RALEIGH, N.C.  – Lawmakers in North Carolina have approved a tax break for companies willing to invest $1 billion in the state amid talk that a decision to locate an East Coast data center is near.
  
The House voted 80-34 on Wednesday in favor of the bill that could mean about $46 million in tax savings in the next decade for the unidentified company. The Associated Press reported last week that the company is Apple Inc.
  
Democratic Rep. Pryor Gibson of Anson County said the legislation could not be changed because the company was very close to a decision on where to build its server farm, a facility with rows and rows of computers through which data is routed.
 
Lawmakers rejected efforts to amend the bill, which now needs Senate approval scheduled for Thursday.

HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut may soon become the second northern state to apologize for slavery, segregation and other racist policies its lawmakers once condoned.

The state House of Representatives voted unanimously Thursday after emotional testimony to approve a resolution expressing “profound contrition” for the General Assembly’s role in perpetuating slavery and other practices.

Slavery was practiced in Connecticut in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries before it was abolished in 1848. About 5,100 slaves lived in the Connecticut colony in the mid-1770s, or about 3 percent of the population.

State Rep. Ernest Hewett told fellow legislators Thursday that slavery’s legacy remains painful and that the apology is meaningful, even though none of today’s lawmakers were complicit.

Hewett, a New London Democrat and descendant of a North Carolina slave, still carries the surname of that ancestor’s owner.

“There is no one living in this state of Connecticut that I blame for what happened to my ancestors, no one in this chamber … but this body allowed something to go on that they knew was wrong, and all I’m asking for is a simple apology,” said Hewett, who is black.

Connecticut representatives, who followed their unanimous vote with a standing ovation, sent the resolution to the state Senate for a vote. They also added a provision to emphasize the apology is not meant to provide grounds for reparation claims, lawsuits or other legal actions.

Lawmakers of several ethnicities and both political parties supported the measure, saying that acknowledging and apologizing for their predecessors’ wrongdoing was better accomplished late than never.

“When I talk to people today, and they say, ‘Why today, what does an apology mean?’ one of the things that I particularly (say) … is that in order to move on sometimes you have to acknowledge that mistakes have been made,” said state Rep. Kenneth Green, a black Democrat from Hartford.

New Jersey last year became the first Northern state to apologize for slavery. Five other states – Alabama, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia – have approved similar measures.

Connecticut was an early leader in the mid-1800s abolition movement, but only after nearly three centuries of allowing and profiting from slavery within its own borders.

Connecticut legislators rejected emancipation bills in 1777, 1779 and 1780, and its new state Constitution in 1818 specifically denied blacks the right to vote.

“Some have said, ‘Hey, I wasn’t even around, I had nothing to do with it, my family wasn’t even living in the country at the time,’ and this is all true, but this isn’t an apology on behalf of individuals,” said state House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, who is white.

“This is of such significance because in certain instances, we as an institution condoned and in some cases perpetuated the institution of slavery,” he said.

RALEIGH, N.C.  – A North Carolina House member accused of drinking before speeding to work and then embracing a teenage female page says he’ll leave the Republican Party after fellow legislators participated in a probe of his conduct.

Republican Rep. Cary Allred of Alamance County said Thursday he was stabbed in the back by fellow Republicans and would switch next week from GOP to unaffiliated.

A report by the House sergeant-at-arms released Wednesday quoted several Republicans describing what they observed as Allred embracing the 17-year-old page. One Republican compared it to a “gruesome bear hug.”

Allred said he had one drink on April 27 before being stopped by a trooper on his way to Raleigh. He was cited for going 102 mph in a 65-mph zone.

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.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A preliminary review of allegations a North Carolina House member embraced a page and drank alcohol before speeding to work has been completed.

House Speaker Joe Hackney’s office released the report Wednesday about Rep. Cary Allred of Alamance County.

The report makes no recommendations. The Legislative Ethics Committee will decide whether Allred receives more scrutiny.

The report includes statements from Allred’s fellow Republicans who called it inappropriate when he hugged and kissed a page on the House floor.

Allred said the teenager is a family friend and he kissed her on the cheek.

Allred said he had one drink before being stopped by a trooper en route to Raleigh. He was cited for speeding four days later.

Raleigh, N.C. – Today, Bernard Allen II officially announced his candidacy for the 33rd House District.  This seat is vacant following the vote to replace the late Senator Vernon Malone with Dan Blue.  Allen was a candidate for that seat, finishing second in what was at one time a field of nine candidates.

“A few weeks ago with the passing of a great leader we started a journey to bring affordable health care, a living wage and quality education to every citizen of North Carolina.  I am excited about the next step of this journey.”  Allen said.

Allen ran a strong grassroots campaign for Sen. Malone’s seat that included phone calls, emails, mailings and door knocking; and promised to do the same for the House Seat.  “The solutions to our problems lie with the people, and that is why I have and will continue to speak directly with the people.  How can anyone represent the people if they aren’t willing to sit in a voter’s living room and talk about the issues facing our state and this district?”

Bernard Allen II was born in Vance County and has been a resident of Southeast Raleigh for almost 40 years.  He is a graduate of Enloe High School and St Augustine’s College, and is a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.  He also attended the Divinity School at Shaw University.  He has been married to his wife Amy for 20 years; his son Bernard III is finishing his junior year at Southeast Raleigh High School.

Allen currently works as a Member Action Coordinator for the State Employees Association of North Carolina.  He previously worked in the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for 6 years and in the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety for 6 years.  He is a member of the Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association and the Wake County Voter Coalition.  He currently serves as the Raleigh Vice Chair of the Wake County Democratic Party and the President of the Math and Science Education Network Parent Group at Southeast Raleigh High School.  He is a past President of the Bugg Elementary and Carnage Middle School’s Parent Teacher Associations.

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina lawmakers are considering changes to how state courts award damages for personal injury and property damage lawsuits.

The House last week approved a bill that eliminates a standard that denies damages to a plaintiff if a jury finds the person was even slightly to blame for the injuries.

It would be replaced with a standard used in 46 other states that allows the injured to receive a percentage of the damages. A person would receive $75,000 of the $100,000 in estimated damages if the defendant is 75 percent to blame.

Bill sponsor Rep. John Blust of Guilford County said the change is about providing justice to the injured.

Insurance industry and business leaders oppose the bill because they say it would raise insurance premiums and doesn’t protect defendants enough.

RALEIGH, N.C.  – A hallucinogenic herb that’s becoming popular among young people would be made illegal in North Carolina in a bill passed by the Senate.

The herb is called Salvia divinorum. People who possess, grow or sell it would face a minimum $25 fine on a first offense and misdemeanor on the third offense in the bill approved Thursday.

Bill sponsor Sen. Bill Purcell of Scotland County said he didn’t want the punishment too harsh now because researchers are still learning about the herb, which when smoked or chewed can lead to out-of-body experiences.

More than a dozen states are considering outlawing the drug for fear it could become the next marijuana because it’s inexpensive and easy to buy.

The measure now goes to the House.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Lawmakers have approved legislation that would ease the lifetime driving ban imposed on habitual drunken drivers in North Carolina.

The House voted 89-29 on Thursday for a bill that would allow someone who lost their driver’s license for life to seek reinstatement after 10 years if they have no traffic or criminal convictions.

Democrat Rep. Verla Insko of Orange County and other supporters said the bill recognizes that many alcoholics recover.

But opponents, including Republican Rep. Edgar Starnes of Caldwell County, said the state should be more concerned about keeping people safe than a habitual drunk driver’s convenience.

The measure now moves to the Senate.