NC General Assembly 07-27-2011 Legislative Calendar Links to Bills and Live Audio Feeds

The North Carolina General Assembly will convene today in accordance with the Adjournment Resolution here is the schedule for today. There are committee meetings and sessions of the NC Senate and the NC House currently scheduled for today. They are expected to vote on maps and proposed amendments that will define the new district maps in North Carolina and on others items as delineated in the calendar below. 

If you cannot listen to these meetings live, check back later to see if I have. If I have, I'll post the audio (and a download link) for the meeting in the calendar. You can also follow what is happening in the NC General Assembly by keeping an eye on the hashtag #ncga on Twitter.

If I haven't been able to listen, please check with Voter Radio. You should already be subscribing to their podcasts anyway. I do. ʘ‿ʘ


Link for audio webcasts by room. The old linking system no longer works.

9:30 AM	Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House) Adjournment Resolution -2. (H938)	1327 LB
10:00 AM	Redistricting (House) Rucho-Lewis Congress 2A. (S453) [Map] Rucho Senate 1. (S455) [Map]	643 LOB
12:00 NOON	Judiciary II (Senate) Suspension Removed When Eligibility Met. (H719)	1124 LB
1:00 PM	Redistricting (Senate) Lewis Dollar Dockham 2. (H937) [Map]	544 LOB
1:30 PM	Session Convenes (House) UNFINISHED BUSINESS RECONSIDERATION OF VETOED BILLS HB 482 Burr - WATER SUPPLY LINES/WATER VIOLATION WAIVERS.  (Vetoed by Governor - 6/27/11) (Ratified Edition) SB 709 Rucho, Brown and Tucker (Primary Sponsors) - ENERGY JOBS ACT.  (Vetoed by Governor - 6/30/11) (Ratified Edition) SB 727 Hise - NO DUES CHECKOFF FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES.  (Vetoed by Governor - 6/18/11) (Ratified Edition) RECONSIDERATION OF VETOED BILL HB 351 Lewis, T. Moore, and Killian (Primary Sponsors) - RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT.  (Vetoed by Governor - 6/23/11) (Ratified Edition	House
2:00 PM	Session Convenes (Senate) INTRODUCTIONS SR 791 P. Berger Meredith Mansfield EDEN & FAYETTEVILLE/ALL-AMERICA CITY HONORS.	Senate

For even more information, visit the NC General Assembly Redistricting website. 
I have swiped some of the links from there and posted them below:


District Plan Information

• NC House Districts
  • July 26^th - "Lewis-Dollar-Dockham 3"
  • July 20^th - "Lewis-Dollar-Dockham 2"
    • Proposed Amendments
  • July 12^th - "Lewis-Dollar-Dockham 1"
  • June 21^st - "Lewis House VRA - Corrected"
  • Deviation of existing district populations from ideal using 2010 census counts (Excel Report | PDF Report | Map)
  • Existing District Plan: "Session Law 2009-78" - ratified in 2009, used for 2010 election only.
• NC Senate Districts
  • July 25^th - "Senate Fair and Legal - Nesbitt"
  • July 25^th - "Possible Senate Districts - McKissick"
  • July 20^th - "Rucho Senate 2"
    • Proposed Amendments
  • July 12^th - "Rucho Senate 1"
  • June 17^th - "Rucho Senate VRA Districts"
  • Deviation of existing district populations from ideal using 2010 census counts (Excel Report | PDF Report | Map)
  • Existing District Plan: "2003 Senate Redistricting Plan" - ratified in 2003, used for 2004 through 2010 elections.
• Congressional Districts
  • July 26^th - "Rucho-Lewis Congress 3"
  • July 25^th - "Congressional Fair and Legal - Stein"
  • July 20^th - "Rucho-Lewis Congress 2A"
    • Proposed Amendments
  • July 19^th - "Rucho-Lewis Congress 2"
  • July 1^st - "Rucho-Lewis Congress 1"
  • Deviation of existing district populations from ideal using 2010 census counts (Excel Report | PDF Report | Map)
  • Existing District Plan: "Congress ZeroDeviation" - ratified in 2001, used for 2002 through 2010 elections.
• District Map Viewer

