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Home , Allen McNeill, Allison Dahle, Amos Quick, Ashton Clemmons, Ben Clark (politician), Bill Rabon

How They Voted

WHERE LEGISLATORS STOOD ON ’S JOBS AGENDA

2019 LEGISLATIVE SESSION NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY Introduction

As the state’s most industry-diverse, nonpartisan business advocacy group, the NC is relentlessly focused on economic growth and job creation. For us, that means listening to your concerns about the issues impeding your progress, identifying the solutions and policies that will spur economic development and job creation, then fighting and advocating for those ideas at the North Carolina General Assembly.

Thanks to the input and leadership from the statewide business community, we’ve seen tremendous success on pro-growth and pro-jobs policies over the last several years. But in the midst of a challenging political landscape, it’s more important than ever to hold our lawmakers accountable to your priorities and celebrate those leaders who stood up for you.

How They Voted has always been an unbiased accounting of where our state’s legislators stand on the issues that matter most to your business as detailed in the annual Jobs Agenda. Transcending politics, this publication is a straightforward tally of who showed up when given the opportunity to improve our state’s competitive footing and create jobs in our communities.

We’re proud to stand up for job creators in our state and to fight for the policies that fuel statewide job growth and economic prosperity. After another successful legislative session, we look forward to future collaborations and victories on your behalf.

Sincerely,

Gary J. Salamido President and CEO, NC Chamber Building the Jobs Agenda

Building the Jobs Agenda Using the framework laid out by our guiding document, North Carolina Vision 2030 – A Plan for Accelerating Job Growth and Securing North Carolina’s Future, NC Chamber volunteer leadership and committees develop a list of policy priorities that matter most to the business community. Before session begins, we share our top agenda items with each lawmaker and deliver copies of the Jobs Agenda at the General Assembly.

Fighting for the Issues that Matter Throughout session, our government affairs team stays in close contact with lawmakers to advocate for or against policies that could affect your business and the cost of a job. The NC Chamber keeps our members updated on these bills throughout session in our newsletter, This Week at the Capital. This email details where the NC Chamber stands on active bills and why we support or oppose their passage.

Counting the Votes Legislators earn points for each pro-business vote they take on the bills we tracked or lose points for anti- business votes. We track votes including readings, concurrences on conference reports and more. Bill sponsors and cosponsors earn additional points for introducing legislation that the NC Chamber supports. Missing a vote or declining to sponsor or cosponsor a bill is not a penalty—that legislator will simply have one fewer vote.

Naming the Champions Each legislator’s final voting percentage is calculated as pro-business votes divided by total votes. Legislators who have a voting record exceeding 80 percent are named Jobs Champions. Legislators who scored a 70 percent or higher and improved by 10 percent or more over their lifetime record are named Jobs Advocates.

By the Numbers

38 65 82% 98 11 Bills Included Votes Counted Average Voting Jobs Champions Jobs Advocates Record

25 14 13 0 Pro-Jobs Bills Pro-Jobs Bills Anti-Jobs Bills Anti-Jobs Bills Became Law Signed into Law 2019 Legislative Agenda

The following is an abbreviated version of the NC Chamber’s 2019 legislative agenda. For the full agenda, please visit ncchamber.com/agenda.

Education & Talent Supply

- Maintain strong academic standards that prepare our students for a competitive workforce - Encourage 75% enrollment rate for eligible children in the North Carolina Pre-K program to help meet 3rd- grade reading proficiency goals - Support both college and career advising programs, including the Career and College Promise Program - Advocate for apprenticeships and other career and technical education - Coordinate with the NC Community College System to expand access to training and education, examine funding methodologies and explore regionalization - Support efforts to recruit high-quality teachers, especially methods inspired by the private sector

