Update on Budget Bill

The House Appropriations Committee voted to approve the House budget proposal this past Wednesday, one day after it was released from the House Finance Committee. the Appropriations Committee debated for more than seven hours and held votes on more than 70 amendments. H200 reduces spending by $600 million below Governor Perdue’s $19.9 billion proposal. Included in the bill are proposals that will result in approximately $100 million in new or increased fees. The increase in  fees will be used to decrease the estimated $2.5 billion budget gap for next year.  You can see a listing of those fees by clicking here. 

The House passed an amended version of S33: Medical Liability Reformson Wednesday of last week.  However, an amendment that creates exceptions to the $500,000 cap on non-economic damages passed on a vote of 67-49. The amendment was opposed by the medical community and the business community, as well as Rep. Johnathan Rhyne (R-Lincoln), who handled the bill on the House floor. The Senate voted not to concur with House changes to the bill this past Wednesday, thus sending the bill to a conference committee.

A group of chamber members will be leaving in the morning bound for Raleigh for the Chamber's Legislative Day in Raleigh.  We will be meeting with representative from the Department's of Commerce, Transportation, and Cultural Affairs as well as our legislative delegation.  If you have anything you would like for us to mention in our meeting just shoot me an e-mail (michael@clevelandchamber.org) and we will get it in front of the proper person.