Extra Session on Wright expulsion resolution

The North Carolina General Assembly convened today to hear a select committee report recommending expulsion of Representative Thomas E. Wright for misconduct.

UPDATE: Expulsion resolution adopted 109-5 after defeat 12-102 of amendment to change explusion to censure.

 Hear are relevant documents:

House Resolution 1: adopted House rules for the session.

House Resolution 2: adopted expulsion resolution.

Senate Resolution 1: adopted Senate rules for the session.

Senate Joint Resolution 2: ratified joint resolution to adjourn sine die.

The full House Select Committee report recommending explusion has been posted to the web:

Consolidated Committee Report (including attachments) (235mb)

Committee Report (attachments separated out below)

• Attachments
  • 1. Evidentiary Hearing Transcript
  • 2. Exhibits
  • 3. Charges
  • 4. Response and Dispositive Motions
  • 5. Response to Witnesses’ Requirement
  • 6. Recusal Motion
  • 7. Committee Rules
  • 8. Committee Authorization
  • 9. Research – Legislative Disciplinary Actions

The full recommendation of the Select Committee: “Based on its findings that the allegations in Counts 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8, are true, following arguments by Committee Counsel as to the appropriate sanction, and after discussion by the Committee, the Committee unanimously recommends that Representative Wright be expelled as a member of the House of Representatives.”

David Crotts and Jim Mills retire

Today, the General Assembly feted senior staffers David Crotts and Jim Mills as they prepare to retire at the end of March.  David, our senior economist, started work in the Fiscal Research Division in December, 1974, his 33 years of service made him the senior permanent legislative staffer in North Carolina.  Jim has worked on the Justice and Public Safety team in Fiscal Research Team since 1990, and has 22 years of state service.  It was noted in the speechmaking that David Crotts had the job of telling longetime budget kingmakers Ken Royall and Billy Watkins how much money was available for expenditure.

Last month, I wrote about the retirements of Research Director Terry Sullivan after 35+years of service and House Legislative Assistants Director Anne Cole, who started in the 1963 Session. On April 1, I will be senior on our permanent staff with 31 years.  I had planned to stay four years when I was hired.

Extra Session March 20 on Wright discipline

Governor Easley has called an Extra Session of the North Carolina General Assembly for 10 am Thursday, March 20, 2008, for the House of Reoresentatives to consider disciplinary action against Representative Thomas E. Wright.

UPDATE: The Session has convened.  More details are posted here.

The full House Select Committee report recommending explusion has been posted to the web:

Consolidated Committee Report (including attachments) (235mb)

Committee Report (attachments separated out below)

• Attachments
  • 1. Evidentiary Hearing Transcript
  • 2. Exhibits
  • 3. Charges
  • 4. Response and Dispositive Motions
  • 5. Response to Witnesses’ Requirement
  • 6. Recusal Motion
  • 7. Committee Rules
  • 8. Committee Authorization
  • 9. Research – Legislative Disciplinary Actions

The full recommendation of the Select Committee: “Based on its findings that the allegations in Counts 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8, are true, following arguments by Committee Counsel as to the appropriate sanction, and after discussion by the Committee, the Committee unanimously recommends that Representative Wright be expelled as a member of the House of Representatives.”

Never too soon to think about 2010 redistricting

The Census Bureau has just pushed out its 2010 Redistricting Data website for those getting prepared.

Here’s the stuff in case you are wanting to keep up. Lots of technical details.

2010 Census Program Phases

2010 Census Redistricting Data Program – P.L. 94 – 171:

Federal Register Notice announcing the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program [PDF]

Phase 1 – State Legislative District Project (SLDP) – 2004-2006

Collection of State Legislative District (SLD) boundaries. This will be the first effort post-Census 2000 to update SLD boundaries. This phase includes a verification stage as well as data tabulation for legislative districts based on Census 2000 data. Ongoing changes to Congressional boundaries will be collected and new tabulations developed as needed.

Federal Register Notice announcing Phase 1 [PDF]

Guidelines for Phase 1 [PDF]

State Legislative District Data collected during Phase 1

Phase 2 – Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion Project (VTD/BBSP) – 2007-2009

Collection of Voting District boundaries and updates to legislative districts. States will submit block boundary suggestions for inclusion in the 2010 Census block tabulations during this phase of the Redistricting Data Program as well. A verification phase is included for all components (VTD/SLD/Congressional) of this phase.

Federal Register Notice announcing Phase 2 [PDF]

Phase 2 Guidelines:

Phase 2 General Guidelines for all Participants [PDF]

MAF/TIGER Partnership Software (MTPS) Instructions [PDF]

Partner GIS Submission Instructions (Non-MTPS) [PDF]

Supplemental Information for Digital Updates – Business Rules

Relationship Information Review [PDF]

Questions regarding the Phase 2 Guidelines and MTPS should be directed to the Redistricting Data Office at (301) 763-4039.

Phase 3 – Data Delivery for the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program – 2010-2011

Delivery of the geographic products and data products to the official designated liaisons. Geographic products will precede the P.L. 94-171 data tabulations that are mandated by law for delivery no later than April 1, 2011, one year following Census Day.

Phase 4 – Collection of the Post-2010 Census Redistricting Plans – 2012-2013

Collection of State Legislative District and Congressional plans drawn using the Phase 3 materials. Production of both geographic and data products required for delivery to the USPS/DOJ. Production of materials for Congress and Congressional District data summaries/maps during this time.

Phase 5 – Evaluation and Recommendation for Census 2020 – 2012-2014

Historical review by the states of the successes and failures of the Census Bureau to meet the Public Law 94-171 requirements. Production of final report with the view of the states expressed for the program in Census 2020.

Phases of the 2000 Census Redistricting Data Program – P.L. 94-171

NCSL features Terry Sullivan’s retirement

As I previously mentioned, longtime Research Division Director Terry Sullivan retired last week after 36 years on our North Carolina legislative staff.  Now, the National Conference of State Legislature’s great blog The Thicket at State Legislatures has a great feature on Terry. Here’s a snip:

“This week, for the first time in 36 years, the North Carolina Legislature is operating without Terry Sullivan in its employment.  Another legislative lion has retired.  Terry worked at the research division all those years and served as its director for most of them.  He guided his nonpartisan agency though some pretty tough political times, always keeping a low personal profile while fostering confidence in his staff from Democrats and Republicans alike.  Being the quiet and deferential man that he is, Terry probably does not invite any of the attention that his retirement has garnered … Terry’s departure, of course, is representative of the exodus of veteran staff directors taking place in legislatures across the country.  We have speculated on this trend and what it means for agencies like Terry’s research group.  Who will follow in his example? Will we see people join this kind of nonpartisan public service who are willing to work behind the scenes for so many years, confident enough in their contribution that they can live without their 15 minutes of fame?”