The Known Universe

Family North Carolina Magazine—May/June 2009

By Bill Brooks

May 14 this year is an important day in the life of a lobbyist at the North Carolina General Assembly. That is the day scheduled as the crossover deadline for most bills to pass either the House or the Senate to remain eligible for the remainder of this year and next. After that date, with some exceptions, bills that have not passed one house fall by the wayside and cannot be considered until they are reintroduced the next session. After crossover, the known universe of bills becomes smaller. Of course, the rules of the House and Senate can be changed, so constitutional amendments are not at as much risk because the super-majority it takes to pass the bill can also change the rules.

But you can imagine the fervor and apprehension that grips the 120 representatives and 50 senators as this date approaches once every two years. A bill that a legislator feels strongly about is alive and well one day and dead the next. The pace of activity in the General Assembly picks up as crossover approaches and then everyone takes a deep breath when it passes. Some then take a time out for celebration or gnashing of teeth as the case may warrant.

Because so much can happen during these two weeks from a legislative standpoint, it makes sense for citizens to keep a keen eye out for what goes on in the General Assembly prior to crossover. If you have particular bills you are interested in, we encourage you to visit the General Assembly website at www.ncleg.net and find out their status. If a bill impacts the family then there is a good chance you will find some information about it at www.ncfamily.org, the website of the North Carolina Family Policy Council.

With this years state budget crunch, pending proposals for sweeping reforms in tax policy, and ongoing legal battles across the nation over the meaning of marriage and religious freedom, it seems we are at a crossroads in public policy in North Carolina. For years, we have enjoyed laws that are more pro-family than many states, but there are constant attacks now against many of them. Our research team has been working overtime this year on these issues, and we are frequently responding to requests for information from legislators, the media and many others.

One issue that garners much attention is a proposed amendment to our State Constitution that would place the definition of marriage in North Carolina beyond the reach of state judges. This is becoming more important with each passing day as an increasing number of states are passing bills that create opportunities for lawsuits challenging marriage. Thus far, 30 states have amended their constitutions to protect marriage from being redefined by their own courts. The recent decision by the Iowa supreme court to legalize same-sex marriage was a shock to many, and points out why our own state is not immune to the decisions of the judiciary. The leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly should take note and not remain complacent on this issue.

As a result of the exposure brought to the marriage amendment by initiatives last fall in California, Florida, and Arizona, citizens across North Carolina are more attuned than ever before to the fact that North Carolina has no such amendment. Most citizens we talk with believe North Carolina is a much more conservative state than any of the three that recently passed marriage amendments. They don’t understand why they can’t vote for a marriage amendment here. As one of the original 13 colonies, North Carolina does not have a ballot initiative that allows the people to bypass the legislature to put issues directly on the ballot. If we had such a process, our state would have had a marriage amendment six years ago. In North Carolina, the General Assembly must pass a bill approving the wording of the amendment and put it on the ballot.

Maybe we need a new approach. How about “Let the People Vote.” The gambling industry used this slogan for so many years that eventually most took it for granted that they actually had the right to vote on a legislative bill when they did not. Now its time for those who support marriage to make sure the people do get the right to vote on a marriage amendment.

Bill Brooks is president and executive director of the North Carolina Family Policy Council.

Copyright © 2009. North Carolina Family Policy Council. All rights reserved.