Try to get a look at the state budget as it speeds past us

Editorial by Wilmington Star-News, May 18, 2014.

If the frenetic pace of last year's "long" legislative session is any indication, the "short" session is poised to move at an even faster pace. That may be good for Honorables who are busy seeking re-election this year, but when things move that fast it also becomes harder for the public to see what the legislature is doing – and that is bad for democracy.

Although this year's budget negotiations are technically billed as revisions, there's a lot going on up there. In addition, while most short sessions of the past have attempted to save controversial issues for the long session (held in non-election years), there are a lot of possible hot topics brewing. But the budget will still be the focus, and Gov. Pat McCrory has submitted what he thinks is needed to run North Carolina in the next fiscal year.

As with all spending proposals that reach the General Assembly, it is likely to look a lot different when all is said and done. The $21 billion spending plan includes raises for long-suffering teachers and overlooked state employees. It would restore money for drug treatment courts that handle only a portion of the state's offenders, but which work to help substance abusers get their lives in order and depend on something other than crime to sustain them. Victims of the state's forced sterilization program would receive compensation that is long overdue.

It also again cuts university budgets, this time $49 million. While efficiency should always be a goal, continued cuts will only undermine the quality of our public universities, which in time will hurt our state's economy.

Film incentives, which provide jobs and bolster North Carolina businesses, may see significant changes, according to McCrory – if they are permitted to continue. Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, is opposed to the film incentives program, at least in its current form, and has generally opposed incentives of any kind. That opposition will make for a contentious debate over the fate of the incentives that benefit Southeastern North Carolina. Most but not all members of our local delegation are prepared to fight to prevent the incentives from sunsetting.

A proposal to increase the assessment hospitals pay when they draw down federal Medicaid funds is already getting some pushback, and rightly so. While much news coverage was devoted to large nonprofit hospitals with fat fund balances and high mark-up costs (such as UNC Hospitals and WakeMed), many small, rural hospitals are struggling financially. The added costs would only increase their financial difficulties and potentially increase patient costs, while netting the state $15 million in a $21 billion budget.

McCrory's budget is but the first step. Now the two chambers of the General Assembly will take the proposal and shape it to their liking, meet in secret in conference committee and push out something the public likely won't have time to review for the governor's signature or veto. It won't be pretty to watch – if the public gets much of a chance to watch at all.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20140518/ARTICLES/140519649/1108/editorial?template=printart