A bill filed Wednesday would take away some of Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry's authority.

The legislation would move the state's responsibility for enforcing workplace safety from the N.C. Department of Labor, overseen by Berry, to the N.C. Department of Commerce, which is run by a member of the governor's Cabinet.

Sen. Doug Berger, a Youngsville Democrat, said he sponsored the bill out of frustration with what he called Berry's "laissez-faire," "see-no-evil" and partisan approach to the office.

Specifically, he said he was upset she did not take stronger action to regulate the poultry industry after a Charlotte Observer series last year revealed problems with worker conditions.

He argued that voters would hold Gov. Beverly Perdue more accountable for problems with workplace safety enforcement than Berry, even though she faced a statewide election last November, because voters and the media paid little attention to the race.

"There's no question that most people in the state feel they can ride an elevator safely," he said, referring to photos of Berry on state elevator licenses. "She's done a good job on that, and that's why she was re-elected."

Even if a more active labor commissioner were elected later, Berger said he would support leaving the authority under the governor permanently.

Update: Berger and Berry have some history together. She defeated him in the 2000 labor commissioner race by two-tenths of one percent.

More information on those Senate bills is available.

Here are a few of the more interesting bills not already discussed on Dome: 

S.B. 6: Would temporarily stay on higher surcharges under the state's Beach Plan and increases in statewide insurance rate.

S.B. 8: Would appropriate $10 million to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to hire people to work in community programs for the developmentally disabled.

S.B. 11: Would allow a district attorney or assistant D.A. who has a concealed handgun permit to carry a gun while on duty in the courthouse.

S.B. 12: Would make it an infraction with a $100 fine to use a cell phone while driving except during an emergency. 

S.B. 13: Would increase penalties for injuring a pregnant woman who is past her 20th week of pregnancy and include it as an aggravating factor in felony cases.

S.B. 14: Would transfer the functions of the Occupational Safety and Health division to a new commission not in the N.C. Department of Labor.

A few more Senate bills have been filed:

S.B. 8: Funds for CAP/MR-DD Slots, Sen. Julia Boseman

S.B. 9: Amend Peeping Tom Law, Boseman

S.B. 10: New Hanover Annexation Moratorium, Boseman

S.B. 11: District Attorney and Assistant District Attorney / Concealed Gun in Court House, Boseman

S.B. 12: Ban Mobile Phone Use While Driving, Sen. Charlie Dannelly

S.B. 13: Injury to Pregnant Woman / Penalty, Sen. Doug Berger

S.B. 14: Create Employment Safety and Security Commission, Berger