MESSAGE FROM MARGARET

Dear Friends:

Now that the 2009-2010 session of the General Assembly has adjourned, members have returned to our districts.  I am happy to resume our Dickson family routine, but I continue to work on issues important to Bladen and Cumberland Counties and to all North Carolinians .  I will continue to update you on these matters during the interim.  This newsletter addresses our state’s economic climate and several important actions the General Assembly took during the recent session.

GOOD FOR BUSINESS

North Carolina 's business climate is among the best in the country, according to a new report from CNBC, the respected cable finance channel.  The state is the most improved on the annual list, leaping from 9th last year to 4th.  CNBC's list is based on the cost of doing business, workforce, quality of life, economy, transportation and infrastructure, technology and innovation, education, business friendliness, access to capital and cost of living.  Another new statistic just released shows that the state’s unemployment rate fell for the fourth straight month, and the state has added 45,000 jobs since February according to the state Employment Security Commission.  While unemployment is still too high, these pieces of good news are reminders that the policies I’m supporting in the Senate are working and that our state is poised to be competitive and strong in the economic recovery.

KEEPING OUR STATE MOVING FORWARD IN TOUGH TIMES

I wanted to take a moment and tell you a few of the highlights of the short legislative session, which adjourned July 10.  I am proud that we got to work and did what we were sent to Raleigh to do-make the tough calls that are in the best interest of our state.  To put it into perspective, almost half of the states in America are laying off teachers this year.  Some are cutting back on law enforcement or cutting medical care for poor kids or closing rest stops and state parks- Not North Carolina .

• We balanced the State Budget without gutting core state services for citizens, mass layoffs, or additional tax increases.

• We helped small businesses with tax breaks.

• We protected crucial private-sector job creation initiatives.

• We protected teaching jobs and class sizes.

• We funded record enrollment increases at community colleges.

• We invested in public universities, protected them from harsh cuts and a cap on enrollment.

• We passed comprehensive government ethics reform and increased transparency in state government.

• We passed the DNA bill, allowing law enforcement a high-tech tool to fight crime by collecting DNA from violent felony arrestees.

• We closed the “sweepstakes” loophole, which allowed casinos to proliferate outside the law.

I’ll be back in touch soon and will discuss these and other initiatives in more detail.

As always, please feel free to contact me to share your opinions about any issue you feel is important.  My legislative assistant, Brenda Lee , and I welcome your questions and your input---our door is always open.

I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the North Carolina Senate.  I wish you and your family a safe and pleasant summer weekend.

Cordially,