Public Official Spotlight – Rep. Craig Horn

Public Official Spotlight – Rep. Craig Horn

Mar 25 2013 by pefncadmin

Representative Craig Horn recently became one of the new chairmen of the House Appropriations Subcommittee of Education and believes utilizing technology and embracing “real education reform” will help improve educational outcomes for students. For his support in wanting all children to have access to a quality education that meets them where they are, Horn is the focus of this month’s “Public Official Spotlight.”

You recently filed legislation that would provide increased technology in the classroom. What are some ways you feel technology could save the state money and better prepare students for a 21^st century economy?

Today the use and growth of technology is increasing rapidly, thus helping the price of computers and tablets to come down. As a result, we will be able save money by moving away from traditional paper-bound textbooks and towards digital media in the classroom. Technology will change the way we deliver education. We will provide more interaction among students and teachers to make learning more interesting, exciting and efficient. North Carolina is one of the top states with access to broadband internet connectivity, but we need to ensure that schools have proper access to these tools. We must then allow school systems to determine what technology approach best fits the needs of their students and teachers instead of a one-size-fits-all approach.

You have mentioned Winston Churchill as someone you greatly admire. What lead you to create the North Carolina’s Winston Churchill Seminars for High School Students and Teachers?

I have always respected Winston Churchill and the principles for which he stood. This is what prompted me to become involved with the Churchill Centre several years ago, an educational foundation formed in the late 1960s that focuses on the many accomplishments of Mr. Churchill. He was known for his leadership, statesmanship, courage and frankness and I believe these same values can apply to today’s students and leaders. I set up a Churchill Society in North Carolina to inspire tomorrow’s movers and shakers to solve modern day problems by utilizing some of Mr. Churchill’s leadership lessons. Churchill himself once noted, “The Empires of the Future are the Empires of the Mind.”

As one of the new chairmen to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, what do you hope to accomplish this session?

Last session, I had the opportunity to hold town meetings in schools throughout my district and talk to countless teachers, parents, students and administrators about how to improve educational outcomes in the state and our communities.

I take the responsibility of my chairmanship very seriously. The education budget accounts for roughly 60% of all state spending, therefore we need to make sure we bring all stakeholders to the table and develop strong education policies that promote success for every student.

We can start on that path by promoting real education reform. How education is funded is just one avenue. Yet we also need to look at how education is delivered so that we are better engaging our children with innovative learning tools. Together we can implement sensible education strategies that work for our students and teachers across the state and provide local school districts with the flexibility they need to be effective in their individual communities. We all know that children learn different things at different rates. Again, it is NOT “one size fits all”… it must be “my size fits me.” Education content and delivery must be based on mastery and rigor. Our children and our future depend on a quality educational experience.

We moved a number of bills, both big and small, forward in the legislative process last week:

* The House Finance Committee approved a bill to repeal the estate tax (aka the “death” tax), which has unfairly penalized the families of many farmers and other hard-working folks for far too long. I like to think of this bill as one of the first (and probably least complicated) step in our comprehensive tax reform effort.
* School teachers will become proficient in digital media and students will be learning from digital textbooks by 2017, under a pair of bills that have been approved by the House and are now before the Senate.
* The House overwhelmingly voted to make it a felony for anyone with a methamphetamine-related conviction to possess pseudo-ephedrine, a key ingredient in this horrible drug.
* The House Health Committee heard testimony on a bill that would raise the minimum age for tanning bed use from 14 to 18, but they delayed voting on it to give opponents more time to present their case.
* Kilah’s Law, a bill named in honor of an Indian Trail child who authorities say was severely beaten by her stepfather, cleared the Judiciary Committee. It will greatly increase the penalties for those convicted of child abuse.

Over on the Senate side, the bill to create a new Charlotte airport authority cleared the Rules Committee. Several people have contacted me wanting more specifics on how this change of control would work, and I will definitely get you answers to your questions when the bill makes it way to the House.

Please contact my office in Raleigh at 919-733-2406 or email me at Craig.Horn@ncleg.netand share your views about issues important to you.

Yesterday we completed our second full legislative week in Raleigh for this session. Frankly, it was brutal! Two huge issues dominated debate: unemployment insurance reform and the federal healthcare act. I have never seen a more dramatic representation of competing political philosophies. The debate was between what would be best for the most and what can we actually afford. The philosophy of “the most good for the most people” was engendered in continuing unemployment benefits at current level and the expansion of Medicaid coverage to more people. In the alternative is the fact that neither this state nor this country has the money to pay for these benefits; our government is already overspent by hundreds of millions of dollars. During debate on the federal healthcare issue, an argument was made that North Carolina should spend all that it can for as long as it can; after all, these are federal dollars (sometimes referred to as “free money”). One member called this “the right thing to do.” We should provide the benefits even for just one day or one week or one year and then, when the federal money runs out, we would end the payments. Has anyone ever seen a federal benefits program that doesn’t cost a LOT more than initially proposed and does anyone really think that we would end the benefits after 3 years? I don’t.

