Sentator Gene McLaurin
♦Over 1700 bills have been introduced in the NC House and Senate this year. I must tell you I feel that is excessive mainly because many of them do not address the issues I feel are most important to our state. In my view, we need to be primarily focused on our economy, job creation, education, and policies to make North Carolina state government more efficient and responsible in providing services to our citizens. Although the NC Senate bill 
introduction deadline has recently passed, I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of some of the bills I have introduced, a few that I am co-sponsoring and several others that I believe are important to the future of NC. For a full list of the bills I have sponsored or co-sponsored, please see the following link: 2013 McLaurin Legislation.
Hire Long-Term Unemployed Workers Incentive (S242)
North Carolina has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. This bill which I sponsored provides a tax credit for businesses to hire long-term unemployed workers, who are seeking good paying jobs in our communities.
Small Business New Job Creation Incentive (S 255)
This legislative proposal seeks to open the eligibility of Article 3J tax credits, currently in place, to small businesses who hire additional employees. Article 3J tax credits are currently available to manufacturers and other large scale employers. Recently the state of NC offered almost $100 million in incentives to Met Life to bring jobs to Wake and Mecklenburg County. My bill, which has a companion bill in the NC House sponsored by Rep. Ken Goodman allows smaller businesses, with less than 50 employees, who may be seeking expansion or other entrepreneurs who are considering a start-up to have access to the very same tax credits, should they meet certain wage standards and hire full time employees.
Extend Sunset for Earned Income Tax Credit (S185)
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) rewards working families and has been proven to help lift several hundred thousand people out of poverty, nearly one half of whom are children. The EITC is set to expire this year; this bill will extend the state credit through 2018. I want to emphasize this particular bill, if enacted, would assist those lower income families who earn income.
Senate Bill 365 Affordable and Reliable Energy Act(S 365)
This week we debated Senate Bill 365-aimed at rolling back important energy guidelines as passed by lawmakers in a previous session. The Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards (REPS) policy as passed in 2007 requires our electric power providers to generate a portion of our energy needs through renewable energy sources. This bi-partisan policy also has given clean energy companies an opportunity to compete in NC and create jobs for our citizens. SB 365 would roll back these requirements. I voted against SB 365 this week because I believe we should honor the commitment we made to these companies. This is the wrong message to send to our consumers and to investors in clean energy. I have heard from the pork industry, the NC Farm Bureau and many other business groups who are interested in renewable energy investments in NC. Should this bill pass, these job creators could very well change their mind. This would be like pulling the rug out from underneath them. NC made a commitment in 2007 to renewable energy. We should support this industry and encourage even more investment.
2013 School Safety Act (S 589)
I am a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 589 which identifies and funds key personnel, including school resource officers, school psychologists, guidance counselors, and social workers. It also requires creation of and training in critical incidence plans. Additionally, it funds panic alarm systems for teachers in NC schools. And the policy will offer students an anonymous tip line, so that students feel completely comfortable and safe reporting possible internal or external risks to students, the school building, sporting events and any other school sponsored events. The House companion bill, HB 452 has gained momentum in recent weeks, and has passed the House and been sent to the Senate Education Committee.
Freedom to Negotiate Health Care Rates (H 247)
House Bill 247 passed the Senate this past week in an effort to open the health insurance market in North Carolina and provide consumers with more choices while allowing insurers to have more competition in the marketplace. This bill will prohibit contract provisions that create specified rate negotiations between health benefit plans and health care providers. I voted for House Bill 247.
Regulatory Reform (S 612)
One of things I continue to hear from local businesses across Anson, Stanly, Scotland, Richmond, and Rowan Counties, is that the legislature needs to simplify regulations as it pertains to doing business in our great state. This past week, I voted for Senate Bill 612, an omnibus bill that made several changes to existing state policy in order to reduce or eliminate unnecessary regulations.
City of Asheville Water Takeover (H 488)
The Senate, in my opinion, overstepped their boundaries last week by passing legislation, against the city’s wishes, to takeover the Asheville water system and combine it with a smaller system in Henderson County, giving control of both water systems to an appointed Metropolitan water and sewer board made up of people from both –Buncombe and Henderson Counties. The board has also been given taxing and assessing authority over Buncombe and Henderson counties, despite not being accountable to voters. I voted against this bill because I do not believe the state should be seizing assets from local government.
Senator Gene McLaurin, left, and Ms. Hallie Willis, right
And finally, I would like to congratulate Ms. Hallie Willis, of Laurinburg, NC on her upcoming graduation from Meredith College. Hallie is serving as an intern in my office this session. She is an International Studies Major. Congratulations Hallie!
As always, please feel free to email me at Gene.mclaurin@ncleg.net or send a letter to 1118 Legislative Building, Raleigh, NC 27601. Of course, you can also reach me or my Legislative Assistant, Katie Stanley in my Raleigh office at 919-733-5953. If you would like to stay engaged, please visit the NC General Assembly’s website at www.ncleg.net .
