THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 18, 1996 TAG: 9607180322
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY DENNIS PATTERSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: 55 lines
Up to $100 million in state money would be available to help clean up the aftermath of Hurricane Bertha under a bill the House agreed to consider Wednesday.
The state Senate, meanwhile, added a provision to the budget negotiations that would allow state budget officials to immediately use unspent salary money as matching funds for federal disaster aid.
The Senate provision, included in a bigger budget compromise, drew no debate.
``The rainy day fund is for rainy days, and we've had a rainy day,'' said Rep. Robin Hayes, the Republican candidate for governor, who asked for permission to file the measure. He had to get House approval because the deadline for filing bills has passed.
Hayes' bill, filed after the House voted 102-8 Wednesday to allow its introduction, would use up to $100 million of the state's emergency fund as matching money for federal emergency aid to areas hit hard by Hurricane Bertha or by an ice storm earlier this year.
Some Democrats objected that the money should come from the state's general fund, since there is money available, rather than the emergency fund. The emergency fund, generally called the rainy day fund, was established in 1991 to help lawmakers ward off the economic effects of a recession.
``This is blatantly a political move,'' said Rep. Bob Hensley, D-Wake. ``It was set up so somebody can get pictures taken and appear to be caring - for their political campaign.''
But Democrats from coastal areas damaged by Bertha applauded the proposal.
``Irregardless of the political situation that this motion may come from, I still think if there's anything that both houses of this General Assembly can do for those who suffered from the hurricane, we should do it,'' said Rep. David Redwine, D-Brunswick.
Rep. Robert Grady, R-Onslow, told members there were massive amounts of debris to be cleared away in his neighborhood, and many uninsured people who needed help. And he criticized those who questioned the bill.
``I'm grateful what's happening in this chamber is not being televised,'' he said. ``People already have a bad enough opinion of us.
``I don't know whether Rep. Hayes' bill will help or not. I don't know if it's political or not,'' he said. ``Gov. (Jim) Hunt came down the other day to tour the area. I don't care if it was political or not. I was glad he came.''
The budget packages that lawmakers are debating in this special session include state matching funds for federal aid from last year's hurricane and ice damage.
``Virtually everybody in here is running for office,'' Hayes said. ``If we have a good idea, the fact we're running for office should not keep us from bringing it forward.''
The measure will be sent to a House committee for consideration today.
KEYWORDS: HURRICANE BERTHA by CNB