March 29, 2024

The Office of

Representative Mike Clampitt

House District 119

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Good Friday and Easter

Sending warm wishes for a meaningful Good Friday and a joy-filled Easter Weekend! May this time of reflection and celebration bring you closer to loved ones and fill your heart with peace, hope, and blessings.

SparkNC Giving High-Schoolers a Chance to Prepare for Real Tech Jobs

Good job by our North Carolina legislature in supporting a pilot program that will prepare high school students for in-demand jobs. SparkNC gives those high-schoolers who want to explore the tech field a real opportunity to do so. https://tinyurl.com/4t6wej2d

Evansol and Renewable Natural Gas

Positive to see companies investing in North Carolina, especially providing renewable natural gas that can power commercial fleets with clean energy. https://thebusinessdownload.com/evensol-brings-renewable-natural-gas-projects-to-north-carolina/

We Congratulate the Recipients of NC Schools Go Outside (GO) Grants

One of our district schools received NC Schools Go Outside (GO) Grants, and we congratulate:

• Colby Guice from Brevard High School in Transylvania County

Voter ID Information

This is the recent updates to North Carolina State Board of Election's Voter ID Page. They have published a lot of new content on our Voter ID page. They also just published a new page: FAQ: Voter ID.

Press Release from NCSBE.

No-Fee ID Card:

Anyone who is 17 or older can get a “No-Fee ID Card” from the NC DMV. Information on this ID card is available on the DMV website: Official NCDMV: State IDs (ncdot.gov).

We will keep you updated when new information is available.

Nearly $200 million bet in North Carolina’s first week of legalized sports wagering 

by Gary Robertson/AP

Legalized statewide sports wagering in North Carolina from smartphones and desktops that began two weeks ago is off to a “strong start,” a state lottery official said on Wednesday, likely buoyed by betting on college basketball at its season’s apex.

Preliminary monetary numbers for the first day and first week of sports wagering were presented at a meeting of the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, which was directed in last June’s sports wagering law to license operators and suppliers and set rules.

Through the first week, over $198.1 million had been wagered, with $141.6 million in bet winnings paid. “Gross wagering revenue” — the base upon which the state will receive its 18% cut in taxes — was close to $42.7 million.

Link for the article

Economic uncertainly prompts cancellation of incentive grants totaling $20M

by David Beasley/The Center Square

Economic uncertainty was cited by two companies in the aftermath of incentive deals with North Carolina being canceled.

BioAgilytix Labs in Durham and Cognizant Technology Solutions in Charlotte had previously been awarded job-creation incentives of $18 million and $2 million, respectively. The Economic Investment Committee, within the state Department of Commerce, said those would not be fulfilled.

Link for the article

NC House Committee on Education Reform recommends changes to teacher pay, performance grades

by Amy Diaz/WFDD

The state House Select Committee on Education Reform approved a report on Monday addressing issues related to teacher compensation, school performance grades, and more.

Members compiled a report summarizing their findings and recommendations to be shared with the General Assembly.

• The Committee recommends that the General Assembly assess educator compensation and find ways to attract and retain teachers in hard-to-staff positions.

• The report also calls on legislators to modify the current A through F school performance grade model to include factors beyond student test scores.

• Other recommendations in the report include increasing student access to mental health professionals, identifying funding sources to refresh school technology, and investing in learning recovery interventions.

Link for the article

Southwestern North Carolina mountains chosen over Huntsville and Atlanta



by David Beasley/The Center Square

The southwestern North Carolina mountains were chosen for industrial expansion of existing facilities fueled by financial incentives rather than Alabama and Georgia sites.

The North Carolina Economic Investment Committee, which operates under the Department of Commerce, on Tuesday approved $1.9 million in state incentives for defense contractor DuoTech Services. The company that repairs and maintains military equipment will expand its Macon County facility to produce electronic components for military aircraft.

The project will create 95 jobs over five years. It currently employs 42 in a 35,000 square-foot facility. DuoTech wants to add an additional 50,000 square, paying the new employees an average wage of $91,200 per year. Capital investment would be $6.5 million.