Competitive Business Climate

- Cap, reduce and eliminate the state franchise tax over the next five years - Decouple from the Internal Revenue Code section 163(j) limit deduction on interest expense and reverse the 2018 franchise tax expansion on small businesses - Support association health plans and value-driven health care - Oppose legislation that expands the number of health insurance mandates imposed on NC businesses - Continue to oppose the elimination of Certificate of Need (CON) while working to advance CON reforms that reduce cost to the health care system and business - Advance tort and civil liability reforms, especially those that provide certainty and protection from frivolous nuisance lawsuits - Defeat legislation that erodes balanced reforms to workers’ compensation laws and fight to protect balance on the North Carolina Industrial Commission - Work to establish a research and development grant program for early-stage and start-up businesses - Promote policies that encourage angel investing and venture capital investment - Identify and promote qualified opportunity zones and general investment in non-urban and distressed areas

Infrastructure and Growth Leadership

- Advocate for policy recommendations outlined in the NC Chamber Foundation’s regulatory competitiveness study and the Framework for North Carolina Water Policy - Streamline the contested case process to promote efficiency and predictability for businesses to simplify and accelerate project delivery - Identify additional, diversified revenue sources to stabilize infrastructure investments, especially recommendations in the NC Chamber Foundation’s transportation study Education and Talent Supply

North Carolina must develop and maintain a first-rate, leading talent pipeline by aligning education and workforce development systems that are effective, agile, accountable, and flexible, and that consistently produce a competitive, diverse, world-class workforce.

For many job creators, the lack of skilled talent is the top issue affecting their ability to grow. This legislative session, we saw a number of victories that will both strengthen our talent pipeline from cradle to career and bolster collaborative, demand-driven workforce development solutions.

Key Bills

HB 487 Additional Education and Community College Short-Term Workforce Training Funds Talent Supply Bills Supported by the NC Chamber There is a funding disparity at the community colleges between workforce training programs and curriculum (college preparation) HB 362/HB 145 15-Point Scale for programs. This legislation closes that gap. Increasing the number School Grades of qualified workers remains a top priority for the NC Chamber. HB 886 Study Participation of Therefore, we supported the policy of treating curriculum and Operators in NC Pre-K workforce programs equally. The language from this bill was signed into law as part of SB 61. HB 924/SB 134/HB 433 Economics and Financial Literacy Act HB 664 SB 438 Excellent Public Schools Act myFutureNC/Postsecondary Attainment Goal of 2019

The myFutureNC Commission set an important postsecondary SB 562/HB 874 Second Chance Act attainment goal for the state: by 2030, 2 million North Carolinians between 25 and 44 will have a high-quality postsecondary degree or credential. This bill codifies that goal and sets up a task force to chart a path forward. The NC Chamber endorsed the myFutureNC attainment goal and supported this legislation because business leaders will need skilled workers to fill their open positions for years to come, and aligning stakeholders across business, education and government will benefit us all. Competitive Business Climate

While North Carolina is appearing near the top of an increasing number of noteworthy business climate rankings, we cannot be complacent as other states are constantly working to be more competitive. North Carolina must continually strive to position its business climate more competitively in order to attract new investment and create and retain more good jobs for North Carolinians.

Key Bills

SB 86/HB 464 Bad Bills that Threaten Small Business Health Care Act North Carolina’s Business Climate Across all three pillars of North While North Carolina’s health care costs have been on the rise, our Carolina Vision 2030, these are the health outcomes remain far below the national average. To upend bills opposed by the NC Chamber this backwards value proposition, North Carolina must bring value- during the 2019 legislative session: driven health care to our state, and association health plans could be a key piece of that puzzle. This legislation creates an opportunity HB 46 Economic Security Act to help small businesses across the state have access to high- quality, affordable health care coverage. It became law without the HB 315 Instructional Materials governor’s signature on August 26. Selection HB 431 Fiber NC Act SB 622/HB 676 Tax Reduction Act of 2019 HB 568/SB 653 Additional Measures for Emerging Contaminants Two of the NC Chamber’s top tax priorities are included in this bill: the simplification and reduction of the franchise tax and the HB 572 Req Prop. Disposal/Coal Ash extension of the exemption on jet fuel. A cap, reduction and eventual Impdmts elimination of the franchise tax will support job creators throughout HB 611 Amend Rules of Evidence/ North Carolina, eliminate an unnecessary burden on businesses Binding Arbitration and help spread economic opportunity for all. These policies were HB 711 Excellent Educational ultimately included in SB 578 and HB 399. SB 578 was vetoed on November 8 and HB 399 became law on November 1. Standards SB 308 Save the Internet Act HJR 253, HJR 254, HJR 255 SB 338/HB 513 Efficient & Affordable Confirm James Gillen and to the Industrial Commission, Louis Bledsoe to the Special Superior Court Energy Rates SB 361 Healthy NC Protecting the balance of the Industrial Commission is a top priority for the NC Chamber, as parties with vested interests on all sides of SB 503 Wage Theft Act the workers’ compensation system and leaders from both political SB 539 Repeal CON Laws parties have worked together for years to foster a fair and balanced system. These appointments maintain that balance on the Industrial SB 671/HB 731 Natural Gas Commission. The North Carolina Business Court is a specialized forum Transportation Cost Recovery of the superior court division, which hears cases involving complex and significant issues of corporate and commercial law. Judge Louis Bledsoe is widely respected as a fair and balanced jurist, and the NC Chamber supported his appointment. Infrastructure and Growth Leadership

