North Carolina legislature presses ahead with $201M relief bill

RALEIGH — The General Assembly pressed ahead Tuesday with a $201 million relief and repair package for eastern North Carolina following Hurricane Matthew and for mountain wildfires that charred tens of thousands of acres.

The Republican proposal, approved unanimously by the House late in the day, falls in line with GOP Gov. Pat McCrory's aid request as he called for the special session that got underway. Several hundred million dollars in disaster aid from Washington already has arrived in North Carolina or should arrive soon, including more than $300 million anticipated from a broad spending measure approved by Congress late last week.

Making an unusual appearance before a legislative panel, the outgoing governor pleaded with lawmakers to act so those harmed by the historic flooding can get back on their feet. More than 30,000 businesses suffered physical or economic damage from the storm, while about 1,500 households still were living in hotels as of earlier this month through a federal recovery program.

"There are human stories behind every one of those floods," McCrory told the House Appropriations Committee. "Now when the cold weather is finally coming to North Carolina, now is the time for action to help these people who cannot help themselves and who are in desperate straits."

Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, said he expected the package would pass his chamber Wednesday. But the legislature's positive actions threatened to be overshadowed by consideration of other legislation unrelated to the storm.

While House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, repeated again there were no plans to consider the legislation stoked by Democrats and their allies - increasing the number of state Supreme Court justices - Moore and Berger said other items could be taken up. Critics of Republicans urged them to conduct a straightforward session.

"Let us dedicate the full extent of our focus here during this special session for the recovery from the disasters that have befallen our state," said Sen. Ben Clark, D-Hoke, whose district was hit hard by fall floods.

The state package includes $29 million to pay for short-term housing for displaced residents and to build long-term rental units in flooded regions. McCrory, who was expected to address the House Appropriations Committee, has said state money for housing is a priority.

The House proposal also allocates more than $66 million to match federal funds already heading to the state. A pot of $25.5 million would address the wildfire response and timber restoration. More than 62,000 acres burned in North Carolina this fall.

The package has no tax increases to pay for it, with the money in part coming from emergency reserves and higher than expected tax collections. A second phase for disaster relief will be taken up in early 2017, the bill's sponsors said.

This week's package tells "the people of North Carolina that we care about your struggles," Rep. Jimmy Dixon, R-Duplin, said during floor debate before the House approved the measure 115-0.

A few hundred activists, including Democrats and representatives of special interest and civil rights groups, stood in the third-floor rotunda of the Legislative Building as the session was gaveled in. Many remained throughout the day, later singing and chanting "shame" while in the Senate gallery.

They vowed to push back on any Republican efforts to add two new Supreme Court justices and thus preserve a GOP majority on the bench as Democratic candidate Mike Morgan's victory last month earned the party a 4-3 advantage. They also remain suspicious about Republicans considering other legislation that could weaken Democrat Roy Cooper, who will succeed McCrory on Jan. 1.

"They haven't earned out trust," said protester Randy Best, 62, of Durham. A coalition led by NAACP state president the Rev. William Barber and opposed to GOP policies have held frequent rallies at the General Assembly since 2013.

Moore said nothing related to the Supreme Court would come up: "That's not something we're even discussing." Berger declined to discuss what else might be considered but said the only the "press and the folks up in the galleries" are talking about the Supreme Court idea.

Moore gave few details about additional topics except that some regulatory changes being negotiated before the legislature adjourned last July might be acted upon.

"Clearly there was some unfinished business," Moore said.

Cox Media Group