The Fight Begins to Replace Tim Moore as Speaker
North Carolina's embattled House Speaker Tim Moore, the longest-serving speaker in state history, has made it clear that this term will be his last as head of the Republican-led chamber.
Moore's exit from the position has long been anticipated by political observers, igniting a race to replace him that has been playing out behind the scenes for months.
Why it matters: North Carolina's House speaker, though not elected by the general public, is one of the most powerful politicians in the state.
The speaker has the authority to determine what bills ultimately become laws, what state agencies and programs are funded — and given the ability to carry out their mission — and who is granted power over the influential state boards and commissions, like the UNC System Board of Governors and the state's utilities commission.
Details: On the shortlist to replace Moore are two of the most powerful people in the chamber:
House Majority Leader John Bell, who has served in the legislature for six terms and is the longest-serving House majority leader in state history.
House Rules Committee Chair Destin Hall, a 30-something who quickly ascended to become a Republican leader and Moore's right-hand man when he was appointed to the position nearly three years ago.
Though Bell has already made clear his plans to run for speaker, Hall confirmed for the first time to Axios Friday that he also plans to campaign for the position.
Read More at https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/07/21/nc-state-house-race-house-speaker-power-tim-moore-destin-hall-john-bell
Concerns mount about Overreaching of Legislature
Senate Bill 512 takes appointments held now by Gov. Roy Cooper and shifts them to the General Assembly. Nine boards would be affected, and the governor would still have at least some appointments to each board.
Here are the nine boards in the bill and a brief description of what would change:
N.C. Utilities Commission: Add two members for a total of nine, with four appointed by the General Assembly, four by the governor and one by the state treasurer. The governor currently appoints this full board, which regulates Duke Energy and other public utilities.
Economic Investment Committee: Add two members for a total of seven, with three members of the executive branch serving with two General Assembly appointees and two legislators. This committee decides economic incentive grants.
Environmental Management Commission: Currently the governor appoints nine members and the General Assembly six. The bill would give the governor seven appointments, the General Assembly six and the state’s commissioner of agriculture two. This commission sets pollution regulations.
Commission for Public Health: Right now the governor appoints nine members and the N.C. Medical Society, a doctors group, elects four. The bill would leave the governor five appointees, give four to the General Assembly and let the Medical Society elect four.
Board of Transportation: Now the governor appoints 14 members and the General Assembly appoints six.
The bill flips that, giving the legislature 14 appointments and the governor six. The Secretary of Transportation, appointed by the governor, would continue to serve as a non-voting board member.
Coastal Resources Commission: Right now the governor appoints nine members and the legislature four. The bill would give the General Assembly six appointments, the governor six and the state’s insurance commissioner one.
AG Stein says that this is a powergrab that violates Separation of Powers...
Fowell Concerned that Rising Health Care Costs May Affect State Workers
Since becoming North Carolina’s treasurer in 2017, Dale Folwell has energetically asserted that rising health care costs could significantly impact the State Health Plan.
It’s gotten to the point that lawmakers are considering a request from Folwell to force hospitals to cut what they charge the plan — or face shutdowns.
The plan, which Folwell’s office oversees, serves roughly 740,000 state employees, teachers, retirees and their dependents.
Adequate funding for it matters because it helps keep premiums low, co-pays at bay and benefits robust, he told The News & Observer.
If health care costs keep rising without adequate funding, Folwell said his office won’t be able to “hold the dam in terms of freezing family premiums and deductibles or copays,” which he said has been a priority for him.
Nationally, health care costs have increased faster than those in almost any other economic sector, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, which monitors the U.S. health system. From 2000 to 2021, health spending tripled, to $4.3 trillion, according to the tracker.
About half of that growth in spending can be attributed to hospital costs.
Is there a funding shortfall?
The revenue for the State Health Plan mostly comes from premiums paid by employees and contributions paid by employers, including state agencies, school systems, universities and community colleges.
The state, via the budget, funds the employer contributions for active state employees and qualifying retirees.
The State Health Plan had a cash balance at the end of May of $796.6 million. This was well above the target stabilization reserve, set at $359.9 million. This reserve is meant to tackle any unexpected costs and hiccups.
If the plan’s revenue increases by more than 18% from this year to 2027, and health care expenses grow by over 28%, there would be a nearly $1 billion deficit.
Read More at https://www.aol.com/news/rising-health-care-costs-might-090000079.html
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