HB6-09

Facebook groups on state bills

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:44:06 -0400

Do you want to "friend" a bill in the General Assembly?

You can't exactly do that, but you can join a group for or against a piece of state legislation, another step in the evolution of online politics.

Here's a running list of Facebook groups on state bills:

* Support NC House bill 223, ditch the graduation project: Supports this bill to end the high school graduation project. 8,257 members.

* I Oppose NC Senate Bill 272: Opposes this bill for a referendum to ban gay marriage in the state constitution. 6,635 members.

* North Carolina State Sovereignty Movement: Supports this resolution to declare North Carolina a sovereign state under the 10th Amendment. 849 members.

* Ban Smoking in N.C.'s Public Places: 717 members. I'M FOR A SMOKE-FREE NORTH CAROLINA: 107 members. NC FOR Smoking Ban in Resturants (sic) and Bars: 92 members. All support this smoking ban bill.

* I support NC Senate Bill 272: 703 members. I support NC Senate Bill 272 - Defense of Marriage: 64 members. Say yes to NC Senate Bill 272: Defense of Marriage: 5 members. All support gay marriage ban referendum.

* Davie's Law / Humane Euthanasia in NC Shelters: Supports this bill to end gas chambers at state animal shelters. 577 members.

* Support Sunday ABC Sales in NC! Supports this bill to end prohibition on Sunday sales of liquor. 491 members.

* Prevent School Violence North Carolina: Supports this bill to reduce bullying in school. 461 members.

* Oppose the NC Smoking Ban: Opposes the smoking ban. 121 members.

* Pass the NC Racial Justice Act: Supports this bill to allow courts to review death sentences for racial bias. 100 members.

* NC Citizens Against Anti-Competition Bills HB1252 and S1004: Opposes bills that would prevent municipal Internet providers. 49 members.

* I oppose NC Senate Bill 138 (Salvia Ban): Opposes this bill to make a hallucinogenic mint a Schedule I drug. 49 members.

Are we missing one? E-mail dome@newsobserver.com.

The (Your Name Here) Act

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:29:58 -0400

Not sure what to name your bill?

Here's a well-worn technique: Name it for someone.

So far this session, three bills have been introduced in the legislature that are named for people or animals:

Davie's Law/Humane Euthanasia in Shelters: Prohibits animal shelters from using gas chambers for euthanasia. Named for a puppy who survived a gas chamber and was found in the Davie County landfill.

Jeanne Hopkins Lucas Act: Allows Durham police and sheriff's deputies to increase their retirement pension if they have received certain training. Named for a Durham state senator who died in 2007.

The Terri Schiavo Act: Studies whether the Department of Motor Vehicles should ask drivers whether they have a living will. Named for a Florida woman with brain damage who became the center of a national fight.

For this technique to work, it generally requires a certain level of awareness of the namesake to work. Both Davie and Terri Schiavo have been in the news, while Lucas was a former colleague of many legislators.

House members file more bills

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:44:38 -0500

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