2010 SEANC EMPAC Legislative Questionnaire

[skipped biographical items]

1. Are you, or have you been, an employee of the State of North Carolina?

Yes, 1996-1999 at Rockingham County Schools. I was a mathematics teacher at Western Rockingham Middle School in Madison, NC.

2. Are you, or have you ever been, a member of SEANC or a member of any other public employee or teachers association or union, or a member of any employee association or union?

Yes, Professional Educators of North Carolina (PENC), 1997-1999.

3. SEANC occasionally must defend efforts to remove state employees from State Personnel Act provisions. Will you vote with SEANC against any legislation to eliminate the State Personnel Act or remove any employees currently protected by the Act?

Yes. The State Personnel Act intentionally discriminates against who is and is not afforded its protections, creating an unjust dichotomy in how state employees are managed. For this reason alone, I would support removal or major restructuring of the general statutes associated with the State Personnel Act.

4. Will you vote against any legislation that seeks to eliminate longevity pay for current or future employees?

No. Pay increases should be based on performance and promotion, not just the willingness to stay or the ability to keep the job.

5. Do you think that state employees and retirees should pay a portion of the premium for their employer-provided individual health insurance?

Yes. If the employee’s compensation provides for sufficient income to cover the cost of living, the individual should be able to determine for himself what constitutes “living.” For most people, this includes health care, through some combination of payments to health care providers and insurance companies. By putting the money and decision in the hands of the individual, he can buy the employer-provided insurance, or he can take 100% of that money to whatever health care or health insurance provider he chooses.

6. As an incumbent, what bills have you sponsored, co-sponsored, or supported that would improve the quality of life for state employees? As a challenger, what have you done to support or improve the quality of life for employees in general?

During my work as an educator, technical trainer, and technical writer, I have always been an advocate for the needs of the customer. I start by getting to know the target audience so I know where they are and what they need to know to accomplish the target objectives. Then, I do hands-on research into the topic in an effort to become a subject-matter expert. When I shape the message, it becomes a bridge that takes the person from where he is to a place further down the road of understanding the topic.

I have translated this approach to many other parts of my life, and I look forward to taking the same approach when researching and writing legislation in the General Assembly. There, the important things will be to understand the individuals affected, ensure that individuals’ rights are protected, and provide for equal treatment under the law.

7. In 2009, the General Assembly used the rainy day fund and adopted Senate Bill 287 that shifted approximately $600 in additional out-of-pocket health care costs to State Health Plan members to shore up the State Health Plan. Nonprofit Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has $1 billion in reserve and holds a secret, no-bid, cost-plus contract to administer the State Health Plan, made a profit off the State Health Plan, passed unrelated expenses through the State Health Plan, paid its CEO almost $4 million, and was not asked to give up a dime to help make up for the losses encountered by the State Health Plan. The bill also enacted saliva testing for nicotine usage and BMI checks for state employees to punish the obese and smokers, which required a HIPAA waiver.

If you are an incumbent, how did you vote for Senate Bill 287? If you are a challenger, how would you have voted?

Vote Against. The root of the problem here is that the State has decided it wants to provide services, contracted a private entity to provide those services on their behalf, and now expects the private entity to behave in ways they can’t control. I do not think the State should be in the business of providing the health insurance to its employees, nor should it contract with any private entity with expectation that the entity will bend to the State?s will in ways that exceed their contractual obligation.

The state’s request with regards to obesity and smoking is an outrage. First, I have to remind those who don’t know: BMI is an arbitrary number created with no scientific basis, and health professionals know it is not a sufficient means of measuring the health impact of a person’s weight. Second, it’s the private insurance group that should decide what factors impact the costs for its members. After all, insurance is a group buy-in to support its members when they need it most, and only the group has sufficient data to know which members will be its biggest burdens and, thus, should bear a bit more of the load than the rest of the group.

8. In 2009, the State Auditor found that the State Health Plan lacked adequate transparency and oversight. Will you support legislation that moves oversight of the State Health Plan away from legislative control into an executive branch agency? Why?

