to vote) – This bill was kept alive however, when House Majority Leader Paul Stam first voted to sustain Gov. Perdue’s veto, then, as part of the prevailing side, moved to reconsider the vote. Because the motion to reconsider requires a simple majority, not the three-fifths majority to override a veto, the motion to reconsider passed. No subsequent votes were taken on this override.

Vetoes Overridden in Senate, no vote taken in the House

  • S 709, Energy Jobs Act (the fracking bill)
  • S 727, No Dues Check-off for School Employees

Other Bills which Have Become Law

Bills signed into law after the adjournment of Round One:

  • H 22, 2011 Budget Technical Corrections
  • H 36, Employers & Local Government Must Use E-Verify
  • H 542, Tort Reform for Citizens and Businesses
  • H 619, Forced Combinations
  • H 650. Amend Various Gun Laws/Castle Doctrine
  • H 709, Protect and Put NC Back to Work
  • S 166, No Adult Left Behind
  • S 194, Alternative Fuel Vehicle Incentives
  • S 415, Eliminate Cost/Reduced Price School Breakfasts
  • S 498, Modify Law re Corporal Punishment

Bills which became law without the Governor’s signature:

  • H 342, High School Accreditation
  • H 344, Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities
  • H 744, Safe Students Act

Redistricting

To no one’s surprise, the Republican-controlled House and Senate passed redistricting bills which are almost certain to make it easier for Republicans to be elected to the General Assembly and to the US Congress. The Governor does not have to sign (or get to veto) redistricting bills.

The new congressional districts are illustrative. Many counties, including some that are not heavily populated, are split between two districts. Some counties find themselves in three districts, and parts of Durham County, not a very large one in terms of area, will be in four different districts. In two cases, two incumbent Democrats are put in the same district (though US Representatives don’t have to live in the district they represent). Several analysts estimate that the congressional delegation is likely to shift from a 7-6 Democratic majority to a 10-3 Republican majority.

African Americans and others argued that African Americans are being packed into a few districts (at both congressional and state levels) which would be likely to elect African Americans, but that their overall voting strength is being diluted by removing them from other districts where they might exert influence. The redistricting plans have to be approved under the federal Voting Rights Act and are certain to be challenged in court.

For more information, go to the General Assembly’s webpage for redistricting: http://www.ncleg.net/gis/randr07/redistricting.html . You’ll find links to the new maps (in the shaded box near the top of the page), the guide to redistricting prepared for legislators, lots and lots of statistics about the districts, and statements from legislative leaders of both parties and others.

Adjournment Resolution

The bill adjourning Round Two calls for the General Assembly to reconvene on September 12 for Round Three. Among the items which can be considered then are:

  • Bills pertaining to redistricting and any legal action about redistricting.
  • Veto overrides.
  • Bills pertaining to amendments to the NC Constitution, which would include the one to define marriage and the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR).
  • Bills pertaining to election laws.
  • Adoption of conference committee reports for bills currently in conference committees.
  • Local bills currently in the House Rules Committee. (Sharp-eyed members of the Raleigh Report network will say, “Huh? Local bills in House Rules?” On the next to the last day of Round Two, House leaders moved 39 local bills to House Rules, prompting concern that they might repeat the procedural trick by which they had earlier passed legislation preventing community college students from getting certain federal loan money. After the Governor vetoed a bill allowing any community college to opt out of the loan program, the issue was divided into multiple local bills, over which the Governor has no veto, each bill applying to few enough counties that it met the definition of being local. This one bears watching.)
  • Bills related to a “Tribal Compact negotiated by the Governor.” (This one bears watching too. It’s an effort by the Cherokee to get gambling with live dealers at Harrah’s Casino on Cherokee land in western NC.)
  • Adjournment to Round Four or next year’s Short Session, whichever comes first.

 

Filed Under: Raleigh Report Tagged With: Environment, Fracking, Good Government, Gun Violence, Healthcare Reform, Mental Health, People with Disabilities, Public Education, State Budget

Rose Gurkin, Former Program Associate for Administration

About Rose Gurkin, Former Program Associate for Administration

Reader Interactions

More Like This

A Win for the People and Planet: Atlantic Coast Pipeline Cancelled!
From Domination to Dominion
Advent Guide: Epiphany Sunday, January 5

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anonymous comments or comments that target individuals will not be posted (please include your first and last name). All comments must be on topic and respectful. Comments will not be posted until they have been reviewed by a moderator. Comments do not reflect the positions of the NC Council of Churches.

