North Carolina:
This week is going to be a slow one at the General Assembly. I am labeling it the calm before the storm. Next week there will be a series of appropriation subcommittees meeting to begin the process of looking at funding proposals. Rumor has it that the Appropriation Chairs would like to have a clear idea of budget requests prior to the start of session. So enjoy the lull, the storm is on its way.
Monday, March 31, 2008
The General Assembly has no committee meetings scheduled for today.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
The General Assembly has no committee meetings scheduled for today
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
9:30 a.m. The Revenue Laws Study Committee meets, 544 LOB.
1 p.m. The Joint Select Committee on Governmental Immunity meets, 1228/1327 LB.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
11 a.m. The Joint Legislative Domestic Violence Committee meets, 643 LOB.
Friday, April 4, 2008
9 a.m. The General Statutes Commission meets, 1027 LB.
Federal:
U.S. Congress:
Session break is over. Congress is slated to get back to business this week.
The Congress returns to work today after a two-week spring recess. The Congress will be in session for an eight week period before the Memorial Day recess. This will be a key time to move bills that have a chance for enactment this year. The war and the economy will continue to dominate the agenda. Congressional Democrats want to end the war sooner than the Bush Administration does, but know that any related bills sent to the President will be vetoed. Democrats do not have the votes to override these vetoes. Action on housing financing will also be a priority in the coming weeks. Completing action on the FY 2009 Budget Resolution will take center stage in April.
The States
Several reports are concluding that more and more state budgets are in serious crisis, mostly due to the impact of the worsening national economy. Drastic revenue shortfalls in property and sales taxes are creating large deficits and forcing states to curtail spending. Twenty-two states report major budget problems with California, Florida, Rhode Island, Maine and New Jersey needing to make dramatic cuts in human services, including disability programs. With the White House threatening to veto any FY 2009 appropriations bills that spend above the amounts requested by the Administration, little help is likely from the federal government to alleviate the crisis in the states.
Medicare
On Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Committee’s Health Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), will hold a hearing on the 2008 Medicare Trustees Report.
Medicaid
On Thursday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), will hold a hearing on the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 (H.R. 5613). This critical legislation will place a one-year moratorium on harmful Medicaid regulations, including the rehabilitation option, school based administration/transportation and case management regulations. The hearing can be viewed on video web cast by accessing http://energycommerce.house.gov/membios/schedule.shtml
National/International Other:
UN Convention on Disability Rights Webcast:
On Monday, the American University Washington College of Law hosted a webcast to review the current status of the United National Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and to lay out a road map for the United States to ratify the convention. We will have a report on this event posted by tomorrow.
Read more: http://ratifynow.org/2008/03/06/roadmap-to-us-ratification-strategy-session/
No comments:
Post a Comment