Federal issues leap to forefront at NACo conference

By Todd McGee
Communications Director

Considering that Washington, D.C., had just experienced a record snowfall of about 36 inches, the weather outside was delightful for the thousands of county officials who attended the National Association of Counties' annual Legislative Conference from March 6-10. Inside the Marriott Wardman Park, however, there was a definite chill in the air, as county officials regaled each other with tales of budget woes and other local problems.

Commissioners Kay Cashion (Guilford County), Luther Parks (Wilkes) and Harold Holmes (Randolph), and Randolph County Manager Richard Wells attend a subcommittee meeting March 10 to monitor progress of H.R. 413, which would preempt North Carolina's ban on collective bargaining for public employees by providing such rights to public safety employees, including sheriff's deputies, EMS workers and firefighters. (Photo by Rebecca Troutman)

During the North Carolina Caucus held March 8, Tar Heel officials were updated on several pieces of federal legislation that could impact counties – either directly or indirectly – and also received a preview of the upcoming 2010 short session from NCACC Executive Director David F. Thompson.

Jim McCleskey, director of the Washington Office for the State of North Carolina, said that state officials are warily eyeing the expiration of the expanded Medicaid FMAP included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Currently, the expanded FMAP is scheduled to expire Dec. 31, 2010. If it lapses, it will cost North Carolina an additional $250 million per quarter in Medicaid expenses. McCleskey said a continuation of the FMAP is included in President Obama's budget, and he asked county officials to lobby their Congressional delegation on behalf of the state to approve the extension.

"We need your help," he said. "I don't need to tell you what could happen to your budgets" if the state has $500 million of additional Medicaid expenses for 2010-11.

McCleskey said that Congress is also keeping an eye on online travel companies, which are arguing that they do not have to collect occupancy taxes on hotel rooms booked through their services because they do not own the hotel rooms they are booking. If the companies are successful, counties and cities in North Carolina could lose millions of dollars per year in revenues that are primarily used to bolster travel and tourism efforts in North Carolina, said NCACC Intergovernmental Relations Director Rebecca Troutman.

"A lot of money is on the table," said McCleskey. "The good news is it hasn't happened yet. The members of our delegation have been sympathetic, but … keep talking to them about this issue."

After the federal update, Thompson provided a brief preview of what will likely truly be a short session for the North Carolina General Assembly in 2010. The state of the economy and the upcoming election season will conspire to keep the session short, Thompson said.

"We think it's going to be a tough and very quick session," he said. "The General Assembly will have to focus on the economy, job losses and the state budget. Sales tax collections remain well below expectations and income tax withholding is also continuing to weaken."

Alexander County officials placed a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in honor of Alexander County veterans on March 8. From left to right are County Manager Rick French, Chairman Larry Yoder, Vice Chairman Ryan Mayberry and Commissioner Wes Bolick. Bolick served in the United States Navy from 1955-59. (Photo courtesy Alexander County)

Not all was doom and gloom during the conference. Michael Blake, deputy associate director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs for the White House, told county officials that President Obama's administration is committed to restoring the partnership with counties.

"Please don't underestimate your importance to us," Blake said. "We have the opportunity to ensure the partnership between America's counties and the federal government is strong and productive. We are not just restoring a partnership, but sustaining a long-term partnership. We want to institutionalize these relationships, so that when we leave, these relationships will keep going.

"We know that our job is far from complete. The challenges that we face – healthcare, educating our children, the safety of our neighborhoods – all point to you. We need to focus on the next generation, not the next election."

The conference concluded with the annual North Carolina Congressional Breakfast, where 12 members of the state's 15-member delegation, including Sens. Richard Burr and Kay Hagan, took time out of their busy schedules to stop by and welcome their county officials to Washington, D.C. After the breakfast, Troutman led a delegation of county officials to attend a meeting of the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee of the Committee on Education and Labor.

The subcommittee was conducting a hearing for H.R. 413, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009. The bill would extend the right to bargain collectively for better working conditions, wages or benefits to public safety officers in all 50 states.

The NCACC Board of Directors voted at its Feb. 3 meeting to oppose any federal preemption of state laws regulating collective bargaining of public employees.

Hertford's Hunter announces candidacy for NCACC Second VP; Edgecombe's Harris, Robeson's Woods to seek NACo seat

Howard Hunter	Viola Harris	Noah Woods

During the NACo Legislative Conference, three North Carolina county commissioners announced their plans to pursue a leadership seat with the Association. Hertford County Commissioner Howard Hunter III announced that he is running for NCACC Second Vice President, a seat that will be decided during the NCACC Annual Conference in Pitt County in August.

Edgecombe County Commissioner Viola Harris, who currently serves on the NCACC Board of Directors as the Human Services Steering Committee chair, and Robeson County Commissioner Noah Woods, an NCACC past president, are seeking North Carolina's soon-to-be-open seat on the NACo Board of Directors. Vance County's Danny Wright will be retiring as a NACo Board member this summer after serving the maximum of three two-year terms on the NACo Board of Directors.