North Carolina must identify ways to continue investing in the development and maintenance of sound physical infrastructure, including transportation (roads, railroads and ports), water and sewer, energy and broadband/advanced communications to meet the demands of population and economic growth.

Key Bills

SB 356 Additional Infrastructure DOT Cash and Accountability and Growth Leadership Bills North Carolina faced an infrastructure funding crisis that forced project Supported by the NC Chamber delays and layoffs earlier this year. In response, the NC Chamber and HB 306 Risk-Based Remediation/ members of the aligned business community launched the NC Can’t Afford Animal Waste Management to Stop Coalition to advocate for funding solutions. Senate Bill 356: DOT HB 758 Metropolitan Sewerage Cash and Accountability is a positive step forward to address our state’s infrastructure funding challenges, making $290 million available to NCDOT Districts Expansion and through loans from the Highway Trust Fund and additional Build NC bonds. Governanace These dollars will enable the Department to start much-needed projects. HB 845/SB 607 Prevent Highway to General Fund Transfers SB 559/HB 624 Securitization/Alt. Rates HB 846/SB 608 Savings Reserves/ Use Funds for Disaster Relief As powerful storms continue to hit North Carolina, it is imperative that there be a plan in place to predictably pay for recovery. For businesses, SB 434 Merger of Certain extended power outages can greatly impact bottom lines, forcing Sewerage Districts closures, lost productivity and significant monetary losses. Storm SB 510 Promotion of Energy securitization creates a mechanism to pay for storm recovery through the Storage Investments formation of bonds, creating greater predictability for customers, utilities and the state regulator. At one point, the bill also included provisions that SB 505 Rural Job Retention Act would have allowed the Utilities Commission to approve a public utility’s SB 553 Regulatory Reform Act proposal for multiyear rate plans, banding of authorized returns, or a of 2019 combination of the two, provided that the Commission’s own analysis demonstrated that such a rate methodology would result in rates that were just, reasonable and in the public interest. The final version of this bill did not include this provision.

SB 605 Highway Storm Recovery Act Hurricanes Florence and Matthew, along with Winter Storm Diego, decimated critical infrastructure in our state. While the state plans for these types of natural disasters, the scope of the damage can be hard to predict. The Savings Reserve was put into place for just this reason. Using these funds to ease the burden on NCDOT and aid in speedier recovery is critical for the citizens of North Carolina. NC Senate 2019 HOW THEY VOTED

PRO-JOBS ANTI-JOBS 2019 LIFETIME DISTRICT LEGISLATOR VOTES VOTES PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE 18 John Alexander 24 1 96% 96%

