N.C. Senator Ellie Kinnaird's Newsletter

July 23, 2008 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Ellie Kinnaird

Greetings from Raleigh.

I am pleased to inform you that the North Carolina General Assembly has closed the short session for 2008 and I will return to working in the district until the next session begins in January. We worked through numerous proposals last week that were very important to the people of North Carolina and the time we spent was well worth it. Next week I will summarize the highlights of the session, but this week I want to note a few important areas.

Last week, the Governor signed the 2008 budget into law. This budget makes strong investments in education, economic development, health care, and public safety while keeping our commitment to fiscal responsibility. The budget adjustments were our main responsibility during the short session and I was proud of our final product.

In light of the shootings at Virginia Tech last year, we passed legislation which prevents a person deemed mentally incompetent from purchasing a firearm. The House passed the measure as well and it was sent to the Governor.

Last week, we also addressed the drought. The measure we passed gives the Governor more authority during water shortages to ensure local governments are reducing water usage. I want to assure you that this legislation will not affect private wells in any way, despite rumors to the contrary. This year’s budget also provided funding for water resource projects and assistance for farmers affected as well.

As you can see, it was a busy final week in Raleigh. I’ll be back in touch next week for a session wrap-up.

As always, please feel free to contact me to share your opinions about these initiatives or any other issue you feel is important, and thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the Senate.

Paid for by Ellie Kinnaird for Senate • PO Box 668, Carrboro, NC 27510 • 919-929-1607 •