This legislation
significantly increases the tools available to law enforcement to reduce
theft of scrap metals, which is a major problem in the development industry.
Though we fell
short of our goal to limit unfair advantages of government-owned broadband
providers, we gained ground in sending a clear message that North Carolina
does NOT want to "nationalize" this industry and have government compete
with private enterprise.
The free-market
measure extends the same option to the beer/malt beverage industry that
already exists for wine makers. Retailers and microbreweries across
the state will have expanded options for selling their products.
For as long as I
am in the legislature, I will work to repeal this tax. You would think
this an easy task given that every referendum has failed to date, but the
threat exists.
