This week at the legislature was filled with a lot of talk about redrawing district maps because of a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, though House and Senate conferees continue to meet to work out a budget compromise. The three proposals on the table include the following:

Several members came to the legislature this week to lobby for better pay and retiree cost-of-living adjustments. They met with the House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) and the House Rules Chairman David Lewis (R-Harnett), as well as House Minority Leader Darren Jackson (D-Wake) and Sen. Don Davis (D-Pitt), among others.

It is possible that a compromise could be worked out and voted on by next week. Members should reach out to their legislators during this negotiation period to remind them that they are working with a surplus of more than $800 million while their employees and state retirees continue to suffer from years of inadequate pay increases and cost-of-living adjustments.