THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 27, 1997 TAG: 9701270042
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: 91 lines
Money and votes both will be tight in the legislative session that begins this week.
As a result, few lawmakers have great expectations for the General Assembly that convenes Wednesday.
Even House Speaker Harold Brubaker, who led the Republican revolution in 1995, says voters should not expect sweeping action.
``This session will be one of fine-tuning,'' he predicted.
This year, big spending proposals will be confronted by scarce tax dollars. Grand reform schemes will slow, possibly die, in a legislature where the balance of power teeters between Democrats and Republicans.
That doesn't mean lawmakers won't have a full plate of issues to ponder.
Voters are concerned about poorly performing public schools, juvenile crime and the environment. Many want to see reforms in the welfare and campaign finance systems.
But before legislators take on any of those concerns, they must act on a tough challenge handed them by the U.S. Supreme Court: redraw North Carolina's congressional districts.
Last year, the court ruled that the 12th Congressional District, which stretches from Durham to Gastonia, was unconstitutionally drawn to favor black voters. It gave the legislature until April 1 to draw a new congressional map.
How the lines are drawn will largely determine whether the district will elect a Democrat or Republican as well as change the shape of the state's other congressional districts. Both parties, the Legislative Black Caucus and North Carolina's 12 U.S. House members all have stakes in the outcome.
``I don't know how you can satisfy everybody,'' said Rep. Mickey Michaux, D-Durham. ``It is going to be very difficult.''
While redistricting surely will prove a headache for lawmakers, so will the scarcity of tax dollars.
The previous legislature repealed tax levies on stocks and bonds, dramatically cut corporate and personal income tax rates, and knocked a penny off the sales tax on food.
Meanwhile, voters approved a $1.8 billion school bond referendum that will require about $180 million in debt payments a year. The debt service and tax cuts mean the state will soon be missing out on $1 billion a year that lawmakers could previously count on spending.
``If you look at the tax cuts, the cupboard's bare,'' said Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, D-Dare. ``We cut a lot of taxes and we left little availability. Just a little money is left.''
Nevertheless, Democratic Gov. James B. Hunt Jr., armed with a veto and coming off a landslide re-election to a fourth term, plans to present lawmakers with an expensive wish list.
Hunt's plan to raise teacher pay to the national average eventually could cost $1 billion a year. The governor also wants Smart Start, his early childhood program, expanded statewide, at a potential cost of $300 million.
Hunt won't be the only one coming to the legislature with hat in hand.
Chief Justice Burley Mitchell wants to increase his budget by $50 million each year over the next decade to buy computers and hire more people.
The governor's Transit 2001 Commission wants $75 million a year for mass transit. The state Association of County Commissioners has a $500 million wish list to help pay for welfare, Medicaid and schools. And the list goes on.
``That all adds up to a lot more money than we have,'' said House Majority Leader Leo Daughtry, R-Johnston.
Hunt has said he will propose some budget cuts to help pay for his wish list, but a co-chairman of the Senate's budget committee said modest steps won't do.
``You're gonna have to have some significant, real cuts,'' said Sen. Beverly Perdue, D-Craven. ``We're gonna have to be able to stand up to the special-interest groups and make some cuts.''
Lawmakers will have to confront politically sensitive proposals such as eliminating tenure for teachers, toughening laws against tobacco sales to minors, and placing more restrictions on hog farmers and fishermen.
They also will be asked to examine the way they raise and spend money for their political campaigns.
``The people have no confidence in what we do,'' Basnight said. ``They don't believe us. They think we're liars and crooks and we don't care about what we're doing, that we don't care about our country.'' ILLUSTRATION: MAP OF DISTRICTS
Legislators must act on a tough challenge handed them by the U.S.
Supreme Court: redraw North Carolina's congressional districts.
Last year, the court ruled that the 12th Congressional District,
which stretches from Durham to Gastonia, was unconstitutionally
drawn to favor black voters. It gave the legislature until April 1
to draw a new congressional map.
How the lines are drawn will largely determine whether the district
will elect a Democrat or Republican as well as change the shape of
the state's other congressional districts. Both parties, the
Legislative Black Caucus and North Carolina's 12 U.S. House members
all have stakes in the outcome.
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY NORTH CAROLINA