Tuesday Quick Hits: Hot Policy Topics for This Week

After a one day break to remember the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to our nation we are back.

This week The Arc of North Carolina Policy Blog will be heading to Washington, DC to attend the Families USA Conference on Health Care. We will be blogging live from this national conference.

North Carolina:

Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Economic Development:
10:00AM Room 544 LOB
Joint Select Committee on Economic Development Incentives
This joint select committee will continue its work on reviewing the process of how our state creates economic development incentive package to keep or recruit business in North Carolina.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Transportation:
10:00AM Room 544 LOB
Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee
This is one of two committee that are focusing on transportation needs in our state. The North Carolina Turnpike Authority will present its annual report. Also on the agenda is a presentation by the Ports/Rail Access Coordination.

Health:
10:00AM Room 643 LOB
Joint Legislative Oversight Committee Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse
On the agenda for this meeting is an update on State Psychiatric Hospitals and Community Support Services presented by Secretary Dempsey Benton. Also on the agenda is a presentation by staff on MH/DD/SA System Indicators. There will also be an update on LME Crisis Servie Plans and DMHDDSAS Construction Projects.

Housing:
12:30PM Room 421 LOB
House Select Committee on Rising Home Foreclosures
Home Foreclosures have been a hot policy topic through out the nation. This will be the first meeting of this select committee to address the issue of foreclosures in our state.


Thursday January 24, 2008,
Aging:
10:00AM Room
North Carolina Study Commission on Aging
No agenda is available at this time for this meeting. This is the first meeting of this commision.

National:

U.S. Congress
They’re back. Senate return tomorrow and the 110th Congress is underway for their second session. Not much will be able to move forward in either the House or Senate with out bi-partisan agreements.


Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations
The White House is still pondering what, if anything, to do about the large number of earmarks contained in the Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Act. Some fiscal conservatives are pressing for an Executive Order that would eliminate some of the earmarks. Other Hill Republicans oppose this maneuver, instead suggesting that the White House propose a rescission package of earmarks. An Executive Order can become effective immediately while a rescission package must be agreed to by the Congress. Few policy makers believe that the Congress would approve a rescission package.

Economic Stimulus
The Congress and the White House are trying to quickly craft a bipartisan deal to spur the economy in what may already be a recession. Among the types of spending being considered are aid to states for Medicaid, a food stamp increase, unemployment insurance expansion, new infrastructure (especially to rebuild bridges), business tax credits and a tax rebate for all taxpayers. President Bush will meet with Congressional leaders today to work on the plan. The House and Senate will hold hearings on the economy this week headlined by the Congressional Budget Office providing an analysis of the budget and economic outlook. The Senate Finance Committee will also deliberate on a stimulus package today.

Health Care
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives will vote to override President Bush’s second veto of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (H.R. 3963). The House Democratic leadership does not expect to garner sufficient votes to override the veto.

Special thanks to DPC for the federal information updates.