LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER April 10, 2014 PUTTING NORTH CAROLINA BACK TO WORK The February unemployment numbers came

out a couple weeks ago and North Carolinas unemployment rate has fallen again. Now its down to 6.4%, marking the first time since March 2006 that our states unemployment rate has been below the national unemployment rate. As stated in our last letter, our unemployment rate dropped faster than any state in the union! In addition, the North Carolina economy has added over 200,000 new jobs since 2011 when the Republicans took control of the legislature. One thing is clear: the Republican policies of cutting taxes, curbing government spending, and reducing regulations has put North Carolina back on the track to job production. Since 2011, weve made great progress in freeing businesses from government intrusion and giving more power to the individual. Weve reduced unnecessary government regulations so that businesses large and small can grow. Weve reduced taxes for all North Carolina families and businesses so that our citizens have more disposable income which puts more money into the states economy. In February 2010, our states unemployment rate was at its all -time highest level, 11.3%. Our state leaders at the time continued to spend, tax, and regulate in order to somehow boost the economy. The previous mentality that government spending puts as much money into the economy as private spending certainly did nothing to heal our ailing economy or to put our citizens back to work. In 2010, you elected us to get our state off this track of economic stagnation. We did, we have, and we will continue to move this state onto the pathway to prosperity.

SENATOR NEAL HUNT

Proudly Representing Wake County in the North Carolina Senate 15 District
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LEGISLATIVE OFFICE 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 309 Raleigh, NC 27603 (919)733-5850 Neal.Hunt@ncleg.net

DISTRICT OFFICE 2600 Fairview Road Raleigh, NC 27608 (919)781-3464

VOTER ERROR AND FRAUD EVIDENCE DISCOVERED The North Carolina State Board of Elections recently discovered alarming evidence that voter fraud and voter error have indeed been a part of elections in North Carolina. The findings were recently presented to a Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee: 765 voters with an exact match of first and last name, date of birth, and last four digits of SSN were registered in North Carolina and another state and voted in North Carolina and the other state in the 2012 General Election; 35,750 voters with the same first and last name and date of birth were registered in North Carolina and another state and voted in both states in the 2012 General Election; 155,692 voters with the same first and last name, date of birth, and last four digits of SSN were registered in North Carolina and another state and the latest date of registration or voter activity did not take place within North Carolina. 50,000 new death records had not been previously provided to the State Board of Elections; 13,416 deceased voters were still on the voter rolls in October 2013; 81 deceased voters had voter activity after they died.

info@nealhunt.com

STANDING COMMITTEES Appropriations, Co-Chair Commerce Finance Health Care Program Evaluation Redistricting Transportation

INTERIM COMMITTEES Purchase and Contract Study Committee, Co-Chair Economic Development and Global Engagement Oversight Commission on Governmental Operations Commission on Jordan Lake Program Evaluation Oversight Transportation Oversight

Its important to note that these findings only take into account data from the 28 states who participated in the 2014 Interstate Crosscheck, leaving out potential voter error and fraud in the 22 states that do not participate in the consortium. Needless to say, these alarming numbers would be even higher if all 50 states voter rolls were examined. Whats important to remember is that every time a fraudulent vote is cast, it cancels out a legitimate vote and robs a law-abiding citizen of his/her constitutional right. Fortunately, we stood up to the critics who claim voter fraud doesnt exist and passed a bipartisan voter ID bill last year. Showing a photo ID in order to prove who you are before casting a ballot is plain common sense and will help alleviate the problem of voter fraud. SHORT SESSION IS IN-SIGHT On May 14th, the General Assembly will reconvene for the short session. During this time, we will mainly focus on tweaking parts of the state budget we passed last year that need tweaking. As a Senate Appropriations/Base Budget Committee Co-Chair, I have spent the past few weeks with fiscal research staff and with our

VOTING RECORD

BILLS INTRODUCED

House counterparts in making the necessary changes to the budget. There is one big surprise that we are waiting on: Medicaid, which has always been a moving target. With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), many citizens are coming out of the woodwork and enrolling in Medicaid for the first time, putting us in a budgetary dilemma. The woodwork" effect describes citizens previously eligible for Medicaid who did not enroll but are now required to do so under Obamacare. We think the Medicaid shortfall number will be very large again prohibiting the budget writers from funding anything except our states core priorities. Despite this, I anticipate this short session will indeed be short. Once we receive the Medicaid numbers from DHHS and our revenue numbers, we will be able to make the necessary changes to the budget and let the legislators get back to the districts to run their reelection campaigns. PRIMARY ELECTION ON MAY 6TH Remember that the Primary Election is on Tuesday, May 6 th. Polls will be open in Wake County 6:30am-7:30pm. Early voting for the Primary Election begins on April 24th and ends May 3rd. The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the Primary Election is May 3rd. For more information about voting, visit the Wake County Board of Elections or the North Carolina State Board of Elections. THANK YOU Ive received several emails, letters, and phone calls congratulating me on my retirement from the North Carolina Senate at the end of my current term. I would like to thank you for your kind words and best wishes! As always, it is a pleasure to serve you in the North Carolina Senate. Please contact my office if you need any assistance. Sincerely,

Neal Hunt

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