44 Ted Alexander 32 1 97% 97%

45 33 1 97% 97%

30 Phil Berger 32 1 97% 97%

14 20 8 71% 61%

13 , Jr. 34 2 94% 97%

6 Harry Brown 28 1 97% 97%

39 * 8 0 100% 92%

12 35 1 97% 97%

15 22 10 69% 56%

21 28 7 80% 78%

46 34 2 94% 89%

5 Don Davis 26 7 79% 62%

50 Jim Davis 34 1 97% 96%

19 Kirk deViere 21 12 64% 64%

48 33 2 94% 97%

4 18 8 69% 63%

33 35 1 97% 86%

23 19 12 61% 56%

29 Eddie Gallimore 29 1 97% 97%

27 Michael Garrett 23 9 72% 72%

24 26 1 96% 97%

43 26 1 96% 96%

47 33 3 92% 91%

11 31 2 94% 93%

* Appointed mid-session NC Senate 2019 HOW THEY VOTED

PRO-JOBS ANTI-JOBS 2019 LIFETIME DISTRICT LEGISLATOR VOTES VOTES PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE 10 Brent Jackson 34 1 97% 97%

37 Jeff Jackson 15 12 56% 57%

35 Todd Johnson 34 1 97% 97%

31 33 2 94% 96%

32 Paul Lowe 30 4 88% 67%

41 19 15 56% 56%

25 Tom McInnis 36 2 95% 98%

20 Floyd McKissick 24 9 73% 65%

38 Mujtaba Mohammed 21 19 53% 53%

36 35 1 97% 99%

16 19 16 54% 54%

7 * 33 2 94% 94%

9 22 7 76% 76%

8 33 1 97% 97%

28 Gladys Robinson 20 10 67% 54%

2 Norm Sanderson 37 3 93% 93%

34 34 1 97% 97%

17 25 6 81% 81%

3 Erica Smith 19 12 61% 60%

1 36 3 92% 91%

26 Jerry Tillman 30 2 94% 95%

49 21 13 62% 55%

40 25 12 68% 60%

42 Andy Wells 28 1 97% 93%

22 Mike Woodard 25 10 71% 64%

* Appointed mid-session NC House 2019 HOW THEY VOTED

PRO-JOBS ANTI-JOBS 2019 LIFETIME DISTRICT LEGISLATOR VOTES VOTES PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE 96 28 2 93% 94% 41 22 13 63% 69% 115 32 10 76% 64% 107 , Jr. 23 7 77% 72% 69 28 3 90% 91% 100 John Autry 25 15 63% 53% 49 21 15 58% 58% 7 Lisa Barnes 30 3 91% 91% 37 19 12 61% 61% 92 25 10 71% 64% 88 Mary Belk 25 15 63% 60% 10 John Bell, IV 34 2 94% 94% 29 Mary Ann Black 18 9 67% 56% 86 21 8 72% 75% 52 Jamie Boles, Jr. 31 3 91% 90% 66 * 19 8 70% 70% 22 30 3 91% 89% 60 28 7 80% 70% 55 26 8 76% 85% 109 30 3 91% 84% 18 25 15 63% 57% 102 28 10 74% 72% 65 32 3 91% 91% 98 Christy Clark 24 9 73% 73% 57 25 11 69% 69% 14 George Cleveland 24 7 77% 78% 74 28 3 90% 87% 120 24 3 89% 93% 106 25 9 74% 60% 11 22 16 58% 58%

* Appointed mid-session NC House 2019 HOW THEY VOTED

PRO-JOBS ANTI-JOBS 2019 LIFETIME DISTRICT LEGISLATOR VOTES VOTES PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE 19 Ted Davis, Jr. 32 3 91% 92% 4 29 2 94% 93% 85 Josh Dobson 28 3 90% 88% 94 25 3 89% 91% 35 Terence Everitt 20 13 61% 61% 62 31 2 94% 94% 24 Jean Farmer-Butterfield 24 8 75% 60% 114 Susan Fisher 26 17 60% 48% 43 29 5 85% 69% 95 John Fraley 31 3 91% 94% 25 25 9 74% 74% 32 26 10 72% 64% 33 24 13 65% 59% 1 29 5 85% 85% 47 Charles Graham 25 5 83% 71% 20 29 3 91% 94% 87 30 2 94% 89% 91 31 2 94% 91% 6 31 3 91% 91% 59 35 3 92% 90% 105 , PhD 27 7 79% 79% 61 24 21 53% 46% 110 23 0 100% 91% 31 Zack Hawkins 28 14 67% 67% 38 28 11 72% 59% 68 D. Craig Horn 29 2 94% 92% 77 Julia Howard 32 4 89% 84% 12 Chris Humphrey 34 2 94% 94% 103 21 11 66% 66% 5 Howard Hunter, III 33 5 87% 78% NC House 2019 HOW THEY VOTED

