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State legislators are considering an overhaul of the state unemployment system that includes a major reduction in benefits for laid-off workers.

The potential cutbacks, unveiled Wednesday morning by a Republican-controlled committee, are included in a draft bill that takes a broad-brush approach to dealing with the state’s $2.48 billion debt to the federal government. The money was borrowed to pay for unemployment benefits.

Republican leaders are portraying the proposal as spreading the pain among employers and the unemployed. “It ain’t kind. It ain’t nice. But it’s important,” said Rep. Julia Howard, a Republican from Mocksville and co-chair of the Joint Revenue Laws Study Committee. “No one loves this bill.”

But advocacy groups for the poor contend the unemployed, who already are reeling from the effects of a struggling economy, would be hit disproportionately hard. Read more here.

A contest is emerging for the No. 2 spot in the N.C. House. Rep. Julia Howard, a 12-term veteran and committee chairwoman, said she would challenge House GOP leader Paul "Skip" Stam for the speaker pro tem job.

Howard cited her previous leadership experience as majority whip and  she would use the position to help orient the large incoming freshman class. "I have no agenda," the Mocksville Republican said.

Howard also made a point to say she has no interest in running for House speaker in 2014, when Thom Tillis is expected to relinquish the position under self-imposed term limits. "I will be totally focused," she said.

Which legislators have tobacco companies in their districts?

With the General Assembly again considering enacting a smoking ban in restaurants and workplaces, Dome decided to see who represents the tobacco firms.

Alternative Brands, Mocksville:
Rep. Julia Howard, Sen. Andrew Brock

Commonwealth Brands, Reidsville:
Rep. Nelson Cole, Sen. Phil Berger

Lorillard, Greensboro:
Rep. Maggie Jeffus, Sen. Don Vaughan

Philip Morris, Concord:
Rep. Jeff Barnhart, Sen. Fletcher Hartsell

Reynolds American, Winston-Salem:
Rep. Larry Womble, Sen. Linda Garrou

Reynolds American, Tobaccoville:
Rep. Dale Folwell, Sen. Pete Brunstetter

In the 2007 session, Reps. Howard, Jeffus, Barnhart and Womble voted for a smoking ban in public places, while Reps. Cole and Folwell voted against it.

Two more interesting House bills:

H.B. 71: Four-Year Terms, Reps. Bruce Goforth, Harold Brubaker, Becky Carney, Julia Howard

H.B. 72: Four-Year Terms Implementing Statute, Reps. Goforth, Brubaker, Carney, Howard

State representatives are off to a brisk start.

Aside from Rep. Hugh Holliman's smoking ban legislation, a handful of other bills have been filed already in the House.

The actual bills are not available yet, but the titles give some hints that they are either local bills or housekeeping legislation:

H.B. 3: Disapprove Lake Jordan Rules, Reps. Cary Allred and Darrell McCormick

H.B. 4: Good Faith Exception/Exclusionary Rule, Rep. Paul Stam

H.B. 5: Increase Fire and Rescue Benefits, Rep. Julia Howard

H.B. 6: Davie's Law/Humane Euthanasia in Shelters, Reps. Allred, Rick Glazier, Ty Harrell and Pat McElraft

Rep. Julia Howard
Mocksville Republican
Eleventh Term

What two things would you cut in the state budget? She would stop spending on statewide primary school testing that does not fulfill the federal No Child Left Behind requirements. "If we did a stay on those state tests that is $40 million that we could save (over two years) and probably with no harm to anyone." She also said that the state could save money in production and mailing costs by allowing hunters to get licenses electronically.

Are there any taxes you would be in favor of increasing? "I can't think of any."

— Dan Kane

The state House will have 38 women next session.

Nearly two-thirds of the women are from cities with more than 20,000 residents, including a third who represent urban areas in Wake, Mecklenburg and Guilford counties.

Charlotte is the best represented, with five women: Reps. Becky Carney, Martha Alexander, Beverly Earle, Tricia Cotham and Ruth Samuelson. Greensboro has three and Raleigh two.

The women from smaller towns hale from Grifton, Wilkesboro, Louisburg, Emerald Isle, Dallas, Ahoskie, Mocksville, Farmville, Hamlet, Mebane, Mount Airy, Hampstead and Hendersonville. Rep. Linda Coleman is from Knightdale, a close suburb of Raleigh.

Twenty-six of the women are Democrats; 12, Republicans.

The longest serving is Republican Rep. Julia Howard of Mocksville, now in her 11th term, followed by Democratic Reps. Martha Alexander of Charlotte and Maggie Jeffus of Greensboro, now in their ninth terms. Four new women were elected for the first time this year.

The women make up 32 percent of the 120-member House.

A Republican women's group will also hold a victory breakfast.

The Committee to Elect Republican Women will hold its annual celebration of female GOP politicians at the same time and place as Lillian's List, a pro-choice Democratic women's group.

The two events will be held separately at the Cardinal Club in Raleigh on Jan. 28.

While Democratic Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue will address the Lillian's List gathering, the Committee to Elect Republican Women does not plan to have speakers.

"We just invite folks to come, have breakfast with us and meet our new legislators," said Rep. Julia Howard, the group's current head.

She said it was a coincidence that the two groups are meeting at the same time, perhaps because it's the same day that legislators will be sworn in and start the session.

"For some reason, that happened last year, too," she said.

For information on attending the GOP breakfast, call 919-601-7783 or email electrepublicanwomen@embarqemail.com.

Rep. Julia C. Howard has also not filed her campaign finance report.

The State Board of Elections sent the Mocksville Republican a late notice on Aug. 14, warning that if it did not receive her 2007 mid-year report within 20 days her campaign would be shut down.

Hat Tip: Chris Hayes

The husband of former state Rep. Theresa Esposito said she was not involved in the decision to sell the condo to lobbyist Don Beason.

Alfred Esposito said he chose the Realtor and approved the sale.

"In a household, husband and wife take on certain duties," he told Dome. "Wives cook dinner, wives wash the clothes, men throw the garbage out. In my family, I throw the garbage out, but I also handle the financial matters."

Esposito said he chose Rep. Julia C. Howard because he knew her personally and wanted someone in Raleigh to take care of the transaction. He said Howard told him she had listed the property.

He said Beason made the first offer of $142,500, and he decided it was close enough to his asking price of $145,000, so he accepted it.

"I didn't know Beason from Adam," he said. "I had never met him."