N.C. General Assembly Back in Town

Special Report - January 28, 2009
The North Carolina General Assembly convenes at Noon today in Raleigh to begin the 2009-2010 Legislative Session facing a budget gap that some have predicted could reach $3 billion. The first order of business, once members are sworn in to office, will be the election of leaders in both the State House and Senate. It is anticipated that Rep. Joe Hackney (D-Orange) will be chosen to serve his second term as Speaker of the House and Marc Basnight (D-Dare) will be elected to a record ninth term as President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Former State Senator Walter Dalton (D-Rutherford), who was elected in November to serve as North Carolina’s Lieutenant Governor, will preside over the Senate.

Despite a number of highly contentious races up and down the ballot last fall, the makeup of the State Legislature changed little. Democrats continue to control both chambers, maintaining a 68-52 majority in the House and ceding one seat in the Senate to hold a 30-20 margin.

There is little doubt that the state budget will consume much of the attention of state lawmakers this year, but a wide variety of other issues will be debated and discussed. Be sure to read the North Carolina Family Policy Council’s 2009 Session Preview: What to Expect When the General Assembly Returns to Raleigh to get a glimpse of the upcoming session.

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