The Lincoln times., 1955-01-27
INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT
TapiSIatiya Sarvica

INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT
Legislative Service
MOTE: This is the second
of a series of weekly summaries
prepared by the legislative staff
of the Institute of Government
on the work of the North Caro-
lima General Assembly of 1855.
1t is confined to discussions of
matters of general interest and
major Importance
Remarkably few bills have been
introduced this session, a fact
that might indicate that the Gen
eral Assembly has been marking
time, but other legislative work
has been progressing: Briefings
on the revenue and appropria-
tionS bills have been public hear
ingS scheduled to be completed
| by mid-February). Due to the ILL
ness of Speaker Moore, only the
Appropriation and Finance Com
mittees have been appointed in
the House, but complete commit
tee assignments are expected on
Monday. Veteran legislative OBJ
servers look for an early increase
in the rate of bill introductions.
CLOSED MEETINGS OF
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES
When the Executive Budget
Act was adopted in 1925, it car
ried a provision requiring the
Joint Appropriations Committee
and it's sub committees, while
considering the budget, to meet
in open sessions at which any
interested person might appear
and be heard. A 1929 amendment
made it clear that either house
of the General Assembly might
| change the open session require
ment by an express rule" but
heretofore neither has seen fit
to do SO. While some committees
occasionally adopted the eXecu-
tive session procedure, this sta
tutory and rule situation remain
ed unchanged until 1858. In that
year the legislature added to the
1925 statute provision that
| after the Joint Appropriations
Committee and its sub
tees had held the required open
sessions they might. at their dis
cretion, hold closed sessions for
purposes of discussion, but re-
quiring that final action be the
point committee" on any appro-
priatAon be taken in an open
meeting.
This 1858 amendment was the
subject of two bills introduced
on the first day of the 1855 ses-
sion: One would have the Cover
nor appoint a commission to study
the 1858 act and make recon-
mendations to this General As
sembly ON executive sessions for
the Joint Appropriations Commit
tee: the other would repeal the
1858 amendment outright. On
Wednesday. before these bills
we're reported, the House, upon
the recommendation of its Rules
Committee. adopted new rule
which provides that all House
committees and subcommittee
shall permit other members of
the General Assembly, the press,
and the general public to attend
all'' their sessions, but which al
so provides that upon the af-
firmative vote of majority of
the members of any standing
committee or subcommittee, eX-
ecutive sessions may be held, but
in no event shall final action tof
the committee or subcommittee
be taken in executive session.
On Friday morning the House
passed HB providing for out
right repeal of the 1858 act; at
the same session the Senate'S
Rules Committee reported fav-
ofably SB IA, an didentical bill.
PRIMARY HIGHWAY
PROGRAM
AS promised in his biennial and
budget message, Governor Hodges
this week transmitted to the Gen
eral Assembly the State High
way and Public Works Commits
sion recommendations and his
own views on the highway pro-
blem.
To meet the needs estimated
to cost S6l0 million in 10 years.
disclosed by the Parsons, Brinck-
erhoff survey, the Commission
proposed % a $3.50 million bond
issue and Co increasing high
way revenues as follows (eStimat-
ed annual yields shown: (a) We
hicle registration fee increases,
S4,730,000; (bp fuel use tax
(trucks). S8OO,000; Co dissel
fuel tax rate increase, 1915 900:
I'D more effective collection of
diesel fuel tax, S460,000 (S592,-
900 at proposed new rate, and