1.
Capitol
Commentary
419B Legislative Office Building
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 715-3009 ruths@ncleg.net
July 13, 2011 Legislative Update Raleigh, NC
After a brief lull in legislative activity, politics ramps back up again this week with the start of a
mid-summer special session. Before I head back to Raleigh today, I wanted to let you know what
to expect out of the state Capitol in the coming weeks.
Redistricting
The primary focus of the special session will be redistricting -- the once-a-decade process of
redrawing state legislative and U.S. Congressional districts using the new U.S. census data.
Though the session officially kicks off today (for technical reasons), we don't actually have
business on the legislative calendar until next week.
The legislature's redistricting committee leaders unveiled new Congressional district maps earlier
this month, and we've begun a series of three dozen public hearings on those maps as well as the
House and Senate maps. Those of you who have lived in North Carolina for many years will
recall the highly contentious and litigious redistricting processes we've endured in the past,
resulting in the oddly shaped districts we have today. More court challenges are inevitable this
year, though we have done our best to draw fair and legal districts that comply with all the
previous court decisions. It has not been an easy task!
The state House and Senate maps were released earlier this week. My district District 104 would
migrate south, dropping some neighborhoods north of NC 51 and picking up some in the
Arboretum area. The new districts would go into effect beginning with the 2012 elections.
Veto Overrides
It's also possible that we will attempt some veto override votes during this session. The governor
rejected a record 15 bills passed by the legislature, including the budget, voter ID legislation and
the Women's Right to Know Act. We already overrode her veto of the budget. It's too soon to say
which others, if any, will be the subject of more override votes.
Water Symposium
I am very much looking forward to attending the "Success Without Excess" water symposium on
the NC State campus tomorrow. While I will be making a speech about current state water
policy, I am particularly interested in hearing what the other speakers have to say about how we
can creatively solve our water use challenges in the future.

2. Currently, the legislative calendar has us concluding the redistricting session by the end of this
month and not reconvening until fall, for another special session focused on which state
constitutional amendments you will see on your ballot in 2012. During this time, the best way to
contact me with your comments or questions is still at my legislative office at (919) 715-3009 or
by email at ruths@ncleg.net or samuelsonla@ncleg.net.
Best wishes,
Ruth Samuelson, Majority Whip
NC House of Representatives, District 104
Mecklenburg County
http://www.ruthsamuelson.com