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NC General Assembly 07-26-2011 Legislative Calendar Links to Bills and Live Audio Feeds

**Updates**


The Governor of North Carolina responded to the actions of the General Assembly with the following releases:

Governor's statement on yesterday's NCGA action

Governor Perdue released the following statement regarding the General Assembly’s votes on two previous vetoes:


“For more than a year, I have pushed to reform business regulations and clear the way for growth and new jobs for our people. There is still work to be done, but the General Assembly’s approach is bull-headed and wrong for North Carolina. These two bills clearly violate state constitution or federal law; that’s why I vetoed them. If the Republican leadership is truly concerned about our business community, they should work with me to achieve balanced and meaningful reform. Today’s actions will only lead to unnecessary lawsuits and wasted opportunities.”

Gov. Perdue’s Statement on the Override of the Veto of S.B. 532

"The leaders of the General Assembly like to portray themselves as business-friendly, yet they have shoved through a bill that will lead to tax increases on employers. It could delay unemployment benefits for people who are entitled to them, and it will likely cost North Carolina millions of dollars that should go to unemployed North Carolinians and their families.”

Gov. Perdue’s Statement on the Sustained Veto of H.B. 351

“I want to thank the legislators who stood firm in the belief that every North Carolinian has the constitutional right to vote and that the state should not be creating obstacles to stop them.” 

Gov. Perdue’s Statement on the Override of the Veto of H.B 854

The Republican’s social agenda has, with this bill, invaded a woman’s life as never before – by marching straight into her doctor’s office and dictating the medical advice and treatment she receives. I remain opposed to this legislation.

The North Carolina General Assembly will convene today in accordance with the Adjournment Resolution here is the schedule for today. The only committee meeting today is the Rules and Operation of the Senate (typically where bills go to die), and sessions of the NC Senate and the NC House are currently scheduled for today. They are expected to vote on maps that will define the new district maps in North Carolina and continue the process of overriding some of the bills that the Governor has vetoed while they were adjourned. 

If you cannot listen to these meetings live, check back later to see if I have. I currently plan to listen to the PED meeting scheduled for 9am this morning. If I have, I'll post the audio (and a download link) for the meeting in the calendar. You can also follow what is happening in the NC General Assembly by keeping an eye on the hashtag #ncga on Twitter.

If I haven't been able to listen, please check with Voter Radio. You should already be subscribing to their podcasts anyway. I do. ʘ‿ʘ


Link for audio webcasts by room. The old linking system no longer works.

11:00 AM	Session Convenes (House) UNFINISHED BUSINESS RECONSIDERATION OF VETOED BILLS HB 351 Lewis, T. Moore, and Killian (Primary Sponsors) - RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT. (Vetoed by Governor - 6/23/11) (Ratified Edition) HB 482 Burr - WATER SUPPLY LINES/WATER VIOLATION WAIVERS. (Vetoed by Governor - 6/27/11) (Ratified Edition) HB 854 Samuelson and McElraft (Primary Sponsors) - ABORTION-WOMAN'S RIGHT TO KNOW ACT. (Vetoed by Governor - 6/27/11) (Ratified Edition) SB 532 Clary and Rucho (Primary Sponsors) - EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION/JOBS REFORM. (Vetoed by Governor - 6/30/11) (Ratified Edition) SB 709 Rucho, Brown and Tucker (Primary Sponsors) - ENERGY JOBS ACT. (Vetoed by Governor - 6/30/11) (Ratified Edition) SB 727 Hise - NO DUES CHECKOFF FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES. (Vetoed by Governor - 6/18/11) (Ratified Edition)	House
12:00 NOON	Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate) [Website of Committee] Study Moped Registration and Liability Ins. (H389) Electoral Freedom Act of 2011. (H32)	1027 LB
1:00 PM	Session Convenes (Senate) INTRODUCTIONS SB 788 Stein CONGRESSIONAL FAIR AND LEGAL. [Link to Map] SB 789 McKissick POSSIBLE SENATE DISTRICTS. [Link to Map] SB 790 Nesbitt SENATE FAIR AND LEGAL. [Link to Map]	Senate