PRO-JOBS ANTI-JOBS 2019 LIFETIME DISTRICT LEGISLATOR VOTES VOTES PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE 70 35 3 92% 92% 17 30 4 88% 91% 56 Verla Insko 24 17 59% 50% 39 Darren Jackson 20 14 59% 60% 80 31 3 91% 91% 40 25 11 69% 61% 113 Jake Johnson* 11 2 85% 85% 82 Linda Johnson 23 3 88% 93% 46 27 2 93% 96% 9 , MD* 6 0 100% 100% 79 23 8 74% 74% 75 26 3 90% 90% 53 David R. Lewis 34 2 94% 93% 104 24 10 71% 71% 101 26 17 60% 60% 42 Marvin Lucas 29 8 78% 74% 99 30 12 71% 71% 34 18 12 60% 60% 13 Pat McElraft 30 4 88% 92% 117 Chuck McGrady 30 2 94% 81% 84 Jeffrey McNeely* 16 2 89% 89% 78 Allen McNeill 32 3 91% 93% 50 Graig Meyer 26 10 72% 62% 72 Derwin L. Montgomery 22 7 76% 76% 111 Tim Moore 26 2 93% 95% 30 18 20 47% 50% 48 Garland E. Pierce 29 8 78% 66% 83 26 9 74% 78% 81 30 4 88% 89% 118 Michele D. Presnell 31 4 89% 92%

* Appointed mid-session NC House 2019 HOW THEY VOTED

PRO-JOBS ANTI-JOBS 2019 LIFETIME DISTRICT LEGISLATOR VOTES VOTES PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE 119 27 7 79% 60% 58 , III 22 9 71% 57% 54 Robert Reives, II 19 10 66% 63% 44 William Richardson 24 3 89% 73% 64 34 3 92% 92% 112 David Rogers 24 3 89% 92% 63 Stephen Ross 27 3 90% 93% 93 C. Ray Russell 27 10 73% 73% 97 30 1 97% 93% 67 30 3 91% 91% 51 John Sauls 27 3 90% 94% 89 Mitchell Setzer 32 4 89% 81% 15 Philip Shepard 25 3 89% 90% 16 Carson Smith 30 3 91% 91% 8 20 9 69% 69% 21 Raymond Smith, Jr. 22 13 63% 63% 3 22 10 69% 73% 90 Sarah Stevens 28 3 90% 93% 28 Larry Strickland 35 3 92% 93% 45 31 3 91% 95% 71 21 9 70% 58% 108 31 5 86% 91% 116 Brian Turner 29 6 83% 71% 36 Julie von Haefen 22 13 63% 63% 76 Harry Warren 30 6 83% 86% 26 Donna McDowell White 32 4 89% 90% 23 31 12 72% 63% 27 Michael H. Wray 33 5 87% 80% 2 26 3 90% 95% 73 29 3 91% 94% Jobs Champions 2019 HOW THEY VOTED

Legislators who earned the title of Jobs Champion voted for the Jobs Agenda at least 80 percent of the time or led efforts to pass key pro-business bills.