Footer

Contact

NC Council of Churches
27 Horne St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 828-6501
info@ncchurches.org

Facebook

Partners in Health and Wholeness

Featured

Raleigh Report – August 5, 2011

Latest Tweets

ICYMI: Check out our spotlight piece on Olive Branch Ministry, Hickory, to learn more about their faith-based harm reduction work serving the foothills and piedmont of North Carolina. ncchurches.org/2021/…

About 2 days ago

This Earth Month, we're calling on our network to advocate with compassion for a just & sustainable future. To support you in this hard & holy work, @NCIPL complied a toolkit with policy positions, calls to action, & how we engage in faith-based advocacy. ncchurches.org/advoc…

About 2 days ago

Make sure to register for our upcoming Legislative Seminar. Our opening worship service and award ceremony will honor Michael S. Regan, Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency, with the Faith Active in Public Life award. ncchurches.ourpowerb… pic.twitter.com/rG7U…

About 3 days ago

Faith Climate Action Week is coming up! This year's theme is Sacred Ground: Cultivating Connections Between our Faith, our Food, and the Climate. Follow the link to find events >> faithclimateactionwe…

About 5 days ago

2021 is the year for drawing districts in each state after the completion of the US Census. Check out the @LWV's blog on encouraging people to speak up about the drawing of fair maps. Read now >> lwv.org/blog/redistr… pic.twitter.com/4KMR…

Last week

Follow @ncchurches

Latest Tweets

Now that all North Carolinians age 16+ are eligible to receive a #COVID19 vaccine, use the @ncdhhs resource hub to find a local provider near you to get your shot! #MySpotMyShotNC #NC covid19.ncdhhs.gov/v… #MindfulTogether

About 2 days ago

Join us next Thurs., April 22 for our Sacred Conversations event on caring for creation. We'll be discussing environmental caretaking, collective action, and our Sustainability Pledge. Register online at ncchurches.ourpowerb… @NCIPL #MindfulTogether #EarthDay pic.twitter.com/GTpI…

About 3 days ago

Read our spotlight piece on Olive Branch Ministry to learn more about their faith-based harm reduction work serving the foothills and piedmont of North Carolina. ncchurches.org/2021/… @olivebranchgals #MindfulTogether pic.twitter.com/xj2U…

About 4 days ago

Our work has led us to recognize the impact our environment has on our health and ability to flourish. Click below to read more about our commitment to being stewards of God’s good Creation through our Sustainability Pledge. ncchurches.org/phw-s… @NCIPL #MindfulTogether

About 5 days ago

Awesome opportunity from our partners at @emergingissues! #MindfulTogether twitter.com/emerging…

About 6 days ago

Follow @healthandfaith

Latest Tweets

RT @faithinplace Next week is #FaithClimateActionWeek! Join @interfaithpower on April 21 @ 1pm CT for “Sacred Ground: A Message of Hope”—a conversation with @kissthegroundoc filmmaker @JoshTickell & Statewide Outreach Dir. Veronica Kyle on @faithinplace amazing CSAs! bit.ly/Sacred-Ground… pic.twitter.com/xxX7…

About 48 minutes ago

RT @ecoAmerica Register for the American Climate Leadership Summit today for the opportunity to join 1000+ climate leaders including Nana Firman, Senior Ambassador of @greenfaithworld to help move America along the solutions path faster! Sign up here: acls2021.org #ACLS2021 pic.twitter.com/Rdxc…

About 48 minutes ago

RT @ClimateReality It’s time to follow the money and fight for justice. grist.org/race/how-w…

About 49 minutes ago

RT @middlechurch “Where one lives should not determine how long one lives, the quality of the air you breathe or the water you drink.” - @AyannaPressley #RevLove21

About 49 minutes ago

Watch livestream @PullenChurch 11am EST pullen.org/livestrea… to hear our Director preach on #climatefairshare & “Manna In The Wilderness” usfairshare.org @uscan @interfaithpower @ELCA @ncchurches @Gina_McCarthy @JoeBiden @JohnKerry @mtmalcom @billmckibben #ActOnClimate pic.twitter.com/3bkX…

About 3 hours ago

Follow @ncipl

Latest Tweets

Copyright © 2021 NC Council of Churches · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design · Hosted by WP Engine