Sine Die
I voted for the $1.1 Billion Dollar COVID-19 Relief Bill, which we just passed with bipartisan support. We then adjourned the 2019-2020 Session of the General Assembly with no plan to return. That's what Sine Die means.
COVID-19 Relief
The General Assembly approved its final round of COVID-19 relief for the year this past week, unless additional funds are appropriated by the US Congress. The lists below summarize what was good about the bill, what was bad and what should've been included but was left out.

The Good
  •  $50 increase in weekly unemployment insurance compensation (more on this in the “The Missing” section)
  • $335 tax credit for families with children
  • $52 million in funding for public schools (more on this in the "The Missing” section)
  • This year's school funding based on the average daily membership will be held harmless, in other words, it'll be the same as last year
  • $30 million in additional grants to expand High-Speed Internet access (More on this in the "The Missing" section)
  • $20 million in funding to stabilize operations at North Carolina museums, zoos, and other cultural attractions
  • $6 million in direct assistance to food banks and nutritional programs
  • $14 million for personal protective equipment
  • $13 million in assistance to farmers
  • $13 million in funding for the UNC System
  • $5 million in funding for Community Colleges
  • $41 million for early childhood services
  • $38 million for mental health services
  • $59 million to expand COVID-19 testing and contact tracing
  • $23 million for aging adult services
  • $3.5 million in grants to businesses that have kept 90% of their employees on payroll (More on this in "The Missing" Section)

The Bad
  • The Process: HB 1105 was drafted in backrooms by a few GOP leaders with no input from the Public, Democratic Legislators, or Governor Cooper. GOP Leadership prevented lawmakers from offering any amendments to the bill. That’s not how Representative Democracy should work. This bill could have been a lot better.
  • The Pork: millions of dollars are diverted away from COVID-19 relief to the Republican Legislative Leaders' pet projects just before the election. Imagine that.
The Missing
  • Medicaid Expansion has been ignored, throwing away healthcare coverage for 600,000 hard working North Carolinians, losing 40,000 good healthcare jobs and wasting $8 Billion of our federal tax dollars in this Session alone.

  • Teachers and Public Educators do not recieve pay increases or bonuses in HB 1105. They receive $0.

  • Assistance to small businesses who are most impacted by COVID-19, such as restaurants, bars, gyms, entertainment venues, etc received nothing. HB1105 does $0 for these guys.

  • There is no Comprehensive Broadband Plan that will get the job done, High Speed Internet wherever there is electricity. This General Assembly, by statute, is still prohibiting critical partners like local governments, counties, municipalities and the Utilities Commission from participating in the solutions we desperately need. Yet, it continues to protect the Special Interests that are clearly not getting the job done.

  • Fixing NC's unemployment system, which is the worst in the country for unemployed workers. North Carolina only offers 12 weeks of benefits, that's the least in the country. The national standard has been 26 weeks since 1935.

A Salute to Labor
A Labor Day Memory from 2019.

I hope everybody had a safe and happy Labor Day as we thank our Great American Tradition of Organized Labor for our rights to:
Throughout our history, we can see that Organized Labor has helped move our country forward. We have a lot to thank our unions for, and there is much to be said about their continuing role in creating a society that allows us all to be productive and prosperous, happy and healthy.
Joe Sam's Notes
The Session is over, Labor Day weekend is behind us and Election Season is upon us. Be sure to check out last week's newsletter on making your plan to vote.

Until we speak again, stay safe. If you or a loved one is concerned about your health, the numbers for each of District 119's Health Departments are listed below:

Haywood - (828) 452-6620
Jackson - (828) 586-8994
Swain - (828) 488-3198
Sincerely,
Please share this with your friends!

P.S. check out our legislative web page at www.joesamqueennc.com. You can find all of my previous newsletters and more!