Former State Rep. Robert "Bob" Hensley, Jr. died this morning at Rex Hospital from complications of leukemia. He was 62.

Hensley represented Wake County in the House from 1990 to 2002, according to a news release announcing his death.

"Bob Hensley was a spirited and dedicated public servant who fought for what he thought was right and always cared about the average citizen," said State Rep. Deborah Ross, who now holds Hensley's seat.

He was among a handful of dissident Democrats during the early 2000s who didn't hesitate to buck the will of then-Speaker Jim Black.

Hensley was born in 1947 in Wilmington.

He graduated with a BA in history from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and received his law degree from North Carolina Central University Law School.

"Bob was a progressive voice for Wake County and for the people of NC. During his time in the NC House, he represented the people with courage, enthusiasm, wisdom and wit. We will miss him," said Jennifer Weiss, a Raleigh Democrat. 

Hensley was most recently in the news for representing lobbyist Don Beason who was charged in a road rage incident. 

Hensley is survived by his wife, Pat Granger Hensley and sons Preston, Chris and Robert Hensley, III.

"I want to thank our many friends and neighbors for their kindness and care during Bob’s illness. We hope that everyone will keep us in their prayers during this difficult time," said Pat Hensley.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

The trip is part of the prestigious Rodel Fellowship from the Aspen Institute, which the Raleigh Democrat received in 2006. The fellowship brings together a bipartisan group of elected officials younger than 50 from across the country.

To go on the trip, Ross will be passing up one of the biggest weeks at the legislature, which could see a vote on the state's budget.

Ross said the trip was planned more than six months ago, and that it was an opportunity she couldn't miss.

"We all thought we'd be out of here weeks ago," Ross said. "I don't feel good about it. I take my responsibilities as a legislator very seriously."

Ross said she was encouraged by House Speaker Joe Hackney to take the trip, which she passed up twice before because of conflicts with the legislature's schedule.

Ross said she asked to forgo compensation for her work as a legislator while she is away.

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A bill that would have provided a procedure for judges to deal with deaf jurors led to a debate in the House over whether those who cannot hear should sit on a jury.

The bill would gurantee an interpreter for hearing-impaired jurors.

But some House members questioned whether a such a juror could properly appreciate the nuance of testimony.

"This is one example of taking political correctness too far," said Rep. Ronnie Sutton, a Pembroke Democrat. "We can't have quadriplegics running track, nor do we need to have deaf persons serving on juries." 

Rep. Rick Glazier, a Fayetteville Democrat, said hearing impaired jurors have already served in North Carolina trials. Several states have similar laws providing for interpreters in those cases, he said. The bill still allows lawyers or judges to reject a hearing impaired juror.

"A hearing impaired juror who has the capacity to particiapte fairly and impartially ought to be allowed," Glazier said.  

Reps. Ruth Samuelson, a Charlotte Republican and Deborah Ross, a Raleigh Democrat, pointed out that deaf people may pick up on subtleties that others miss because they are using different senses. And Ross, said, just because a person can hear doesn't mean would they would be a good juror.

"There may be plenty of people who can hear but don't listen," Ross said.

Opponents to the bill sought to send it to its death in a committee. Glazier successfully avoided that by having the bill delayed until next week. 

The bill creates a new division of the Attorney General's office that would advise some 1,500 governmental units on public records issues. The unit could also mediate disputes before they end up in court.

The bill also states that if a governmental agency, city, town, county, school system or other public entity loses a lawsuit over public records, a judge must require the agency to pay the plaintiff's attorney fees.

State law already allows judges to impose fees, but it is rarely used in public records cases.

"The public records are the people's records," said Rep. Deborah Ross, a Raleigh Democrat and co-sponsor of the bill. "They're not our records. They're not the politicians' records."

The bill was unlike nearly ever other contentious bill that has been discussed on the House floor this year in that the usual partisan lines were gone. On Thursday, what determined whether a House member was in favor or against the bill seemed to be whether he or she was once a locally-elected official.

Rep. Lucy Allen, a Louisburg Democrat and former mayor of that city, offered an amendment that would allow a government or agency to avoid paying legal fees if it relied on a written opinion from its staff or contract attorneys to deny releasing the records.

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The House approved Monday night a bill ordering a commission to study making the state laws and constitution gender-neutral.

The General Statutes Commission, an advisory panel of law experts, would study what it would take to take the "he" out of the state's laws. Rep. Deborah Ross, a Raleigh Democrat, said the usual solution would be to use titles, such as "governor" rather than changing the text to read "he or she."

"The governor is referred to as 'he' throughout the entire constitution," Ross said. "The governor is female right now."

Rep. George Cleveland, a Jacksonville Republican, said he was not a big fan of political correctness, but his real objection was over making any changes to the state constitution.

"I have no problem with the female race whatsoever. I might be chauvinistic in a lot of ways," Cleveland said. "I have learned in my life that there are a lot of very intelligent, competent females who could lead me around by the nose...I have no problem with a female governor. I have no problem with a male governor. My problem is I want them all to be competent to lead our state."

Ross said the statutes commission does its work without compensation. And, she advised her House colleagues, the group is a big fan of multiple drafts and revision. The changes proposed in the law could take years to study.

An existing state law already says that any reference to a "he" should be read as "he or she" for legal purposes.

The bill, which was sponsored by Cary Republican Sen. Richard Stevens cleared the House 79-33. It now goes to the governor for a signature. It was not immediately known whether she would sign it.

Debate on the House tax package has become an exercise in alliterative hypothetical situations.

Rep. Thom Tillis, a Charlotte Republican, started it all by posing a scenario in which "Larry the Landlord," the owner of a 20-unit affordable housing complex would have to raise rent because of the new taxes upon him.

Rep. Deborah Ross, a Raleigh Democrat, escalated when she suggested that Larry would benefit greatly from the additional services the tax package would fund.

Rep. Tricia Cotham, a Charlotte Democrat, took the exercise even further when she said she was concerned about "Danny the Disabled Child" who apparently lives in "Larry the Landlord's" building and has disabilities and decaying teeth.

"I'm voting for Danny," Cotham said. 

Dome is sure that Larry and Danny appreciate the legislative concern. 

The House Finance committee began what promises to be a long day of debating whether to pass $940 million in new taxes.

"Is there any part of this bill I'm going to like?" asked Rep. Curtis Blackwood, a Matthews Republican.

"There's nothing in any of this that anybody likes," said Rep. Pryor Gibson, a Wadesboro Democrat. "This is the least painful thing that we could come up with...There's no pride in this document."

Opponents found fault with the taxes. The taxes would hurt business and state residents. The budget cuts aren't as painful as Democrats have led on, and the tax package is unfair since Republicans weren't in on the discussion, opponents said.

"You made cuts to where you know enough people would scream," said Rep. John Blust, a Greensboro Republican. 

Supporters of the tax countered that the package was the only way to fend off the  most hurtful cuts to education and social services.

"With this package, we restore the thigns that make North Caroilna great," said Rep. Deborah Ross, a Raleigh Democrat. 

The House gave final approval Thursday to a bill adjusting the state law allowing lawsuits over adultery Thursday, voting that the suits cannot be based on any dalliances a spouse has after separating.

North Carolina is one of the few states that still allows a man or woman to sue his or her spouse's lover for "alienation of affection." The jilted person can sue his or her spouse for "criminal conversation."

Rep. Deborah Ross, a Raleigh Democrat, criticized the law during the debate:

"A lot of these cases are like grade school cases," Ross said, then adding in a high-pitched tone, "'You like her better than you like me!'"