I voted against continuing unemployment benefits at present levels and against extending Medicaid benefits to an additional 500,000 North Carolinians (most of whom would be trading private insurance for government-paid insurance). These were very difficult decisions and I hated to cast those votes. But, for me it was a vote of conscience and responsibility. We would be spending money that we did not have and leading people toward even a more-dependent lifestyle. Would you give your child a piece of candy and then rip it out of his or her mouth just as they began to enjoy its sweetness? The issue is of course much more complicated than that. But in the final analysis, this state and this nation is broke. What we spend we have to borrow and someday soon the bill will come due and we will go out of business. As a former small businessman, a father and a grandfather, I cannot allow this to happen to my state or my country. I will be first in line to help my fellow man to the best of my ability, but I will not reach into someone else’s pocket and force them to follow my lead. I took no pleasure in casting these votes; I was offended by the hyperbole and saddened to see the rancor that was on display. I was equally dismayed to see such a tone set so early, I worry about its impact on our newest members on both sides of the aisle. But, spending money that we do not have and handing the bill to our children and grandchildren is NOT “the right thing to do!”

There was good stuff as well this first two weeks. I introduced H75, “Kilah’s Law,” a bill that would increase penalties for convicted child abusers as well as require that child abuse convictions be noted on their record so that we can begin to specifically identify repeat abusers. This effort was driven by the tragic events surrounding little Kilah Davenport who was brutally beaten by her step-father right here in Union County about nine months ago. With strong public and bi-partisan support, I expect this bill to be on the governor’s desk within weeks.

I also introduced four education bills (H23, H44, H45 and H97) to help move North Carolina toward a digital environment for our students. They have all received broad bi-partisan support as well as support from all of our educational institutions. These bills are the result of work completed during the interim between last session and this by the Joint Legislative Committee on the Digital Environment in Education which I co-chaired. I challenged the committee to address four critical areas essential to create a pathway forward: Connectivity, Curriculum, Devices and Professional Development. Two of the bills that I introduced last week have already passed the House and are on the way to the Senate.

We have a long way to go in this session. It’s going to be a tough year.

exploreUNCTV interview with Rep. Horn concerning his Digital Education bill.

House Bill 23:ACT DIRECTING THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT DIGITAL LEARNING STANDARD

Digital Education in the news: Mooresville’s Shining Example (It’s Not Just About the Laptops)

NC REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG HORN

Raleigh – Rep. Craig Horn (R-Union) was endorsed this week by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), North Carolina’s leading voice for small businesses.  This is the latest high-profile endorsement from the business community for Horn.

The NFIB and I share a common goal:  to do everything we can to help North Carolina’s small businesses grow and prosper,” said Horn.  “In Raleigh, I have worked to cut taxes, reduce regulations, and make government more friendly to job creators.  I am honored that the NFIB has noticed my pro-business approach and has rewarded me with their endorsement.”

The NFIB endorsed select candidates throughout North Carolina.  The state director of NFIB in North Carolina, Greg Thompson, said “NFIB supports candidates who support small business.  These candidates will do everything they can to help small businesses grow and create jobs.”

Horn was first elected to the North Carolina House in 2010.  He is running for re-election on November 6, 2012.  For more information on Rep. Craig Horn, visit www.HornforNCHouse.com

At Meeting Members Reaffirm Mission Statement and Adopt New Strategic Plan

Salt Lake City, Utah – North Carolina Rep. D. Craig Horn recently returned from the American Legislative Exchange Council’s 39th Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah where more than 2,000 ALEC members from both sides of the aisle and from all 50 states discussed ways to drive American competitiveness, promote innovation and put more men and women in this country back to work.

At the meeting members also adopted a new mission statement, “To advance free markets, limited government and federalism.” Members also developed a new strategic plan and reiterated the organization’s focus on economic, budget and fiscal issues.

Of his time at the conference Rep. Horn said, “While Washington remains gridlocked, state houses are the places where real solutions can be enacted and where lawmakers are working on behalf of the people to get things done. This conference and the success of ALEC as an organization is a testament to that.” Rep. Horn’s comments come on the heels of four days of interactive workshops focused on advancing economic-focused policies in the states that will further ALEC’s core principles and its core values of accountability, leadership, ethical behavior and collaboration.

“There has never been a more important time for an organization like ALEC,” Board Chairman and Indiana State Representative Dave Frizzell said. “This is why we’ve decided to formally reaffirm our mission statement and adopt a new strategic plan that reflects the important fiscal, economic and budgetary work our members are doing in statehouses across the country. We are focusing our attention where it’s needed most – and where we can and should be the most effective.”

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The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is the nation’s largest nonpartisan individual membership association of state legislators, with over 2,000 state legislators across the nation and more than 100 alumni members in Congress. ALEC’s mission is to promote free markets, limited government, and federalism throughout the states.

