News From Raleigh – The Ferry Fight Wages On
TODAY: The NC Senate voted on the budget, contained in House Bill #950 “Modify 2011 Appropriations Act”. Among several amendments offered, Sen. Stan White (Dem, District #1) stood tall for coastal citizens by offering an amendment to delay ferry toll collections. For more than 30 minutes, the Senate debated the ferry tax issue. Sen. White gave an impassioned speech about how it is to live on an island. He reminded fellow Senators of the long coastal recovery from Hurricane Irene. Sen. White stated the ferries are our highways. “We would love to have bridges like everyone else. But, we are glad NC has provided a great ferry system. Coastal citizens do not complain about how much it costs to build roads in the mountains or how much money is spent on highway loops around major cities. We just want to be able to get to work.”
Sen. White continued by saying, “In hard times, coastal citizens have had to choose between buying food or medicine. Now, the choice must include whether there is money to get off the island or go from one peninsula to another for work, education, or medical care.”
Sen. White’s amendment failed by a close vote of 21 for and 26 against. Of the 21 votes, all were Democrats plus Republican Senators Jean Preston, Harry Brown, and Wes Westmoreland. Most Republican Senators marched in lock stop to oppose White’s amendment. Please call or email Sen. White: office (919) 733-6854 or stan.white@ncleg.net. Thank him and tell him how much you appreciate his support.
The ferry tax fight is far from over. The Governor and the House support our cause. The stubborn Republican majority in the Senate wants to play hard ball. Call the President Pro Tem of the Senate Phil Berger: office (919) 733-5708 or phil.berger@ncleg.net. Express your disappointment at the Republican majority’s determination to unfairly tax coastal citizens.
TOMORROW & NEXT WEEK: A conference of senators and representatives will be created to work out the differences between the House version and the Senate version of the budget. Although they will work in private, we will have the opportunity to contact them with our concerns. Keep up the fight!
Again, thanks to everyone who is working hard for the citizens of Beaufort, Hyde, and Pamlico Counties.
More later, Henri and Joe McClees
McClees Consulting, Inc.
Post Office Box 430
Oriental, NC 28571
Office (252) 249-1097
Fax (252) 249-3275
Joe McClees mobile (252) 671-1585
Henri McClees mobile (252) 671-1559