Link for the article

Due Diligence: NCInnovation board member calls for state auditor investigation



by Jeff Moore/The Carolina Journal

At a Feb. 14 board meeting, directors of NC Innovation (NCI), the private nonprofit written into the biennial state budget last fall to the tune of $500 million in taxpayer funds, labored over the interpretation of financial statements and statutory definitions.

At issue was whether or not NCI is adhering to the law requiring the entity to use Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP), especially with respect to private donations and pledges.

The questions were raised by board member Art Pope. The answers provided by NCI executives must not have been sufficient to allay concerns. Documents obtained by Carolina Journal via a public records request show, before the board meeting was even over, Pope filed a request for an official audit of NCI with the North Carolina State Auditor.

Link for the article

North Carolinians, like the nation, feeling it at the pump



by Alan Wooten/The Center Square

Mirroring the national rise in prices now at a fourth straight week, North Carolinians are paying 20 cents more than a month ago and about the same as a year ago at gas pumps.

Heading into the Easter holiday weekend, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded was $3.30, or 23 cents below the national average. It was just over $3.10 a month ago and $3.31 a year ago.

Diesel is down, to $3.97 from $4.03 a month ago and $4.08 a year ago.

Among 14 major metro areas, unleaded gas is the least expensive in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton ($3.24) and most expensive in Durham-Chapel Hill ($3.38). Diesel is most consumer-friendly ($3.83) in Fayetteville.

Link for the article

Students with disabilities forgotten in extreme political battles



by Glen Stephens/The Carolina Journal

According to North Carolina Department of Public Instruction 2022-2023 assessment data, there is not a single assessed subject in which even 40% of North Carolina’s students with disabilities scored “Grade Level Proficient” or above. Stated another way, in 2022-2023, 84.3% of North Carolina’s students with disabilities could not read proficiently in grades 3 through 8, as measured by the North Carolina End of Grade Assessment.

Unfortunately, looking at the rhetoric of “Mo” Green and Michele Morrow, the two nominees for North Carolina superintendent of public instruction, it looks like the major political parties have ensured that once again the true needs of North Carolina’s students with disabilities will be forgotten in political theater.

Link for the article

NC Republicans to consider additional funding for school voucher program



by Michael Hyland/CBS 17

Republican lawmakers are considering putting more money into the state’s school voucher program, known as the Opportunity Scholarship, following a surge in applications, House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) said.

Republicans moved to significantly expand the program in the budget that passed last year to make every family eligible for taxpayer money to help pay for private school regardless of how much money a family makes.

The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority said it received more than 72,000 applications, a sharp increase from the current 32,000 students receiving the scholarship and exceeding the $293.5 million available for the next school year.

“I think it shows that parents want a choice, want an opportunity where they’re in some school systems that simply are not providing the education that needs to be provided,” said Moore. “I do want to see us to provide more funding there. We need to keep that promise. At the same time, we need to make sure we adequately fund our traditional public schools.”

Link for the article

N.C. farmers navigate declining cattle industry



by Claudia Puente/Spectrum News

A decline in cattle inventory is having an impact, not only in North Carolina but across the United States.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports the beef cattle inventory is at 28.2 million heads and has been declining the past five years. North Carolina’s cattle inventory dropped over 7% within five years.

Beef production across the nation is expected to decline by 180 million pounds. Beef and veal prices are up 7.7% from last year.

Link for the article

2024 House Page Program

The 2024 Short Session House Page Applications will be available online beginning Monday, March 4th, 2024. The Page website can be accessed by visiting the following: https://www.ncleg.gov/House/PageProgram/.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

• Pages may only serve one time in the House.
• Each Representative is allotted up to 2 Page appointments during the 2024 Short Session.
• Sophomore, junior and senior high school students will be eligible to apply.
• Direct prospective Pages to our website for Page information, including the process and the application.
• Check the House Page website for participant eligibility requirements and available dates to serve as a House Page.
• Please note, House Pages are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
• House Page applications are accepted until all weeks are full.

Feel free to contact Sue Frederick, House Page Supervisor  [email protected], 919-733-5701, with questions.

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