Agenda - 02-07-2012 - 8d - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 Directors at its Feb. 22 meeting for consideration and approval for inclusion into the 2012 Congressional issues packet. The Board will assess each issue based on its statewide county government impact and whether Congressional action is imminent. NCACC asks that you review NCACC's 2011 Congressional Issues of Interest to Counties and NACo's 2012 Legislative Priorities. For your information, the NCACC Board of Directors approved the following statewide federal issues for 2011. Please find these listed below, along with a legislative status of each issue, based on any action by the 112th Congress: 2011 Congressional Issues for North Carolina Counties • Issue: Oppose Federal Budget Cuts to Counties without Corresponding Cuts in Federal Mandates o Status: The Budget Control Act of 2011 sets deficit reduction targets of $841 billion for discretionary spending caps and $1.2 trillion for the Super Committee's deficit reduction plan. Since the committee could not reach consensus, and barring further congressional action, sequestration is scheduled to begin Jan 2, 2013, leading to automatic across-the-board spending cuts of $2 trillion over 9 years, half from defense and half from non-defense discretionary spending. 14% cuts are projected for 2013, unless further legislative action is taken. • Issue: Support County Government Preference for Service Delivery • Issue: Support Remote Sales Tax Collection o Status: 3 bills have been introduced to move forward collection of remote sales taxes, taxes already due and payable. The Main Street Fairness Act (S. 1452) and its House Companion H.R. 2701 would codify the Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement. The Marketplace Fairness Act (S. 1832) provides 2 options for remote sales tax collection: the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement and an alternative where states may collect after adopting minimum simplification requirements. NC is in compliance with the SSTA and has been a governing board member since inception. • Issue: Oppose New EPA Ozone Standards for Primary and Secondary Designations o Status: President Obama instructed EPA to withdraw the draft Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards in early September, awaiting an update to the 2006 science review for reconsideration of the ozone standard in 2013. Issue: Oppose Federal Preemption of State Law Regulating Collective Bargaining of Public Employees o Status: No legislation to preempt public employee collective bargaining has moved. Also for your information, please find following NACo's 2012 legislative priorities, as adopted by the NACo Board of Directors at its December 2011 meeting. • Promote a balanced approach to deficit reduction. Protect county programs during budget deficit reduction and appropriation considerations. Balance includes looking at discretionary, defense and entitlement spending, and revenue enhancements.