Maps the NC Senate will be considering today:






Congressional Fair and Legal [Link to Map]





Possible NC Senate Districts [Link to Map]





NC Senate Legal and Fair [Link to Map]

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NC General Assembly 07-25-2011 Legislative Calendar Links to Bills and Live Audio Feeds

US House Districts Rucho-Lewis Congress 2A

NC Senate Districts Rucho Senate 2

NC House Districts Lewis-Dollar-Dockham 2

The July session of the North Carolina General Assembly almost finished and here is the schedule for today. No committees are scheduled to meet today,  only sessions of the NC House and NC Senate are scheduled. I have included links to bill histories, downloadable PDFs of the current versions of bills and links so that you can listen to the audio feed of these meetings live...provided they are taking place in a room that is wired for audio streaming to the Internet. 

If you cannot listen to these meetings live, check back later to see if I have. If I have, I'll post the audio (and a download link) for the meeting in the calendar. You can also follow what is happening in the NC General Assembly by keeping an eye on the hashtag #ncga on Twitter.

If I haven't been able to listen, please check with Voter Radio. You should already be subscribing to their podcasts anyway. I do. ʘ‿ʘ

Link for audio webcasts by room. The old linking system no longer works.

12:00 PM	Session Convenes (House) PUBLIC BILLS SECOND AND THIRD READINGS HB 937 Committee Substitute - Lewis - Lewis Dollar Dockham 2. (NC HOUSE REDISTRICTING 2011) (Redistricting) (2nd Edition) RECONSIDERATION OF VETOED BILLS HB 351 Lewis, Moore, T. and Killian (Primary Sponsors) - RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN  GOVERNMENT. (Vetoed by Governor - 6/23/11) (Ratified Edition) HB 482 Burr - WATER SUPPLY LINES/WATER VIOLATION WAIVERS.  (Vetoed by Governor - 6/27/11) (Ratified Edition) HB 854 Samuelson and McElraft (Primary Sponsors) - ABORTION-WOMAN'S RIGHT  TO KNOW ACT. (Vetoed by Governor - 6/27/11) (Ratified Edition) SB 33 Apodaca, Brown and Rucho (Primary Sponsors) - MEDICAL LIABILITY  REFORMS. (Vetoed by Governor - 6/24/11) (Ratified Edition) SB 496 Pate - MEDICAID AND HEALTH CHOICE PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS.  (Vetoed by Governor - 6/30/11) (Ratified Edition) SB 532 Clary and Rucho (Primary Sponsors) - EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION/ JOBS REFORM. (Vetoed by Governor - 6/30/11) (Ratified Edition) SB 709 Rucho, Brown and Tucker (Primary Sponsors) - ENERGY JOBS ACT.  (Vetoed by Governor - 6/30/11) (Ratified Edition) SB 727 Hise - NO DUES CHECKOFF FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES.  (Vetoed by Governor - 6/18/11) (Ratified Edition) SB 781 Rouzer and Brown (Primary Sponsors) - REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 2011.  (Vetoed by Governor - 6/30/11) (Ratified Edition)	House
		Senate
1:00 P.M.	Senate Convenes (Senate) All members need to be present for session at 1 p.m. to begin floor debate on Congressional and Legislative redistricting plans. The Senate continues to convene and adjourn day-to-day throughout the week of Monday, July 25 to Thursday, July 28. At the conclusion of its business, the Senate will adjourn pursuant to a new adjournment resolution. PUBLIC BILLS SECOND READING SB 453 Rucho, Brock, Brown 2nd Ed. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS. Com Sub 3/30 Redistricting 7/23 Unfav bill; Redistricting Com Sub Adopted (Chgs title) RUCHO-LEWIS CONGRESS 2A. SB 455 Rucho, Brock, Brown 2nd Ed. NC SENATE DISTRICTS. Com Sub 3/30 Redistricting 7/23 Unfav bill; Redistricting Com Sub Adopted (Chgs title) RUCHO SENATE 2.

