Welcome to the YES! Weekly Pop Quiz,
where we ask politicians and public servants
about their jobs. This week we address questions
to members of Forsyth and Guilford
counties’ state legislative delegations and
candidates for those seats. The rules are
simple: no research, no callbacks.
QUESTIONS
1. What is the estimated shortfall in State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees
for Fiscal Year 2008-2009?
2. After what month does Executive Administrator Jack W. Walker say the State Health
Plan will need an infusion of cash in order to continue paying claims? *
3. On what date do the full House and full Senate reconvene? (Seven-day margin of
error allowed)
Sen. Pete Brunstetter,
Republican, Senate District 31
1. Part of the problem on that question is getting
straight information. I have heard estimates of
anywhere from $100 million to $800 million. In a
committee meeting last week I heard $100 million
to $200 million… I think it’s substantially higher
than 264 million. [√-]
2. Oh gosh, he might have said December, I’m
trying to remember. Truth is, it could have used
an infusion of cash nine or ten months ago, or
an adjustment. The legislature had a chance to
do something about it before it adjourned, but
declined to so. [√]
3. It better be Jan. 29. [√]
Republican Whip Bill McGee,
House District 75
1. The number has varied. When we were in session
we first began to hear that it was somewhere
in the neighborhood of $60 million. Then grew to
$100 million-plus. Then, when we got home, it had
gone from $100 million to $200 million. Now, the
latest number I read is from $200 million to $300
million. The numbers keep going up. As member of
Republican leadership, we proffered a plan, which
would have reduced spending by 1 percent across
the board. Of course it was rejected. Now I see that
Mickey Michaux proposing spending less money.
He is a member of the [Democratic] leadership in
the House. I supported legislation, which the House
passed, to take $100 million from the rainy-day
fund to cover the shortfall. [√]
2. The answer that I have to give you is that I
don’t know the specific date that he has established.
The estimate among many of us is that
the money will be gone before year’s end. The
understanding is that checks are being held back
on payment so that the monies would last longer.
[√]
3. I believe the date is Jan. 28. Some of us
believe that we will have to be called back into
session after the election. Now, with Jack back in
the seat, maybe we won’t need to. We go back into
session on Jan. 28, and it takes a week to get the
General Assembly moving to address the situation.
You’re talking about February. [√]
Rep. Maggie Jeffus,
Democrat, House District 59
1. Oh, let me think. I think originally there was
supposed to be about $60 million. I think that
has increased to over $200 million, maybe $210
million. [√-]
2. I think it’s on up into the 2009 session. I want
to say January, February. It might even be in March.
The beginning of the 2009 session. Let me say
March. [X]
3. I believe it’s Wednesday, Jan. 28 [√]
Jim Rumley, Republican
candidate for House District 59
1. I believe it was like $7 million. [X]
2. Uh, these are very specific questions. I kind of
remember March of ’09. [X]
3. Seems like it was Feb. 2. [√]
Rep. Larry Brown,
Republican, House District 73
1. I really don’t think they have a good grasp on
what it’s going to be. My guess is it’s going to be
about $200 million. [√-]
2. I think we need the infusion now, but December
is what they said. [√]
3. Jan. 28 [√]
ANSWERS
1. $264 million to $280 million (Source: NC State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees, Sept.25)
2. December (Source: NC State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees, Sept. 25)
3. Jan. 28, 2009 (Source: NC General Assembly website)
* Member update from Executive Administrator Jack W. Walker: “Through very careful cash management
practices, the State Health Plan should have the funds to continue paying claims into the first
quarter of 2009. Based on this strategy, a special legislative session would not be required prior to the
January 2009 long session.”