One mother wrote: “We cannot afford to hide behind the way business has been done in the past.” She is absolutely right! We need a fundamental overhaul of how we tax, spend, and administrate. We must value and reward these incredible men and women that teach, counsel, coach, and encourage our students. Our instructional personnel often direct traffic, meet with parents, attend interminable meetings, fix broken hearts, and in some cases, change diapers. We have placed burdens on teachers that were not even considered when most of us were in school.

We must stop micro-managing teachers and principals and remove the burdens of bureaucracy. Testing has become the goal of teaching rather than the measure of learning. Last year, the General Assembly passed The Teacher Paperwork Reduction Act, eliminating redundant reports and reducing the number of state-mandated student tests. We must allow local school districts to put money where it is most needed, rather than enacting mandates, deadlines, and tests.

The General Assembly must thoroughly review, carefully construct and realistically implement new concepts by drawing on successful ideas in places like Florida and Indiana. For example: the funding allocation formula is a muddle of unnecessary rules and regulations from the state and federal government. We must all share the responsibility and we all must share in the fix.
We must be responsible and responsive in how we perform education in North Carolina. Parents deserve to know how their schools are performing and be able to send their kids where they will get the best educational opportunities. They will not simply accept that the state is broke or that our schools are broken. They want it fixed. I don’t blame them.

Education is the top budget priority in North Carolina, accounting for nearly 60% of the state’s $20 billion annual budget. North Carolina ranks 11th in the nation in education funding and was recently recognized by The White House as 10th in the nation in increased education spending. And yet, funding challenges remain.
Simply raising taxes is not an answer. Raising taxes makes poor people poorer. We must use that strangest of all virtues, common sense. The nice-to-do must be set aside while we fund the need-to-do. Partnerships with local education organizations and the flexible application of all available resources are part of the solution. The General Assembly must fund education sufficiently, but put new emphasis on ensuring that the people’s money is used wisely.

Smart Boards are no replacement for smart teachers. Smart teachers and smart teaching assistants in the classroom, working with smart parents at home, is how we will make North Carolina “The Smart Kids State.”

The North Carolina General Assembly will again convene on May 16, 2012, for their “Short Session” and I am beginning the second year of my first term. I want to tell you what I actually accomplished in my first year of my first term in office.

During my first year, I introduced six bills, three were signed into law. 1) Remove horse barns and equestrian facilities from onerous local regulation, 2) Reduce costs for chicken processors and increase profits for growers by allowing live chickens to be transported in similar amount as fresh produce and 3) Reduce Methamphetamine abuse by blocking sales of pseudoephedrine-containing medications to abusers. I also made major contributions to making artificial drugs like “Spice” and “Bath Salts” illegal in North Carolina. Additionally, I was a key sponsor of 15 bills and a co-sponsor of 45 other bills, twenty-one of these were signed into law.

During Session, I worked on six committees (Agriculture, Appropriations [Justice & Public Safety subcommittee], Commerce & Job Development, Education and Military Affairs & Homeland Security. In this interim period between sessions, I am chairman of the Methamphetamine Abuse Oversight committee and serve on the North Carolina Economic Development Commission and the Child Fatality Task Force. In addition I am also on interim committees on Military Affairs and Economic Development & Global Engagement. Committee work takes me to Raleigh most every week.

Education issues are preeminent on my agenda. I meet regularly with staff, House Members, teachers and administrators to gain better insights into how we can improve education outcomes as well as retain and attract great teachers. I have meetings scheduled across Union County with parents, teachers and administrators to both insure clear and correct communication and to gain further insights. Education issues are not only extremely important but also extremely emotional. It is imperative that we all strive to look closely into every report and critically at every claim. There is a tremendous amount of miss-information in circulation. Ask hard questions of your legislators at every level. Don’t be sidetracked by hyperbole either by the legislators or those that look only out for their own agenda.

I have scheduled a Town Hall meeting for the general public on March 27 from 7-8pm in the Community Room at the new Waxhaw Emergency Center on Providence Road. Please attend, share your concerns and allow me to explain what we are attempting to do. This economy continues to create difficult challenges for us all. There are many things that we must do, some things that we must not do and most things that we can do better. Please help me identify each of them and help us define a way to accomplish them. Please contact Laurie Payne in my Raleigh office at 919-733-2406 or email me at Craig.Horn@ncleg.net. I look forward to seeing you on March 27 at the Waxhaw Emergency Center.

The Governor has called for the Legislature to reconvene on Wednesday, January 4, in Raleigh, to deal with her recent veto of Senate Bill 9 dealing with reforming the Racial Justice Act (RJA) of 2009. The RJA, passed in 2009, allowed for the appeal of certain death penalty cases based on the assertion that a verdict was allowed based on racial bias. Presently, only two states in the USA have such a law, North Carolina and Kentucky. As one might imagine, this is a complex issue and will have a costly and dramatic impact on our judicial system. Although I am sensitive to claims of racial bias, I believe that death-penalty verdicts should be overturned ONLY on the basis of evidence in the case itself and not based on a index created from data that is well outside the case. I plan to vote to overturn the Governor’s veto.

