Morgan told Pilot Light that his amendment was designed “to make the ballot question easier for the public to understand.” It passed 105 to 5.
However, when the full House voted on the constitutional amendment to limit the length of legislative sessions, the vote was 54 to 59. To pass, it would have needed at least 72 votes.
“It failed miserably, 54-59,” Morgan said.
Morgan’s amendment would have changed the wording to limit sessions, beginning in 2003, to 180 calendar days in odd-numbered years and 90 calendar days in even-numbered years with one possible extension of 10 calendar days each year. The original bill provided for one 20-day extension but did not specify whether it was for one year or both years.
Morgan was among the legislators voting in favor of the constitutional amendment to limit the length of legislative sessions.
The session limits bill was prompted by the excessive length of the 2001 session, which did not adjourn until December, making it the longest legislative session in North Carolina history.
Thirty-eight states have legislative session limits, according to statistics compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures. North Carolina is the only state in the Southeast that does not limit the length of legislative sessions.
SHEBS — Ted and Beverly Shebs are hosting a wine and cheese reception for Republican candidates at their Pinewild home Saturday.
Ted Shebs tells Pilot Light that they invited friends from the Pinewild development, largely because the community includes such a large number of newcomers who are unfamiliar with Moore County names and faces.
Candidates invited to the reception include Harris Blake, state Senate; Lane Carter, sheriff; Judy Martin, register of deeds; Michael Holden, county commissioner; and Tom Brennan, Board of Education. The school board race is the only nonpartisan race on the Tuesday ballot. The other candidates are running in the Republican primary.
In their invitation, the Shebses say that state Rep. Richard Morgan will also attend. Morgan, a Republican, is unopposed for House District 52 in the Republican primary Tuesday and also has no Democratic opposition on the Nov. 5 ballot.
CERTIFIED — Two members of the Moore County Register of Deeds office have earned certification by the North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds.
Regina E. Garner and Lisa E. Seawell were certified as deputies in recognition of their continuing education and services in the local office.
Both were recognized during the Tuesday meeting of the Moore County Board of Commissioners.
FREEDOM — North Carolina Citizens for a Sound Economy and the John Locke Foundation are traveling across the state this month in support of their joint program, The Freedom Agenda 2002: Ideas for Moving North Carolina Forward.
The schedule includes a stop at the Scotland County Courthouse in Laurinburg on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. and at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux in Fayetteville at noon Sept. 24.
At each stop, NC CSE, will present the results of its 2001-02 legislative scorecard, which assigns scores to legislators depending on how they voted on tax and budget legislation.
Jonathan Hill, NC CSE director, and John Hood of the Locke Foundation will discuss the dilemma faced by state legislators when they examine ways to address the budget deficit. Their presentation will also focus on such things as budget problems and what they regard as wasteful spending and pork barrel projects.
The tour began Sept. 3 in Wilmington. Other stops are in Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Marion, Boone, Bakersville, Asheville, Hickory, Lincolnton, Lenoir, Wingate, Wilson, Goldsboro, Hillsborough, and Roanoke Rapids.
