Representative Carl Ford – District 76
♦ Twenty-Fifth Week of the 2015 Long Session
We’re in the throes of the budget negotiations in Raleigh. With so many senate bills being held hostage in the House, little legislative activity is taking place in committees. Regardless, the committee I chair plans to hold a meeting next Thursday to make as much progress as possible while we wait for a compromise budget to surface. The Continuing Budget Authority bill, which continues business-as-usual as laid out in the 2014-15 budget, will expire August 14. At that point, we either need to reach a compromise or pass yet another Continuing Budget Authority bill to extend the deadline.
Bill updates
“Restoring Proper Justice Act.” – House Bill 77
Federal courts and State law requires physicians to be present at all state executions, but in 2007, the NC Medical Board overstepped their authority and declared that any physician who participated in that part of our justice system would face disciplinary action. Even though that announcement was overruled by the NC Supreme Court, the incident shed light on unnecessarily strict regulations restricting the constitutionally protected, and voter approved death penalty. On Wednesday, the House voted to remove unnecessary burdens on the capital punishment system by broadened the definition of the statutorily required “medical professional.” This change will allow more individuals to fill the medical role in executions, which will free up the process to start again after its nearly 10-year hiatus. I was happy to vote to concur with the Senate committee substitute and restart this important part of our criminal justice system.
“Amend Firearms Laws” – House Bill 562
The major firearms legislation of the session passed the Senate on Monday and was signed into law by the Governor on Wednesday. I was happy to see that less will stand in the way of citizens’ Second Amendment rights, but it was disappointing to see the bill get watered down by the time it got to the Governor’s desk. Specifically, whenit left the House the repeal of the Sheriff’s Pistol Purchase Permit was removed from the bill. Regardless, I was happy to see the bill finally become law and look forward to future opportunities to support the people’s right to bear arms.
Legion all-stars
I also want to take a moment to congratulate our Rowan County Legion All Stars, who won the state title against High Point this week! A special congratulations go out to tournament MVP Riley Myers, who struck High Point out at the top of the ninth and brought home the championship. Good luck to our boys as they head off to Regionals in Asheboro next week.
Thank you for taking the time to read about the work I was able to accomplish this week for Cabarrus and Rowan. Expect to hear big news as the 152nd resumes its legislative session and budget process.
Please share this newsletter with your friends and family in the district. Also, please remember to tune into the Houses’ Weekly Republican Address on YouTube and Town Hall Thursdays on Twitter. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
God Bless,
Carl
Legislative Office: (919) 733-5881
District Office: (704) 305-3541
carl.ford@ncleg.net