The Legislature will convene again in February and in April before beginning our constitutionally-mandated “short session” on May 16. There is much work that can be accomplished during these interim sessions. We still have the issues of Voter ID and Energy Jobs, among others, remaining on the agenda from the last Session. I continue to hear from constituents about the importance of the Photo ID to Vote bill in North Carolina. I believe that every effort must be made to protect the sanctity of the vote and the integrity of the system. In spite of the recent court decision forcing South Carolina to rescind its Photo ID to Vote bill, 29 of our 50 states require some type of ID to vote and half of those require a photo ID whereas North Carolina has no requirement for a voter to prove eligibility before casting a vote.

Clean, low-cost energy is critical to our nation and our state. We must pursue every option toward energy independence and the jobs that go with it. We still lead the world in technological innovation and we must put that knowledge and ability to work in North Carolina now! I will vote to override the Governor’s veto of the Energy Jobs Act while staying diligent in protecting our environment.

Contrary to press reports, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed a cap on the gasoline tax in November. Unfortunately, the Senate adjourned and went home without acting on this bill.
Consequently, the state gasoline tax went up again on January 1. As a result of a law passed in 1989, the gasoline tax in North Carolina is indexed to the crude oil price. The adjustments are made twice yearly, January and July. North Carolina now has the highest gas tax in the Southeast and among the highest in the nation. I am hopeful that the Senate will act soon to cap the gas tax.

The top three issues in Union County are education, education and education! We are justifiably proud of our public schools and public charter school. We lead the state in achievement but we cannot take this for granted. We must improve teacher pay and benefits if we are to retain top quality educators and we must drive unnecessary costs out of the system, not just shift those costs to another pocket. More of us must be involved in our schools, with our kids and in support of our teachers. We are a generous citizenry. Throwing money at our challenges is not the solution; it is ourselves that must be thrown into the mix. We are frequently reminded to thank a veteran for our freedoms, we must also thank a teacher for showing us the way to take advantage of our freedoms; the freedom to read, the freedom to wonder and the freedom to look more deeply into ourselves.

We must move forward to reform how we do business in this state. Our education system, our tax system and our judicial system need fundamental reform. We cannot continue to implement 1950 strategies and only change the titles, colors and curtains of our systems. Digital learning, vocational education, how we pay for what we do and how we deal with those that won’t play nicely with others must be changed. Most certainly, “What Got Us Here, Won’t Get Us There.” It is time for a change, a real change, a fundamental change and not just new lipstick on the old cow. Your ideas and opinions are important in identifying these necessary changes. Please stay in contact with me. I will again be having Town Hall meetings in my district. Come out and express your ideas, your concerns and your criticisms. We learn much more from those that don’t agree with us than we ever do from those that do. Call my office at 919-733-2406, email me at Craig.Horn@ncleg.net, follow me on Facebook, Twitter and on the internet at www.CraigHorn.com.

We wish you a safe and Happy New Year. Please be involved in your community and your state.

Some ran for home
Vowing not to run again.
Some ran for cover,
Away from the mighty pen.

Some announced that
Higher office ,they’d seek.
Some for Congress, one for Governor,
None of them meek.

Some traveled the State,
their opinions to declare.
Some traveled their Districts,
Support, they hoped to snare.

But one thing in common,
Is easy to observe,
They all came with the best of intentions,
Their communities to serve.

The Governor, all snug in her mansion,
had a Christmas veto to fashion.
The Speaker simply shrugged and declared,
We’ll address it in January, with a great deal of passion.

Now each is in their District,
Waiting on Santa to call
Remembering the season’s true meaning,
And wishing “ Merry Christmas to all!”

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas – and a wonderful new year,

Craig & Lorraine Horn and family

RALEIGH — It’s been an interesting year. In January, a new General Assembly, with a Republican majority for the first time since 1870, was sworn in. Lawmakers promptly got to work.

They met for 101 legislative days. There were 1,731 bills filed, and 428 became law. Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed a record 15 bills; the legislature overrode her six times. Five vetoed bills remain eligible for an override.

The Republicans promised to pass a budget without tax increases and do it by July 4. They faced an anemic economy, the loss of $1.6 billion in federal stimulus money, and another $1.3 billion loss in expiring taxes. In the face of these challenges and unrelenting accusations from the Left that they were crippling state government, the majority passed a $19.7 billion budget that reduced the size and scope of government.

Perdue vetoed their budget (hers spent 5.5 percent more), but with the help of five House Democrats, the General Assembly was able to override Perdue’s veto and set a new fiscal path for North Carolina — one adhering more to the core government functions outlined in the N.C. Constitution.

Small businesses were offered help by exempting the first $50,000 of business income from taxation and repealing a local land transfer tax. In May, a shortfall in the State Health Plan was addressed, and further changes will ensure that it remains viable.

An Eventful Year for the GOP Legislative Majority – Click to view article

Thank you for the honor of representing you in the North Carolina General Assembly this year.  As the year winds down, I look back with both pride and concern.  The challenges were manifest and the process sometimes burdensome; the results are for you to judge.

