Legislators return to a full plate

Freedom Raleigh Bureau

RALEIGH - While the primary purpose of the 2008 short session of the N.C. General Assembly will be to tidy up the state's $20.7 billion budget, lawmakers will likely face myriad other issues once they return to Raleigh on Tuesday.

These issues include taking steps to unclog the state highway construction system, fixing problems with mental health reform and expanding medical and daycare services for children.

Other issues on the horizon include looking at the lottery school construction formula and municipal annexation.

Some lawmakers say don't expect long debate on controversial issues to keep lawmakers in session well into the summer.

"I think we're going to focus on the budget and getting out of Dodge," said state Sen. David Hoyle, D-Gaston.

Rep. William Wainwright, D-Craven, who is the House's speaker pro-tem, said they intend for the upcoming session to truly be a short session.

The economy will be on the mind of legislators as they come to Raleigh.

Sen. Charlie Albertson, D-Duplin, said he would like to put more money into biofuels and make ethanol from switchgrass, which could be farmed in rural areas in the state.

Albertson went to a ribbon cutting for a biofuels center in Oxford the other day. He believes it offers some economic promise for North Carolina.

"I'm very excited about this," Albertson said. "Hopefully, it keeps the farmers on the farm and keeps the land from being developed."

He emphasized that the ethanol to be developed would not come from corn, but from switchgrass.

Wainwright said some appropriations are likely to help improve mental health care in the state. In addition, lawmakers will be looking at ways to make health care more affordable, including trying to improve access to health care for children.

Education will also be a focus, he said.

"We'll continue to work to bring teacher's pay in North Carolina up to the national average," Wainwright said. "We are going to continue to look at laws and doing things to keep our children in school."

One proposal, raising the compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 18, could be considered, he said. But Wainwright said that doing so could bring problems of its own.

The General Assembly will also consider transportation issues, including a proposal to cease transferring $170 million annually from the Highway Trust Fund to the general fund.

Albertson said that transportation issues are going to go away on their own and need to be addressed.

"There's no easy, painless way to do it," Albertson said. "The price of asphalt keeps going up and the road maintenance keeps falling behind. The longer we put these projects off, the more they cost."

The Senate will also likely consider anti-gang legislation that passed the House last year. That legislation would increase penalties for gang-related crimes and also create a greater demand for prison space.

Drought management legislation, including a proposal to give the governor more authority in ordering cities and communities to share water resources, is expected to come up.

However, Sen. Tony Foriest, D-Alamance, said that since the drought has subsided, the urgency to act may not be there.

"I suspect it's going to be one of those items that will be a low priority and will fade away," Foriest said. "I don't see people taking those recommendations as seriously as they would have three months ago."

Wainwright said he hopes that is not the case.

"I think we need to take a proactive position," Wainwright said. "If we don't take some proactive measures, we will not be prepared to deal with it if it happens again."

Wainwright said a couple of other local acts are in the works.

One would change the name of Craven County Regional Airport to Coastal Carolina Regional Airport. Another would provide $4 million to help Cove City and Dover with sewer projects.

Albertson said people shouldn't expect the General Assembly to do anything too controversial this session, saying that lawmakers will come to town and "get in and out."

Barry Smith can be reached at bsmith@link.freedom.com.