New Athletic Scholarships and the Budget Rules
The press has reported on the private athletic scholarships that were slipped into the conference report on the budget at the request of Senator Dannelly.  The News and Observer has editorialized against it (August 17, 2007).

Now the News and Observer reports (Under The Dome, August 17, 2007) that the Speaker believes the scholarship provision should have received a full airing instead of being dropped in the final budget.  “He doesn’t like the process” says his spokesman, Bill Holmes.

But the Speaker was not an observer of the process.  He was in charge.

I advised the Speaker and the House Democratic Leadership that if they tried to slip things into the budget in violation of House Rule 44(b) that I would raise that as a point of order.  Forewarned that I would do that, they slipped in dozens and dozens of items like this, some of much more importance, including an extra $400 million dollars of spending.

To hear audio of the Point of Order, click the link below.
Point of Order

The Speaker's ruling and a list of many of the special provisions involved appears below.

NEW SPECIAL PROVISIONS
PROPOSED CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR HOUSE BILL 1473

PART VI. GENERAL PROVISIONS
MODIFY HOURS OF SALE FOR PERMITTEES AUTHORIZED TO ENGAGE IN IN STAND SALES PURSUANT TO G.S. 18B 1009
SECTION 6.25.

PART VII. PUBLIC SCHOOLS
USE OF FUNDS FOR CENTRAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
SECTION 8.13

PART IX. UNIVERSITIES
ESTABLISH THE JOHN B. MCLENDON LEADERSHIP AWARDS
SECTION 9.18.

PART X. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SKILLED NURSING FACILITY REIMBURSEMENT RATES
SECTION 10.39A.

PART XI. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
STUDY STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATIONS AND RESEARCH FARMS
SECTION 11.4.

PART XII. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
FUNDS FOR PENDING CIVIL LITIGATION EXPENSES
SECTION 12.2A.

STUDY ADVISABILITY OF ADDING DEEP RIVER STATE TRAIL TO STATE PARKS SYSTEM
SECTION 12.9.

PART XIII. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF JDIG CAP
SECTION 13.1A.

FUNDS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT WATER AND SEWER IMPROVEMENT GRANTS
SECTION 13.13A.

E NC AUTHORITY/STAGGER COMMISSION MEMBERS TERMS
SECTION 13.16A.

PART XXI. DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL RESOURCES
GRANT IN AID FOR THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOUNDATION
SECTION 21.3.

PART XXVII. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
INCREASE ADMINISTRATIVE APPROPRIATION FOR THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND
SECTION 27.17.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO MAINTAIN DIVISION BUDGETS
SECTION 27.18.

VIPER BUILD OUT FUNDS
SECTION 27.19.

PART XXIX. CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS.
DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS FROM SALE OF FORMER BUNCOMBE COUNTY HEADQUARTERS PARCEL
SECTION 29.11A.

LAND FOR TOMORROW AND WATERFRONT ACCESS AND MARINE INDUSTRY FUND
SECTION 29.14.

PART XXXI. TAX LAW CHANGES

ENHANCE 529 PLAN INCOME TAX DEDUCTION
SECTION 31.19.

SALES TAX REFUND – RESEARCH SUPPLIES
SECTION 31.20.

WORK OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT
SECTION 31.21.

DATACENTER SALES TAX EXEMPTION
SECTION 31.22.

TAX INCENTIVE FOR RAILROAD INTERMODAL FACILITY
SECTION 31.23.

FIREFIGHTER/RESCUE SQUAD TAX DEDUCTION
SECTION 31.24.

OUTLAW CAPTIVE REITS
SECTION 31.18

PART OF STATE ASSUMPTION OF MEDICAID:
MEDICAID HOLD HARMLESS PAYMENTS
ADM EARMARKING ADJUSTMENTS FOR ONE YEAR STATE TAKEBACK OF LOCAL SALES TAX
LOCAL OPTION TAXES: SALES TAX AND LAND TRANSFER TAX

Source: Answer to Query by House Republican Leader Rep. Paul Stam (R-Wake) from
Bill Drafting Staff: North Carolina General Assembly, July 27, 2007


Previously under the reign of Speaker Black the rules were generally ignored.  In 2007 the Rules of the House were generally followed, except with respect to the final budget in which the most important rule was obliterated, at great cost to the taxpayers.