I am proud to have participated in one of the most historic sessions in the history of North Carolina.  This General Assembly took office on January 26, 2011.  The new majority committed itself to closing the $3 billion budget gap, reducing the tax and regulatory burden and beginning the process of reforming how this state does business. Speaker Thom Tillis handed out little red wristbands engraved with our self-proclaimed agenda of Jobs and Economy.  He urged us to snap ourselves each time we veered off track.  I snapped myself so often that I broke the first wristband and had to obtain another.

We accomplished much of the agenda that we had set.  We got lost sometimes and took up other issues.  That happens. My patience often wore thin as I sat for hours listening to debate, hyperbole and harangue. In the end, we did much good and little harm.  We did balance the budget, closed the gap, reduced regulatory intrusion and began the process of reform in education, criminal justice and general government.  We took on some controversial social issues and we began to shine the light on historic wrongs.

I was honored to receive the “Defender of Freedom” Award from the American Conservative Union with a perfect score in their first-ever rating of state legislators.  Also, CIVITAS ranked my performance in the top 25% of the Legislature with a score of 92 out of 100.

The General Assembly met for the last time this year right after Thanksgiving.  The House passed a cap on the gasoline tax but the Senate adjourned and did not take up the bill.  The new compact with the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation has been signed by the governor but is awaiting legislative approval.  The Eminent Domain bill that insures fair payment for personal property taken by the government remains stalled in the NC Senate.  Our tax system desperately needs a fundamental overhaul and we must override the governor’s veto of “Photo ID To Vote” and the “Energy and Jobs Act,” both of which were passed with overwhelming support in both houses of the legislature.

This year I spent hundreds of hours in our schools, talking to students and teachers. I attended scores of meetings with constituents and local groups to hear their concerns and their ideas. I received and responded to thousands of emails.  I learned a lot, but I have not yet learned enough.  I am disappointed that I have not heard from many of you.  I need more constituent input; I need to know what is on your mind. Please contact my office in Raleigh at 919-733-2406 or follow me on Facebook and Twitter, visit my webpage (www.CraigHorn.com) or subscribe to my newsletter.  But, most of all, tell me what is on your mind.
May this Christmas Season bring peace to our nation, joy to our families and usher in a re-birth of good will among our friends and neighbors.  This is a time for both reflection and hope.  We must learn from the past, but we cannot live in it.  This Holy Season is a reminder of our gift and a promise for our future.  It is up to each of us to use that gift for the good of mankind, for North Carolina and for our marvelous country.  

May God Bless Us All!

 
In recognition of Veterans’ Day

War is a terrible thing. But, it is not the MOST terrible thing. The MOST terrible thing is to be without hope. It is the veteran, that person that put themselves forward, that wrote a check for their very life, made it payable to the American people and signed it, often with their own blood, that has given the world, our country and our communities hope for a peaceful and productive future.

When I was a kid growing up in small towns along the Mississippi River, I remember asking my mother why is everyone wearing a red flower on their jackets and shirts and dresses. I remember seeing the men and women standing along the street of our little town offering everyone one of those flowers. They called them “Poppy’s.” I thought that a kind of funny name, until one day in school I heard, for the first time, “In Flanders’ Fields” by John McCrea.

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

“We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
“Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.”

I never really understood the real meaning of that poem till I stood among the crosses atop the cliffs at “Omaha Beach” along the Normandy Coast. I understand it now. I am in awe of those that gave their all so that I could stand there and that we could now be here. Here, in our own little town, our own home and with our families. A very long way from those beaches and fields of Europe and Iwo Jima and Saipan, a long way from the deserts and mountains of Iraq and Afghanistan. A long way from the thousands of places that Americans serve and have served their fellow man.

I hope that we will once again find the time and the opportunity to wear one of those little red flowers. What do they call them? Poppies?

Yes, that’s it, Poppies.

The ones that grow in fields far far away.

Thank you, Veterans. We are forever indebted.

The North Carolina General Assembly reconvened on November 7, 2011 and quickly dealt with some errors in the recently passed redistricting legislation.  Apparently, a coding error in the computer software resulted when legislators drew the new legislative district lines required every ten years to reflect population changes. Neither side had caught the errors when they developed their respective maps presented in the General Assembly.  The errors resulted in about 3% of the population of the state not being accounted for in a legislative or congressional district.  Although the plan adopted by the NCGA had already received preclearance from the US Dept. of Justice as being in accord with the Voting Rights Act, it was necessary to implement the clarifications to insure everyone was accounted for.

Although no other substantive action took place during this one-day session, the General Assembly agreed to again re-convene the last week of November and also in February and April before coming together for the “short session” beginning on May 1, 2012.  As should be expected, there is much unfinished business to be done.

There are at least four of the Governor’s vetoes that have yet to be addressed as well as some needed changes to be considered on bills already passed plus a large number of bills left over from the last session.  Among the vetoes to be considered for override are the Photo ID to Vote, the Energy Jobs Act, also known as the Fracking Bill and “No Dues Check-off for School Employees.”