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25th NC Mountain Regiment Civil War Reenactors

Here are a couple of the few photos I took of the Reenactors of the 25th NC Infantry at their camp in Frogtown, just south of downtown Franklin, NC on July 16, 2011 during the 8th Annual Franklin Folk Festival.


Visit their website to learn more about what they do.

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Nantahala Mountain Range

This is a view of the Nantahala Mountain Range from the Cowee Mountain Range in Macon County. 

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Watch the Last landing of the Shuttle Era Live The Last Landing of the Atlantis

I've replaced the mission patch with a photo of the landing of the Atlantis.


Today is  a sad day for me. The last shuttle landing is scheduled for this morning. The space program that I grew up with is ending.


I have embedded a couple of video players below for you to choose from to watch the Atlantis fall from the heavens for the last time...the current planned time for the landing is 5.56am.



**update** The live coverage has ended and NASA has uploaded video of the landing, so here is video of that last landing:





Stream videos at Ustream This player is provided by NASA. Live Streaming by Ustream This video feed is provided by SpaceVidcast, my favorite Citizen Journalists on the spaceflight beat. And, if you have concerns about bandwidth, or are on a mobile device, check out this Ustream Channel that has been optimized for mobile devices.

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Rucho-Lewis 2 Congressional Map Released, Even More of Asheville Now in 10th Congressional

For more Information on this proposed map, see Rucho-Lewis Congress 2

Joint Statement of Senator Bob Rucho and Representative David Lewis
regarding the release of Rucho-Lewis Congress 2


On July 1, 2011, we released for public comment our first proposed Congressional Redistricting plan called “Rucho-Lewis Congress 1” (“Rucho-Lewis 1”).  We believe that Rucho-Lewis 1 fully complies with all applicable federal and state legal requirements. On July 7, 2011, we held public hearings on Rucho-Lewis 1 and received many comments and suggestions regarding our initial proposed plan.


Today, we are pleased to release “Rucho-Lewis Congress 2” (“Rucho-Lewis 2”), which constitutes a revision of our original plan.  We have made several changes in this second proposed Congressional plan based upon comments received during the public hearings, comments on the General Assembly’s website and feedback from members of Congress. One of our goals is to create more competitive Congressional districts.  In fact, John Dinan, Professor of Political Science from Wake Forest University, prepared an unsolicited report explaining how our initial proposed plan creates more competitive districts than the existing 2001 Congressional plan. Dr. Dinan’s report is available for review on the General Assembly’s web page and its redistricting link.


As explained by Professor Dinan, claims that we have engaged in extreme political gerrymandering, similar to what exists in the current versions of the Thirteenth, Second and Eighth Congressional Districts, are overblown and inconsistent with the facts.  For example, based upon the results of the 2008 General Election, Democratic Attorney General Candidate Roy Cooper would have carried twelve of thirteen districts in Rucho-Lewis 1 and all thirteen districts in Rucho-Lewis 2.  In both of our proposals, registered Democrats are a majority in three congressional districts.  There are no districts in which registered Republicans are a majority.  In both proposals, registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans in ten districts.  Finally, in both proposals, the combination of registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters constitute a majority in all thirteen districts.  Thus, in both of our proposals, there are three strong Democratic districts.  There are also ten districts in which Democratic candidates have the potential to win, without a single Republican vote, provided they convey a message that appeals to their own registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters.


The changes found in Rucho-Lewis 2 stem in part from comments we received regarding our initial proposal for Congressman Butterfield’s First District.  Changes we have made to the First District have had a rippling impact on most of the remaining districts. Some of our critics have suggested that the First District be eliminated from any new redistricting plan because of it shape.  Those who have made this argument fail to understand that the 2011 General Assembly inherited the First District from prior General Assemblies and that prior General Assemblies enacted the First District in order to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.  For example, some of these same critics are apparently unaware that the shape of the First District has been approved by a federal district court as compliant with the minority population “compactness” requirement for districts drawn to avoid liability under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.  Cromartie v Hunt, 133 F.Supp.2d 407,423 (E.D.N.C. 2000).


