Legislation

Goals for Tax ReformGrow the economy and create millions of jobsSimplify our burdensome tax codeProvide tax relief to American families—especially middle-income familiesLower the business tax rate from one of the highest in the world to one of the lowest Individual ReformTax relief for American families, especially middle-income families:Reducing the 7 tax brackets to 3 tax brackets for 10%, 25% and 35%Doubling the standard deductionProviding tax relief for families with child and dependent care expensesSimplification:Eliminate targeted tax breaks that mainly benefit the wealthiest taxpayers.Protect the home ownership and charitable gift tax deductions.Repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax.Repeal the death tax.Repeal the 3.8% Obamacare tax that hits small businesses and investment income. Will individual tax reform be coupled with a corporate tax package?  Seems sensible but separation may be more strategic.  All of this should be clearer or not when Congress returns … [Read more...] about Live! Trump Legislative Updates

This bill amends the Texas Utility Code to require the PUCT, in cooperation with transmission and distribution utilities and ERCOT, to study whether existing transmission and distribution processes are sufficient to provide adequate infrastructure for seawater desalination projects. The PUCT is required to make recommendations if it determines that statutory changes are needed to ensure adequate infrastructure is developed for seawater desalination projects. Further, the PUCT, in cooperation with ERCOT, is required to study the potential for seawater desalination projects to participate in existing demand response opportunities in the ERCOT market. The bill also amends the Texas Water Code to allow the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to issue permits authorizing diversions of state water and water discharges for seawater desalination projects.  … [Read more...] about Texas Legislative Wrap-Up: A Summary of Electricity-Related Bills Passed by the 84th Legislature

House Republicans retreated to a quick caucus meeting where arm twisting managed to change seven votes and the conference report was then messily adopted by the House. Procedurally, a member who voted on the prevailing side, in this case voted against the conference report, made a motion to “reconsider the vote by which the report failed”. That motion passed and the conference report was back before the House for consideration. Next came a motion to forgo debate, which passed along party lines. Ultimately the conference report was adopted by the House by a vote of 57 to 46. … [Read more...] about Regulatory Reform, Uber Decision, Summer Recess: July 2, 2015 North Carolina Legislative Update

Confederate MonumentsSB 22 – Historic Artifact Management and Patriotism Act – was reviewed and received a favorable report in the House Committee on Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs this week.  It would bar state or local authorities from permanently removing an object on public land that “commemorates an event, person or military service that is part of North Carolina’s history.”  Removing such an object would require an act by the General Assembly to be approved by the governor.  The bill was introduced in the Senate in February – months before last month’s shootings in Charleston – and is intended to protect historical monuments from “knee-jerk reactions.” … [Read more...] about Fiscal Year Budget, Zoning Changes, Confederate Monuments – July 17th, 2015 North Carolina Legislative Update

Silver AnniversaryThis is Laura’s shout out to Rep. Mickey Michaux. This week marks the 50th anniversary of Voting Rights Act.  For those of us born in the late 1960’s the Civil Rights movement was important recent history in our southern state, but we learned it in school. It wasn’t until I occasionally joined Rep. Mickey Michaux for breakfast at the Legislative Building that the history came to life. Michaux and his family lived the struggle that we study in school and are entertained by at the movies; he marched at Selma. He has fought and won, and fought and lost. He was discriminated against in obvious and subtle ways that defied my imagination, and made him who he is today.  That’s why he became a lawyer, a US Attorney, and a legislator – in fact, the longest serving legislator currently in office.  At 85 he’s not ready to quit. Most of us will never walk a mile in his shoes. Whatever your position on the Voting Rights Act and … [Read more...] about North Carolina: Jones Street Legislative Update – August 7, 2015