Controversial energy legislation narrowly passes NC House despite widespread opposition
Published 7:18 p.m. yesterday
Solar farms, he announced on the House floor yesterday, make deer meat inedible.
“I’ve been told if deer eat vegetation around these things the meat might not be fit for human consumption,” Pittman (R-Cabarrus) said on the House floor yesterday, in opposition to House Bill 951.
Rep. Larry Pittman: Concerned about solar panels’ effect on venison (Photo: NCGA)
While folklore and falsehoods aren’t the best bases for policymaking, a ‘no’ vote is a ‘no’ vote, and bill opponents needed every one they could muster.
Known in some corners as the “Super Secret Energy Bill” for the covert way in which it was crafted, the measure, is opposed by the state’s major manufacturers and industries, businesses, environmental groups, and public-interest organizations.
The North Carolina House approvedÂ
House Bill 951Â early Thursday morning. Cooper has urged lawmakers to oppose and revise the current version of the bill and said it is inadequate and could hurt consumers. The House Republican energy legislation as currently written weakens the Utilities Commission s ability to prevent unfair, higher electricity rates on consumers in the short run, Cooper said in a statement before the first House vote. And in the long run, this bill falls short on clean energy, which will create jobs and contain costs.
The House passed the bill, 58-50, on second reading Wednesday, but Democrats objected to the final reading during the evening session. House leadership then called a midnight vote, finalizing the bill, 57-49.
Submitted by BlueNC on
Tue, 07/13/2021 - 16:35
REPUBLICANS PUSH VOTER SUPPRESSION BILLS IN LEGISLATURE: Senate Bills 326, 724 and 725 target absentee voting access and private election donations. The bills have similar provisions to other laws being introduced in legislatures of at least 48 states. Senate Bill 326 would shorten the deadline for counties to receive valid mail-in absentee ballots. The current law states that absentee ballots can be received up to 5 p.m. three days after an election, if the ballots are postmarked on or before the day of an election. Under SB 326, absentee ballots would have to be received by 5 p.m. on election day to be counted. “I think we got 14,500 ballots received and counted after election night,” Newton noted in an interview with WITN News. “That breeds suspicion in the mind of some North Carolinians. What could go wrong with 14,500 votes coming in after election night?”
Controversial energy legislation narrowly passes NC House despite widespread opposition ncpolicywatch.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ncpolicywatch.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Submitted by BlueNC on
Tue, 07/13/2021 - 16:35
REPUBLICANS PUSH VOTER SUPPRESSION BILLS IN LEGISLATURE: Senate Bills 326, 724 and 725 target absentee voting access and private election donations. The bills have similar provisions to other laws being introduced in legislatures of at least 48 states. Senate Bill 326 would shorten the deadline for counties to receive valid mail-in absentee ballots. The current law states that absentee ballots can be received up to 5 p.m. three days after an election, if the ballots are postmarked on or before the day of an election. Under SB 326, absentee ballots would have to be received by 5 p.m. on election day to be counted. “I think we got 14,500 ballots received and counted after election night,” Newton noted in an interview with WITN News. “That breeds suspicion in the mind of some North Carolinians. What could go wrong with 14,500 votes coming in after election night?”