Of particular interest are two bills dealing with public education in North Carolina.  (1) An additional five days of classroom instruction was inserted into a Technical Amendments bill dealing with the 2011-13 General Fund Budget.  (2) The “School and Teacher Paperwork Reduction Act” included a change in the way that teachers are paid.  Both bills were well meaning and generally effective, but both included provisions that have aroused considerable angst among our teachers and administrators in Union County.

I continue to meet regularly with individuals and groups across Union County in order to be held accountable for my actions in the Legislature and to urge more involvement in the public process.  Good government is a participatory activity.  We must all play a part in this process and speak up for ourselves and our community.  We cannot expect the other guy to do it, we each must be the other guy and do it ourselves. Everyone is busy dealing with family, careers and personal challenges.  Me too!  But, we cannot avoid being involved in politics because politics impacts our daily lives, the lives of our children and the community in which we live. It affects our income, the roads on which we drive and the air that we breath. Just by making a phone call, signing a petition or sending an email, you can affect public policy.  Be an informed voter, set an example for your children and help put this county, state and country on a track that will raise both expectations and results.

Please call my office in Raleigh at 919-733-2406 or email me at Craig.Horn@ncleg.net to schedule a time for me to come to your home, office, organization or school. I will make presentations, answer questions and engage in debate on any relevant issue.  You can follow me on Facebook and Twitter or visit my website at www.CraigHorn.com

I have been appointed to serve on five committees that will continue to meet till the Short Session convenes next May.  Those committees are: House Select Committee on Military Affairs, Joint Legislative Economic Development  Oversight Committee,  Budget Appropriations Oversight Committee, Study Committee on Prison Maintenance and I am co-chair of the House Select Committee on Methamphetamine Abuse.  These committees allow members of the Legislature to get into the details of their various subjects.

North Carolina will shortly be home to more four-star military generals than anywhere in the world outside of the Pentagon.  The military impact on North Carolina is huge in personnel, purchasing, training and deployment.  Although Fort Bragg/Pope Air Force Base area is the focus of much of this activity, there is a strong military presence across this state and a huge economic impact.

The coming Short Session of the Legislature will primarily deal with budget adjustments for the second of our biennial budget cycle.  Tweaks are inevitable and necessary as the challenges of these economic times play havoc with even the best-laid plans.  The Budget Appropriations Oversight Committee will play an important role in developing recommendations to the General Assembly on what adjustments are necessary and prudent.

The Study Committee on Prison Maintenance will take a hard look the efficacy of in-house versus contract maintenance for our large prison system in North Carolina.  The House Select Committee of Methamphetamine Abuse will oversee the implementation of House Bill 12 that I wrote and shepherded through the Legislature this past session and was signed into law in June.  This committee is also authorized to recommend action to the Legislature on the larger issues of both prescription and non-prescription drug abuse in North Carolina.

Energy issues continue to garner great attention in Raleigh.  We have both the gas tax and hydraulic fracturing bills in play as well as off-shore drilling and energy management issues.  These are really big issues that will impact North Carolina and our entire country.  There are no simple answers and no quick fixes; every action has consequences that will both cost and save us lots of money.

I am willing and anxious to meet with constituents, schools and organizations across Union County.  Please call my office in Raleigh at 919-733-2406 or email me at Craig.Horn@ncleg.net to schedule a time for me to come to your home, office, organization or school.  I will make presentations, answer questions and engage in debate on any relevant issue.  Over the coming weeks, I will be participating in programs at Union Academy, several public schools, the Union County Neighborhood Leadership Forum, the League of Women Voters and Warriors & Warbirds.  You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter as well as visit my webpage at www.CraigHorn.com.

The other hot topic is the “Defense of Marriage Amendment,” oft-referred to as DOMA.  Currently it is the law in North Carolina that marriage is between one man and one woman, one at a time.  This law has been in effect for many years.  It has been regularly reviewed by the legislature and nearly every member of the legislature, on both sides of the aisle has voted to sustain this law, including the former House Speaker, now Minority Leader, Joe Hackeny and former Senator, now Governor Beverly Perdue.  The DOMA bill coming before the house simply puts to the voters of North Carolina the option to make this law a part of our constitution, it does not write new law.  And the reason to put it in the constitution is so that it cannot be overturned by a judge bent on re-writing the law.

Energy, its availability and its cost, are critically important to North Carolinians.  There are two pressing issues here.  One is the gas tax.  North Carolina has the highest gasoline taxes of any Southeastern state and another 4½¢ per gallon will automatically go into effect soon without legislative action.  The challenge is that the budget as enacted by this legislature assumes this 4½¢ per gallon increase will take effect.  Consequently, if we cap the gas tax at present levels, we must find $300 million plus in additional cuts in our already very pared-down budget.  Where do we cut further – roads, maintenance or highway patrol?

