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Top budget writer Dollar faces former PTA chief Von Haefen in tight HD 36 race

House District 36 (Southeastern Wake County). • Nelson Dollar, Republican (seven-term incumbent). Occupation: Media and public relations consultant. Education: Appalachian State University, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social sciences. Career highlights: Senior chairman of House Appropriations Committee, vice chairman of Finance, and Health and Human Services committees. Former Wake Technical Community College instructor, N.C. Department...

Sam A. Hieb
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After nearly six years, Medicaid reform finally entering the home stretch

As chief budget writer in the House, state Rep. Nelson Dollar is accustomed to dealing with big numbers. But he marvels at the pending $6 billion layout to launch the first phase of the state’s Medicaid transformation to a managed care format. “That’s roughly a third of the Medicaid procurement, so it’s the largest procurement...

Dan Way
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State employees guaranteed ‘living wage’ in budget proposal

The minimum wage for state employees will rise to $15 an hour if the budget proposed by legislative leaders becomes law. GOP leaders announced some details of the $23.9 billion General Fund budget for 2018-19 Thursday, May 24, at an impromptu press conference. The briefing featured Senate Majority Leader Harry Brown, R-Onslow; senior House appropriator Rep....

CJ Staff
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Birth center advocates caution against overzealous regulations

Impulsive legislative action over four infant deaths at a Cary natural birth center operated by midwives could limit access to a healthy, lower-cost alternative for expectant mothers, says one of North Carolina’s top nurse midwives. We may fall further behind other states in access to midwifery as a result. “This is a super upsetting situation...

Dan Way
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The debate on ways of making schools safer is only beginning  

On Feb. 14, a gunman killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, sparking outrage and fear across the country. Students, teachers, and parents demanded that something be done to prevent a similar tragedy.   Although hundreds of miles away, the effects of the Parkland shooting reached the halls of legislatures across...

Lindsay Marchello
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Frustration crosses party lines over DHHS failure to create watchdog

Legislative Republicans and Democrats bristled at excuses Department of Health and Human Services officials gave Tuesday over their failure to create a mandated watchdog program. “Do you understand how frustrating this is for the members of the General Assembly? Three years now we have required the creation of an office,” Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, said...

Dan Way

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Medicaid program staying under budget as switch to managed care looms

The once-floundering state Medicaid system is expected to stay within its budget for the fourth consecutive year. Meanwhile, a planned switch to managed care is getting positive reviews from federal regulators. State Department of Health and Human Services officials gave those updates Tuesday to members of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC...

Dan Way
News

Future of mental health service management stuck in legislative conference

House and Senate Republicans are stuck in a debate about oversight of the state’s largest mental health provider and who will control mental health services for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians. A conference committee could decide the fate of House Bill 403, which passed each legislative chamber in dramatically different versions. The House, and...

Dan Way
News

With House vote to override veto, state budget becomes law

Rep. Nelson Dollar, R-Wake, gave an impassioned defense of the $23 billion bipartisan General Fund budget compromise Wednesday morning, and the House quickly followed his motion to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the spending plan in a 76-43 vote. It was an anticipated defeat for Cooper, a Democrat, whose last-minute, desperation plea for Republicans...

Dan Way
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Top House budget writer talks spending, education, transportation

RALEIGH — Now that all budget proposals are on the table, the negotiations between North Carolina’s House and Senate leaders will get serious. Rep. Nelson Dollar, R-Wake, senior chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, sat down with Carolina Journal Thursday morning before the news conference introducing the House budget to discuss successes, priorities, and differences of...

Kari Travis
News

Government intervention in renewables market a ‘slam dunk,’ GOP consultants say

Two highly regarded Republican political consultants told an audience of state lawmakers, lobbyists, and renewable-energy entrepreneurs Tuesday they should consider government intervention into the renewable energy market a “slam dunk” conservative issue that wins at the ballot box. “There’s a lot of talk that goes on in the legislative building about different energy policies that...

Dan Way
News

Proposal would give tax relief to disabled veterans

A state legislator is hoping to give disabled veterans and spouses of fallen first responders a break on their property tax bills. Rep. Nelson Dollar, R-Wake, as filed a bill removing homestead exemption caps for disabled veterans. “Currently for disabled veterans the homestead exclusion is only up to $45,000 of assessed value,” Dollar said. “So...

Barry Smith
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