Lobbyist Update

The General Assembly returned to town on Tuesday for the "short session" to adjust the budget for the coming fiscal year, 2008-09.

The Legislature has set a very fast timetable for the session. Any new spending bills had to go to the Legislative staff for drafting by Friday, May 16, and ours did -- see below. All spending bills will have to be introduced by Tuesday, May 27.

The House appropriations subcommittees plan to act on their respective parts of the budget by Friday, May 30. The House plans to finish its version of the budget by Friday, June 6.

Then the Senate takes over. It plans to do all its sub-committee work by Friday, June 13. It plans to pass its version of the budget by June 20.

The House and Senate intend to work out all their differences and finish the budget by June 27.
Pigs will fly on June 28. Hell freezes the following day.

Kidding aside, Rep. Ray Rapp and Sen. Vernon Malone have each, separately, asked the Legislature's staff to prepare a bill that would give school psychologists and others with "six year" degrees and PhD's percentage bonuses instead of the flat dollar bonuses that have been in place for so many years. These two bills will be introduced as soon as possible, and in plenty of time to be considered during this short session, however short and fast it may be.

Steve Shaber
NCSPA Lobbyist