Coming up this week on Jones Street, lawmakers will turn their attention to Governor Pat McCrory’s proposed bond referendum, business incentives, and Medicaid reform.
The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to meet at 4:00pm this afternoon to discuss H.B. 943. House and Senate leaders are still discussing the amount of the Connect NC bond proposal for highway projects and building improvements. Also up for discussion – which of those projects should receive top priority.
The Senate convenes at 7:00pm tonight and members are expected to give final approval to the conference committee compromise on a much-discussed incentives bill. The NC Competes Act would place a cap on state incentive awards at $20 million a year.
The one exception would be for “high-yield projects” involving at least 1,750 jobs, in which case the cap could rise as high as $35 million. Proponents say H.B. 117 in its current form will make the state more competitive in recruiting jobs to the state.
Coming up Tuesday, lawmakers will discuss the latest deal (H.B. 372) on the table to privatize the state’s Medicaid program for the poor, elderly and disabled. For more on the compromise, read Rose Hoban’s piece at NC Health News.
And if you missed it over the weekend, check out Policy Watch’s extended radio interview with Rick Glazier, Executive Director of the NC Justice Center. The former state representative from Cumberland County discusses the shortcomings of North Carolina’s new budget.
Click below to hear that interview:
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