The other piece of the energy puzzle is energy resource.  North Carolina is sitting on what is estimated to be a huge amount of natural gas hidden deep beneath the earth in shale rock.  The current technology to secure this energy resource is known as Hydraulic Fracturing, more commonly “Fracking.”  There are solid arguments both for and against “fracking.”  The arguments for are based on the jobs that would be created, the cost savings that would be available to consumers and the reduction of dependence on imported energy.  Against is the environmental argument.  I have read solid evidence of both the efficacy and safety of fracking and I have received a lot of emails and histories of environmental horror stories.  Under any circumstances, this is both a critical and contentious issue.  The Governor vetoed both Senate Bill 709 and 781 that impact the decision to go forward with fracking or not to go forward.  The debate will hinge on the will of the House to override the veto.

The September Session could be lively.  There are rumors that thousands of protestors will be in Raleigh during this Session on both sides of the many issues.  On the other hand, it may all prove moot if the Speaker decides that there are not sufficient votes to override the vetoes and therefore we do not address those bills that hinge on a veto override.

As many of you may know, I have had a very special vacation planned and purchased for this very time.  It is both my wedding anniversary and the birthday of a very special friend of ours, the Lady Soames, daughter of Sir Winston Churchill.  We have planned this trip for three years and are committed to it.  I will follow the debate from afar, but will not be in Raleigh for all the “fun.”  I hope that you understand.  There is a high probability that most, or even all, of these issues will be held over to our November Session scheduled for the week after Thanksgiving.  Stay tuned and please be patient with me.

As always, I ask for your advice and your criticism.  Please contact Laurie Payne in our Raleigh office with any concerns, opinions or ideas.  Our email is Craig.Horn@ncleg.net or phone 919-733-2406 or visit our website at www.CraigHorn.com.  We will respond promptly.  We really want and need to hear from you.

In the most recent action of the NC House we enacted Regulatory Reform by overriding the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 781 in order to balance job creation and environmental protection. We passed Employment Security Reform and created the Division of Employment Security within the Department of Commerce giving the legislature and the employees a seat at the table to insure accountability. We passed enabling legislation for Medicaid and Health Choice to establish federally mandated requirements for participation in the new healthcare program should it become federal law.  We enacted Medical Liability Reform to bring restraint and common sense to medical liability judgments in order to hold down insurance costs and reduce abuse by trial lawyers.  And we enacted a Woman’s Right To Know in order to insure that women are presented more complete information, allowed 24-hours for consideration and are able to give informed consent before undergoing an abortion.  Every one of these bills was enacted NOT WITHSTANDING the veto of the Governor.

Unfortunately we did not override the governor’s veto of the “Restore Confidence In Government” bill, better known as “Photo ID To Vote.”  In spite of reported 70% support for this bill across North Carolina, the House failed to override along straight party lines.   It was amusing to hear that a reception at the Governor’s Mansion held the very same day as this vote required a photo ID to attend.

This session also saw the election maps of North Carolina redrawn.  For the first time ever, a Republican majority drew the maps.  The re-districting committee of the legislature held numerous hearings across the state to insure the broadest input in our state’s history in developing the new districts for Congress, the North Carolina House and Senate.  Citizens across the state could follow the unfolding of this process on line.  It was also amusing to hear members of the minority party decry the new districts by acknowledging that they had, when in the majority, run roughshod over the minority party in drawing the lines 10 years ago.  I can’t remember hearing “two wrongs don’t make a right” so many times from so many people.  Population growth and shifting demographics made major changes inevitable.  I commend the committee for yeoman work in their fair approach to this difficult task.

We still have much work ahead.  We have energy bills still requiring action and, without action by the legislature, another gasoline tax increase will be implemented.  I support a cap on the gas tax;  NC already has one of the highest gas  taxes in the nation.  We must, however, recognize that by stopping yet another increase in the gasoline tax, we will have to find even more cuts in next year’s budget, possibly as much as 300 million more dollars.

Our state’s economy has again stalled.  Unemployment is again inching upward.  If your neighbor lost his job, it’s a recession; if you lost your job, it’s a depression!  We must continue to focus our efforts on restoring a sound economic foundation for North Carolina.  Many tough decisions lay ahead.  Please stay in contact with me, share your views and participate in your government.  Call my Raleigh office with your views and concerns at 919-733-2406 or email us at Craig.Horn@ncleg.net.  Please don’t let us be in Raleigh unsupervised, keep us on a short leash and, most of all, don’t let us make decisions with our heads in a sack.

This session has been one of the most productive in NC history.  When we took office on January 26, 2011, North Carolina was over $2.5 Billion in the hole.  When we recessed on June 18, not only had we closed the gap and balanced the budget but also we implemented the largest tax relief in the history of North Carolina.  In addition this session saw action on such issues as Tort Reform, Workman’s Compensation Reform and Criminal Justice Reform.  We passed and signed into law bills that made artificial drugs illegal and restricted access to the basic ingredient used in making Meth.  We increased access to Early Voting by extending the hours and adding an extra Saturday.  We removed the cap on Charter Schools, created the Castle Doctrine for home defense, made the constitutionally required deposit in the retirement system and put the state benefits program on sound financial footing.  We did not borrow from the Highway Trust Fund to pay General Fund obligation. And we passed a “Photo ID to Vote” requirement.  Although subsequently vetoed by the governor, this legislation is supported by over 70% of North Carolinians.  I am hopeful that we will attempt to override the governor’s decision.

