From: dave@burtonsys.com (David Burton) To: richardm@ncleg.net (Reo. Richard Morgan) Message-ID: Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2003 12:33:46 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: House Bill 998 In-Reply-To: X-Mailer: SilverMail version B.179 Morganin1@ncleg.net (Brian Anderson (Speaker Morgan's Office)) wrote: > August 1, 2003 > > Dear Dave, > > Thank you for contacting my office regarding House Bill 998, Abortion-A > Woman's Right to Know. I appreciate knowing your views on this matter. > > This bill did not come to the floor of the House for a vote prior to the > "crossover deadline", which is the date by which a bill must pass the > chamber from which it was introduced to be able to continue the legislative > process. House Bill 998 is not eligible for passage in this session of the > General Assembly. > > Thank you again for sharing your concerns with me. If I can be of > assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to let me know. > > Sincerely, > Richard T. Morgan > Speaker Dear Rep. Morgan, I first want to thank you for replying to me, and I also thank you for supporting the equivalent bill (H536) in 1997, both on the 2nd & 3rd reading votes, and also on the various procedural and amendment votes. However, you are mistaken about H998 being ineligible for consideration. Shortly before the end of the Long Session, I spoke at some length with Rules chairman Culpepper, and he told me that "if the speakers want" him to do so he will allow H998 to be considered in the 2004 Short Session. He also told me that he was not the person who made the decision to block consideration of H998 in his committee. He said that "the speakers" told him not to bring up H998 in the Rules committee. This bill is the most important bill on the Republican agenda. If enacted, H998 will prevent several THOUSAND tragedies EACH YEAR in North Carolina, by empowering desperate young mothers with the information they need to make informed choices. No other bill before the legislature would have such a great impact on so many lives. One of the Big Lies about abortion is that it is about "choice." The truth is that many women obtain abortions who DON'T want them, but they think they have NO other realistic choice. These women will eventually learn the truth. The question is whether they will learn it in time to avoid a lifetime of grief and regret. H998 will ensure that they learn the facts BEFORE they make their decision. If they are informed of their legal rights, available alternatives, health consequences, etc., THOUSANDS of them will realize that they can choose life for their babies. But every year of delay enacting this reform costs thousands of innocent lives, and leaves thousands of women grieving for the rest of their lives. The votes are there to pass this bill. It is co-sponsored by a majority of the House, and also by a majority of the Rules Committee. If it comes to a vote it will pass easily in the House, and I think it will also pass more narrowly in the Senate. As for the crossover deadline, it is no impediment to this bill. As you know, the "crossover" deadline applies only to bills which do not appropriate money. H998 necessarily spends about $75,000 per year, for the production of printed materials & a web site with information for young mothers. The fiscal note says so; here's the link: http://www.ncleg.net/html2003/bills/FiscalInfo/House/HFN0998.pdf I also spoke with an attorney on staff at the NCGA, who explained to me a related concern. It has been suggested that the money spent by H998 might not be considered an "appropriation" by the Senate because the bill's current language directs that the needed money be taken from available funds. However, I understand that back in April Rep. Howard circulated a proposed amendment to H998 which would address this concern by tweaking the bill's language to state that the expenditure would be "appropriated." This change would not affect the efficacy of the bill, but it would eliminate concern that the Senate might refuse to receive the bill after it is passed by the House. So, the crossover deadline is not a problem. The votes are there. H998 can become law if you and Rep. Black support it. I understand that there is a "secret" (now not-so-secret) agreement between you and Rep. Black, which obligates each of you to permit the other to "veto" any legislation that he opposes. In this case, I suspect that it is Rep. Black who is actually blocking the bill, since in 1997 you supported the equivalent bill (H536). Rep. Black also voted for H536 in 1997 on 2nd and 3rd reading, but he voted wrong on the various procedural and amendment votes, which makes his support seem suspicious. Rep. Culpepper has already assured me that HE will not block H998 next year if "the speakers" support it. So, will you please also assure me that YOU will not block H998 in next year's short session? Will you please assure me that ONLY Rep. Black still needs to be convinced to permit this bill to be considered? I will be very grateful if you would give me that assurance. Sincerely yours, -Dave Burton Tel: 919-481-0149 (Cary)