by Senator Joyce Krawiec

This year, the legislature is hitting the ground running.  Our long session began on January 28 and will likely last well into the summer.  This is because the long session is when lawmakers develop a new budget for North Carolina from scratch, and file legislation dealing with a broad range of issues.  Before session began, our official Opening Day and swearing-in ceremony took place.  This is always a very special day for legislators, friends, family, and supporters.  It was certainly a very special day for me, as I am honored and humbled to be returning to the Capitol to represent the citizens of District 31 in Forsyth and Yadkin counties.  I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you.

As always, there is much work to be done.  We tackled some bold initiatives last session, and will continue to do so in this year’s session.

Some of my top priorities include:

Jobs & Taxes:  North Carolina has made great strides in recent years in gaining jobs and dramatically reducing our unemployment rate.  In 2009, North Carolina’s unemployment rate stood above 10%; today, thanks in large part to common-sense reforms made by General Assembly Republicans since gaining the majority in 2011, that number is at 5.8%.  Following decades of Democratic control, North Carolina had the highest taxes in the Southeast.  Since gaining legislative control, the legislature has passed a tax reform plan that simplified the state’s woefully outdated 1930’s era tax code, cut personal and corporate income tax rates, eliminated the death tax, and ended dozens of loopholes for special interests.  As a result, North Carolina has moved from the bottom of national rankings to the 16th best business climate in America, according to the non-partisan Tax Foundation.  We will continue to work hard to implement policies that will put North Carolinians back to work in good jobs, and take less of what they earn.

Autism Insurance:  This is a very important priority for me and for many families in Forsyth and Yadkin counties.  Many people are not aware that the only proven effective way of treating autism in children is not covered by most health insurance plans in North Carolina.  The costs associated with this treatment can be staggering for families, but would represent a very small per-member cost for major health insurers.  Medicaid provides for this therapy, as does the State Employees’ Health Plan.  It is unfair for health insurers to provide this coverage to state employees but not allow other families to benefit from this coverage.  Additionally, South Carolina, among other states, requires its insurers to provide this coverage.  So, stay tuned – I will be working hard to give North Carolina families with autistic children the peace of mind that they can make strides toward mitigating this serious disorder.

Transportation Issues:  Many in the Winston-Salem area are aware of the issues facing property owners that lie within the path of the proposed northern beltway.  These families and business-owners have been waiting for decades for the NC Department of Transportation to purchase their property to make way for the Beltway.  Their properties are within the protected corridor, a region identified as such many decades ago, meaning it is nearly impossible to sell their property to another buyer.  They are just left waiting indefinitely for NCDOT to either buy the property or eliminate the corridor.  This is allowed under a law called the NC MAP Act, and I believe it is tremendously unfair to property owners.  We are the only state in the nation that allows this type of arrangement.  The NCDOT should not be allowed to have a “wish list” for future corridors and hold property owners hostage while they wait decade after decade.  This is an issue we need to explore in depth and give the property owners the right to do what they wish with their own property.  The MAP Act flies in the face of a basic American value:  the right to do what you wish with your own private property.  It is time for action.

Thank you for taking the time to keep up-to-date on what is happening in your state government.  I look forward to having a great session and hearing from many of you.  If you would like to subscribe to my email newsletter, please email me at Joyce.Krawiec@ncleg.net, and I will make sure you are added to our list.  Thanks again for reading!