Budget negotiations were challenging and painful.  Revenues have decreased sharply in the last year.  Stimulus money had dried up and increasing entitlements and unfunded recurring expenses were choking our state.  We could neither borrow nor print more money.  We all knew that cuts were inevitable.  This legislature was determined to not raise taxes and not send unfunded mandates down to the counties and towns across North Carolina.  Every department and every state-funded activity knew well ahead of time that everything was under the microscope.  School systems in particular were bracing for cuts up to 15%.  Most said that they would be fine if we could hold the cuts to 10% or less.  The Governor had proposed a cut of 5% in her budget, but shoved unfunded programs down to the local systems.  This legislature implemented a 5.5% cut in public education, only a ½ % more than the governor recommended, but did NOT send any unfunded programs down to the local districts.  Classroom hours were increased, but the school year was not.  Tests were eliminated, but new instruction on our Founding Principles was added to the curricullum.   All state-funded teaching and teacher assistant positions were funded in full.

The Governor has vetoed more bills this year than the last four governors combined.  So far, the General Assembly has overridden her veto on the budget bill and it is now law.  This is the first time in recent memory that a budget has been passed and implemented before the beginning of the fiscal year.

The process was difficult but open.  And for the first time that anyone can recall, the full budget was available to anyone and everyone a full four days before the General Assembly engaged in debate and took action.  There are many issues yet to be resolved – more veto override votes, constitutional amendments to be debated and re-districting maps to be approved.

Undoubtedly, we stubbed out toes a time or two, but the results have been nothing short of terrific.  I am proud to have played a part.  We will continue to work throughout the summer and fall to prepare for the next session and to deal with the many issues that are important to our district.  As always, I ask for your input, your criticism and your advice.  I am available by phone through the Raleigh office (919-733-2406) and email at Craig.Horn@ncleg.net.  I wish you all a safe and enjoyable summer.  Please keep in contact and help us raise the bar for Union County and the State of North Carolina.

Dear Editor
Tommy Tucker, Union County’s State Senator and Crag Horn, a member of the House of Representatives from Union County, must believe voters are truly stupid. By using false information, both of these “honorable” men are attempting to limit the voting rights of many citizens.
Both men falsely claim that ID cards are necessary because of voter fraud. In fact, there has never been a creditable claim of voter fraud in Union County. These men are really interested in disenfranchising the elderly, minority and young voters. Their actions have nothing to do with voter fraud.
In addition, both men are supporters of reducing early voting by one week. They claim, as do most of their Republican colleagues, that this reduction of voting time will save money. In fact, it has been shown that cutting early voting time from two weeks to one week will increase costs, because more polling places will be needed to accommodate voters. Their true reason for reducing early voting is to make it difficult for hourly employees to get to a polling place.
Most Americans believe that making voting easy to accomplish is the “American Way”. After all, a great number of Americans have fought and died for the right to vote. Now, instead of encouraging more people to exercise their precious and hard fought right to vote, Sen. Tucker and Rep. Horn want to keep people away from the polls. For elected officials to try to block Americans from voting is nothing less than shameful.
Ed McGuire
Union County Democratic Party Chair
Waxhaw

Missing the point

Dear Editor
As often happens, only half of the story and less of the facts are referenced in Mr. McGuire’s letter. Quite to the contrary to his assertions, I believe strongly that we have informed and responsible voters in Union County and that they see through the fog to the facts. I never claimed that “ID cards are necessary because of voter fraud.” Others may have, but I did not. I believe that photo ID is the right thing for North Carolina to protect and insure voting integrity.
Similarly, I do not believe that my record reflects in any way that I am “interested in disenfranchising the elderly, minority and young voters.” Again, quite the contrary; I have worked tirelessly to encourage voter involvement and popular participation in our community and our state. I supported the change in Early Voting for that very reason. Studies have clearly revealed that lengthy early voting does not enhance voter participation. As a matter of fact, these studies clearly revealed that Early Voting was utilized mostly by the wealthy and educated, not the elderly, minority and young voters. The bill reduces the Early Voting period from 16 voting days including one Saturday, to 10 days with two Saturdays and expands the hours into the weekday evenings and after noon on two Saturdays just for the “hourly employees to get to a polling place.” I stood at locations in Union County during the first week of Early Voting to see very few voters, many of whom commented about a waste time and money. It is entirely off base to suggest that this bill or my actions in any way denigrates “the great number of Americans” that “have fought and died for the right to vote.” That is the type of hyperbole that is not only disingenuous but also disservice to our voters.
Rep. Craig Horn
Weddington