Senator A.B. Swindell answered questions and discussed the State Senate’s role in
the distribution of stimulus funds at a panel on April 16 at the Nash County Community College. Also making an appearance at the event was freshman Senator Don Davis. The Spring Forum, hosted by the Nash County Democratic Party, featured Senators Swindell and Davis, U.S. Congressman Bob Etheridge, and other local elected officials.
After Congressman Etheridge explained the availability and accessibility of the stimulus funds in the region, Senator Swindell explained the proposed Senate budget. After acknowledging the need for the federal stimulus package, the Senator was quick to point out that “North Carolina cannot depend on the stimulus to take care of all our problems.” Swindell went on to say that the budget should use the stimulus money to fill holes, but that it should not be designated for anything that requires recurring payments.
The crowd seemed to be receptive to Senator Swindell’s assessment that the writing of this year’s budget was perhaps “the hardest [the Senator] has ever had to help write” since he was first elected to the Senate in 2000. The Senator reiterated the Constitutional mandate requiring a balanced budget forced the budget writers to make cuts in various programs that might not normally be cut, but that “all the options we looked at to expand the budget had to create jobs.”
Senator Davis, who stopped by the event on the way back to his district, explained briefly his role on the Senate Select Committee on Economic Recovery. “As a member of this committee, it is my responsibility to ensure that we in the Senate do everything we can to maximize the amount of federal dollars North Carolina receives.”
Images: Senator A.B. Swindell addresses the crowd gathered at the Democratic Spring Forum (Top Right); Senator Don Davis speaks at the podium at the Nash Community College (Bottom Right)