HEADLINES:

- House sergeant-at-arms completes preliminary report on actions of House member Allred
- NC Senate delays vote on taxpayer campaign funding
- NC Association of Educators president criticize potential House budget proposal

THE BRIEF:

ALLRED INVESTIGATION: House Speaker Joe Hackney said a preliminary review of accusations that a state House member embraced a teenage female page and had been drinking before speeding to work has been sent to a legislative ethics panel. The report was assembled by House Sergeant-at-Arms Bob Samuels and presented to Hackney. It makes neither conclusions nor recommendations about what, if anything, should happen to Rep. Cary Allred, R-Alamance. Allred repeated in an interview he’s done nothing wrong. Hackney, D-Orange, said the report was given to the Legislative Ethics Committee, which will decide whether further scrutiny is needed if ethics laws may have been violated. Several House members wrote they were uneasy when they say they saw Allred in the back of the House floor, give a page a lengthy hug and kissed her. Pages are volunteers from members’ districts. Allred said the teenager was a longtime family friend. She and her parents did not want to file a complaint and were OK with what happened.

PUBLIC CAMPAIGNS: The North Carolina Senate debated a measure allowing big cities to use taxpayer money for local election campaigns, then postponed a vote until next week. The Senate saw the Democratic majority jockey against Republicans opposing the bid to start voluntary public campaign financing programs in the state’s 15 largest cities. The measure was then set aside and rescheduled for a vote next Wednesday. Candidates in nonpartisan elections would have to agree to accept fundraising restrictions in exchange for public dollars. Statewide candidates for appellate judges, the state auditor, insurance commissioner and schools superintendent already can receive public funding. Chapel Hill will test taxpayer-assisted local elections this fall.

EDUCATION CUTS?: The North Carolina Association of Educators says a potential House budget proposal for public education released in a committee contains “dangerous and draconian” cuts that would put more than 10,000 educators out of a job. The proposal seeks nearly $1.2 billion in additional cuts in the public schools and university and community college systems than what the Senate made last month. The plan is weeks from being considered by the full House. Reductions may be eased or changed if Democrats consider raising taxes to help pay for them. The proposal would increase the average class size by two students, eliminate some third-grade teaching assistants and shorten the school year by five days starting this fall. NCAE President Sheri Strickland said the proposal would jeopardize the state’s economy by throwing so many people out of work.

WEDNESDAY’S SCORECARD:

In the Senate:
- H616, to make it a misdemeanor for someone to steal, destroy or vandalize a portable toilet or pumper truck. Approved. Next: To Gov. Beverly Perdue’s desk.
- H186, to prevent a local Alcoholic Beverage Control board from opening a store at a location that is opposed by the public and the governing body of the municipality. Approved. Next: To Gov. Beverly Perdue’s desk.

AROUND THE STATEHOUSE:

Advocates for the mentally ill want lawmakers to avoid what they call devastating cuts to services in next year’s state budget. More than 1,000 people – including patients and their families – visited the Legislature for their annual rally. They want to protect and improve treatment for people with mental illness, the developmentally disabled and substance abusers. The event came the same day House members discussed options to reduce mental health funding to help narrow a $4 billion-plus state budget gap for next year. One option would reduce service funds by more than $50 million.

ON THE AGENDA:

A House judiciary panel is slated to consider legislation Thursday that would ban the execution of death row inmates who suffer from severe mental illness. The original filed bill would permit a judge to declare a capital murder suspect as having a severe mental disability. If convicted, the person would face a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.

QUOTABLE:

“There has been a problem about people taking a non-serious attitude about this product.” Sen. Doug Berger, D-Franklin. He was urging support for a bill criminalizing the vandalism of portable toilets.