Rep. Jay Adams Rep. Jake Johnson Sen. John Alexander Rep. Dean Arp Rep. Linda Johnson Sen. Ted Alexander Rep. Lisa Barnes Rep. Brenden Jones Sen. Deanna Ballard Rep. John Bell Rep. Perrin Jones, MD Sen. Phil Berger Rep. Jamie Boles Rep. Donny Lambeth Sen. Danny Britt Rep. William Brisson Rep. David Lewis Sen. Harry Brown Rep. Cecil Brockman Rep. Pat McElraft Sen. Rob Bryan Rep. Dana Bumgardner Rep. Chuck McGrady Sen. Jim Burgin Rep. Jerry Carter Rep. Jeffrey McNeely Sen. Ben Clark Rep. Debra Conrad Rep. Allen McNeill Sen. Warren Daniel Rep. Kevin Corbin Rep. Tim Moore Sen. Jim Davis Rep. Ted Davis Rep. Larry Potts Sen. Chuck Edwards Rep. Jimmy Dixon Rep. Michele Presnell Sen. Carl Ford Rep. Josh Dobson Rep. Billy Richardson Sen. Eddie Gallimore Rep. Jeffrey Elmore Rep. Dennis Riddell Sen. Rick Gunn Rep. John Faircloth Rep. David Rogers Sen. Kathy Harrington Rep. Elmer Floyd Rep. Stephen Ross Sen. Ralph Hise Rep. John Fraley Rep. Jason Saine Sen. Rick Horner Rep. Ed Goodwin Rep. Wayne Sasser Sen. Brent Jackson Rep. Charles Graham Rep. John Sauls Sen. Todd Johnson Rep. Holly Grange Rep. Mitchell Setzer Sen. Joyce Krawiec Rep. Destin Hall Rep. Sen. Paul Lowe Rep. Kyle Hall Rep. Carson Smith Sen. Tom McInnis Rep. Bobby Hanig Rep. Sarah Stevens Sen. Paul Newton Rep. Jon Hardister Rep. Larry Strickland Sen. Jim Perry Rep. Kelly Hastings Rep. John Szoka Sen. Bill Rabon Rep. D. Craig Horn Rep. John Torbett Sen. Norm Sanderson Rep. Julia Howard Rep. Brian Turner Sen. Vickie Sawyer Rep. Chris Humphrey Rep. Harry Warren Sen. Sam Searcy Rep. Howard Hunter Rep. Donna White Sen. Bob Steinburg Rep. Pat Hurley Rep. Michael Wray Sen. Jerry Tillman Rep. Frank Iler Rep. Larry Yarborough Sen. Andy Wells Rep. Steve Jarvis Rep. Lee Zachary

Jobs Advocates 2019 HOW THEY VOTED

Legislators who demonstrated courage in standing up for pro-jobs policies this year, as evidenced by a 10 percent or higher increase over their lifetime score, are recognized as NC Chamber Jobs Advocates. To earn this designation, legislators must vote with the Jobs Agenda at least 70 percent of the time.

Rep. John Ager Rep. Graig R. Meyer Rep. Evelyn Terry Rep. Carla D. Cunningham Rep. Garland E. Pierce Sen. Dan Blue Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield Rep. Joe Sam Queen Sen. Don Davis Rep. Yvonne Lewis Holley Rep. Amos L. Quick, III What’s Next for How They Voted?

Holding lawmakers accountable for you—the job creators who fuel North Carolina’s continued growth and success—is a top priority for the NC Chamber. It’s no secret that the political While we climate in North Carolina and across the country is impacting our legislative process. As we observed at the end of the 2018 must adapt to legislative session, the North Carolina General Assembly is the changing increasingly using omnibus, package and budget bills as vehicles to vote on multiple policies at once, rather than standalone times, one bills with individual policies. This practice leaves us with fewer thing will opportunities to paint an accurate picture of each legislator’s stance on key business issues. always stay

In this increasingly uncertain climate, it’s more important than the same: the ever that we preserve the impartial, data-backed nature of this publication. That’s why we plan to refine and adjust the NC Chamber methodology we use to count lawmakers’ votes and determine is the voice their score on business issues in editions to come. With fewer votes on the House and Senate floor to count, we may add for business committee votes or begin weighting key votes that have a larger at the General impact on your business. Additional changes could include considerations of a legislator’s bipartisan record, as evidenced by Assembly. cosponsorships on bills from the opposing party.

Scoring criteria, key votes and our legislative agenda will continue to be communicated to legislators ahead of each legislative session. While we must adapt to the changing times, one thing will always stay the same: the NC Chamber is the voice for business at the General Assembly. That means we’ll always be here to count the votes, hold legislators accountable, and fight for you. 701 Corporate Center Drive, Ste. 400 Raleigh, NC 27607

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