MountainTrue Raleigh Report
The MountainTrue Raleigh Report covers environmental politics and policy, with a focus on the issues that affect Western North Carolina. Sign up to get the Raleigh Report delivered to your inbox.
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Celebrate 50 Years of Earth Day with MountainTrue
As social creatures, we need to maintain our connections and find new ways to lean on each other during hard times. As creatures of nature, we need to connect with our forests, our rivers and the plants and animals we share this planet with. Today more than ever, we appreciate how important clean water and healthy forests are to our mountain communities.
Action – or, Rather, the Lack of It – at the General Assembly
1/22/20 If you missed the General Assembly session last week, don't feel bad. It lasted all of a day and produced, well, not much at all. Republican leaders in the House and Senate brought lawmakers back to the capitol, hoping to override Governor Roy Cooper's veto...
MT Raleigh Report Yearly Wrap Up: The Budget, Wins for the Environment and Looking Ahead to 2020
It’s been a strange year at the North Carolina General Assembly. We’re here for you with a quick rundown on what happened this year at the legislature and where things stand as the political stalemate between Governor Roy Cooper and the GOP-controlled legislature continues into the new year.
MT Raleigh Report: The Latest on Conservation Projects in the State Budget
Recently, lawmakers gave final approval to their version of the state’s $24 billion spending plan. While we hope Governor Cooper and legislative leaders will come to a resolution on a final budget soon, we are grateful that the General Assembly included a number of important investments for WNC in their version. Learn about those investments here.
MT Raleigh Report: Update on Conservation Projects in the Budget
The legislature’s months-long debate of the new state budget is coming to an end, and there are some key Western North Carolina conservation investments at stake this year.
MT Raleigh Report: Crossover Week, Rate Hike Bill and Our Legislative Advocacy
“Crossover” is the deadline for most bills to remain eligible for consideration for the rest of the two-year legislative session. Thus the mad scramble of crossover week.
MountainTrue Raleigh Report: It’s Road Trip Season!
This time of year, protecting Western North Carolina’s shared places means taking road trips to Raleigh. With the General Assembly now running full steam, MountainTrue staff are making regular visits to the state capitol to speak up for our mountains. We made our second visit of the year last week to have conversations with a number of key legislators as well as the leadership at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
MT Raleigh Report: What’s on Deck for the Environment?
This week in Raleigh, lawmakers are beginning what is likely to be a long, drawn-out political tug-of-war between newly empowered Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and a GOP legislature that has been reduced in size and influence. A good deal of the push and pull will be over the environment.
MT Raleigh Report: The 2019 General Assembly Begins, Sort Of
Legislators were in Raleigh for a day last week to open the 2019 session of the North Carolina General Assembly. Surrounded by their families, lawmakers took their oaths of office, elected their officers – and then promptly recessed. They will reconvene Jan. 30 and meet weekly until they complete their work some time later this year.
MT Raleigh Report: Who’s Up, Who’s Down in Raleigh (and WNC) After Last Week’s Election?
While the dust is still settling from last week’s election – with several state legislative races still too close to call – it’s clear that Republicans have lost their veto-proof majorities in either one or both chambers of the legislature. Here are some thoughts about what this all means for state policy and WNC’s legislative delegation.