Citizen Legislature: Legislative Votes and Information
The Citizen Legislature is the Civitas Institute’s comprehensive resource for North Carolinians monitoring their state government. It allows visitors to view campaign contributions given to each member of the General Assembly during the past election cycle, read bills sponsored by each member, and read the Institute’s analysis of important bills. Armed with these tools, citizens can identify potential relationships between campaign fundraising and legislation and promote awareness and dialogue about important policy proposals and the actors behind them.
CL allows you to search for bills in two ways. You can search for a specific bill or bills by clicking on the Search Bill/Resolution link in the sidebar on the left of the CL page. You can then search for bills containing specific text, for a specific bill by number, or for bills by a legislative category – or you can view a list of all bills sponsored by a particular legislator by clicking on the “Bills Sponsored” tab in that legislator’s profile.
CL allows you to view legislators’ financial disclosure statements and campaign contributions by clicking the Finance tab on their bio pages. CL brings transparency to the legislative process by allowing you to “follow the money”.
05-14-2008
Governor's Budget: Higher Taxes, More Spending
Governor Mike Easley, in his final year in office, rolled out his last budget request yesterday. Never one to break with tradition, Easley included higher taxes and more spendingRead more05-08-2008
Get the Facts: Real ID
“Real ID” refers to the Real ID Act (P.L. 109-13) passed by Congress in May 2005. The law established uniform security standards each state must adhere to in issuing driver’s licenses and identification cards. Real ID was passed due to the ease with which the 9/11 terrorists were able to obtain multiple state IDs. State licenses and identification cards that fail to conform to Real ID standards will not be accepted as valid for the purposes of boarding a plane or entering a federal facility. Every state must implement Real ID standards before December 31, 2009, and complete enrollment of persons less than 50 years of age by December 1, 2014. States then have an additional three years to issue Real IDs to persons age 50 and up.
03-03-2008
A+ Kids : A Blueprint for Education in North Carolina
It’s time our education system put kids first. Our schools must be dedicated to preparing every student for success in the real world. Public education must be more accountable to parents from top to bottom, and we must do a better job supporting and developing the teachers and school leaders responsible for our children’s future. We must give our system the flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of our students and our state, by restoring schools to their communities and families. Finally, we must focus on the future, with innovative schools capable of adapting to new challenges and technologies.
01-16-2008
Is the NC General Assembly Protecting our Children
The first edition of HB 933 included a minimum sentence of 25 years to life for an adult who molests (gropes/fondles) a child under the age of 12. This piece of the legislation, which is the most costly, was removed in the second edition of the bill.
01-16-2008
Tax Handouts to Business Unfair
North Carolina lawmakers have carved up the tax code to create an intricate web of exemptions, deductions, credits and refunds to targeted industries under the guise of "economic development." Farmers, manufacturers and recyclers -- among several others -- receive highly favorable treatment under the tax code when they purchase equipment and supplies necessary to produce their goods.
Session Counters 2008
Last Updated Dec 11th, 2007
Bills Introduced
New Laws Passed