Oppose. Executive branch agencies cannot be voted in or out. This does not offer appropriate checks and balances on the state’s affairs. In the legislature, the voters can elect representatives who will eliminate or replace programs like the State Health Plan when necessary, whereas a permanent executive branch assumes the program should be a permanent fixture and removed from voter influence.

9. In 2009, Senate Bill 800, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, passed the Senate. The bill would have permitted state agencies to suspend, without pay, an employee suspected of wrongdoing, with no evidence needed. This bill, if it had passed the House, would have stripped away a vital provision of the State Personnel Act. How would you vote on Senate Bill 800 as passed by the Senate? Why?

Vote for. This is not the ideal solution to the problems created under the State Personnel Act, but it does help address them. Certainly, if an individual is unable to perform effectively in his job, whether or not he has been suspected of wrongdoing, the employer is completely justified in terminating or suspending the individual, with or without pay. Employers should be able to do the same even if the individual is performing effectively, but when the State is the employer such decisions are inevitably subject to political scrutiny.

10. Will you vote to require the employer contribution to the Retirement System (TSERS) at least match the employee contribution (6%)? Why?

No. Contribution to a retirement savings service should be private and voluntary, not mandated by law. As such, TSERS should be a private and voluntary system with the employer contribution independency from the employee contribution. The state could then make agreements with employees on an individual basis about this level of compensation, and raise or lower the amount based on each compensation package offered.

11. For the past three years, there have been hearings on bills repealing NCGS ? 95-98* the statute which prohibits public sector workers from entering into collective bargaining agreements with their employer. SEANC seeks collective bargaining rights for state employees while maintaining the ban on strikes for state workers. Would you support or oppose legislation to repeal NCGS ? 95-98 provided the ban on strikes remains intact? Why?

Oppose. The government as an employer should only bargain with individuals, not with collective organizations. A collective does not have rights; only individuals have rights. That said, people are free to join together in peaceful protest when supporting those who feel their rights have been violated.

12. What is your opinion of the role of public employee associations and labor unions in our society? Please elaborate.

People have a right to come together and support one another for common interests. They also have a right to pool their resources in raising a voice in support or opposition of public policy. No employer, including the government, has an obligation to listen to that voice, and it should be able to respond as it sees fit provided the response is not an aggression against those demonstrating.

13. Faced with a budget shortfall in 2009, Governor Perdue required all state employees and teachers to take 10 hours of mandatory furlough leave without pay during the last months of the fiscal year to help balance the budget. Additionally, House Bill 708 would have authorized up to 20 days of mandatory furlough of state employees during budget crises.

Do you support or oppose the Governor?s decision to furlough state employees to balance the budget?

No. Though labor costs are some of the highest expenditures the state has to pay, there are a lot of other ways she could have addressed her budget shortfalls without imposing on employees’ incomes.

14. Would you support or oppose legislation like House Bill 708 to authorize mandatory furloughs of state employees up to a specified period of time? Why?

It depends on the legislation and what other options are available. If the government is going to serve as an employer, it should have the option to trim its operating costs in what ways it deems appropriate. Though I disagree with Perdue’s approach using furloughs to address the 2009 budget, it is still a valid business decision and the state should have that option.

15. The Office of State Personnel calculates that turnover of state employees costs the state over $500 million each year. What ideas do you have to reduce the turnover rate of state employees?

The only effective ways to reduce the cost and turnover rate is to reduce the size and number of state agencies. At a minimum, though, each agency should stick to a tight and consistent annual budget with quarterly reporting.

16. Does your campaign accept PAC money?

Yes. It hasn’t yet as of this response, but I am delighted to accept any campaign contributions from organizations provided that my platform and that organization’s platform are in agreement.

17. Does your campaign accept union PAC money?

Yes, again, it hasn’t yet as of this response, but I’ll accept contributions from an organization only if my platform and that organization’s platform are in agreement.

18. Will you be seeking the EMPAC endorsement?

No. I’m not seeking any organization’s endorsement as I’m an individual running for office to represent individuals, not organizations. However, I welcome and encourage organizations to consider me for such endorsements if they feel that I represent their political interests.