It would be legally imprudent to dissolve this district.


However, we cannot keep the 2001 version of the First District because of two flaws.  First, the current First District is under-populated by over 97,000 people.  Second, it does not include a majority black voting age population (“BVAP”), as required by Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.  See Strickland v. Bartlett, 129 U.S. 1231 (2009).  Thus, any revision of the First District requires the addition of over 97,000 people.  In addition, added population must include a sufficient number of African Americans so that the First District can re-establish as a majority black district.


Prior to our release of Rucho-Lewis 1, we discussed both of these problems with Congressman Butterfield.  We believe that he understood and agreed that his district would be drawn into either Wake or Durham Counties to cure the district’s equal population and voting rights deficiencies.  We understood that Congressman Butterfield preferred that his district be drawn into Wake County instead of Durham.  We also discussed with Congressman Butterfield that drawing his district into Wake County may result in the withdrawal from his district of one or more counties covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.  Our understanding of Congressman Butterfield’s preferences was reflected in our initial version of the First District found in Rucho-Lewis 1.


During our public hearings, several speakers expressed concerns about our decision to withdraw the First District from several counties covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.  Despite these complaints, we have received only one other proposal that would bring the First District back to a majority black level.  This sole proposed alternative drew the First District into Durham County instead of Wake.  This proposal also included all of the Section 5 counties currently found in the 2001 version of the First District.


Following the public hearing, Congressman Butterfield issued a statement disputing our understanding of our prior discussions with him.  Thus, as we now understand Congressman Butterfield’s position regarding revisions to the First District, it appears that he may have no preference between drawing his district into either Wake or Durham Counties.  We also assume that Congressman Butterfield would support keeping the black population in Section 5 counties at similar or higher levels as compared to the amount of black population in Section 5 counties under the 2001 version of the First District.


Based upon this feedback, in Rucho-Lewis 2, we have drawn the First District into Durham County instead of Wake.  There is historical precedent for a district that combines Durham with counties located in eastern North Carolina.  Moreover, our revised version of the First District brings it up to ideal population with other districts and re-establishes it as a majority black district.


While our initial version of the First District was fully compliant with Section 2 and Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, our second version includes population from all of the Section 5 counties found in the 2001 version of the First District.  Moreover, the total BVAP located in Section 5 counties in Rucho-Lewis 2 exceeds the total BVAP currently found in the 2001 version.


Some of our critics have complained about the appearance of our proposed Twelfth District.  Again, these critics fail to understand that we inherited District 12 from prior General Assemblies.  Further, this district has been approved by the United States Supreme Court as a district lawfully drawn to elect a Democrat.  Easley v Cromartie, 121 S.Ct. 1452 (2000).  The District has also been precleared under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act on at least two prior occasions.


In adopting the Twelfth District, we intended to accommodate the wishes expressed to us by Congressman Watt, as we understood them, to continue to include populations located in Mecklenburg, Guilford, and Forsyth Counties.  Our revised version of this district makes it more compact and continues the district as a very strong Democratic district.  Our revision of the Twelfth District is based upon whole precincts that voted heavily for President Obama in the 2008 General Election.  We have been accused of illegally “packing” black voters into the Twelfth District and illegally “diluting” the “influence” of black voters.  We have repeatedly asked our critics for any case law that supports these arguments and none has been provided.  By continuing to maintain this district as a very strong Democratic district, we understand that districts adjoining the Twelfth District will be more competitive for Republican candidates.

###

Here are a few more maps detailing the changes in the 11th Congressional District:

The 11th Congressional District of North Carolina

Map of Asheville with Congressional District lines noted in pink

If you'll note, per comments made at the recent public hearings, more of Asheville is kept together, only in the 10th District.


here are a couple of maps with a little more detail on that:

North Asheville

West and South Asheville

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