WRAL’s Mark Binker, who covers the N.C. General Assembly, tells The Skinny that the outlook for crowdfunding legislation is not a slam dunk for passage.
Will it even get a vote?
If you are among those who want to see crowdfunding brought to North Carolina to help finance startups then you had better step up your phone calls and emails to the state Senate.
The NC JOBS Act (approved last year by the N.C. House) clearly isn’t a top priority – and time is running out to get the bill passed.
“There are 1.5 to 2.5 weeks of session left unless the wheels truly come off,” Binker says. “My best estimate is that it is less than ‘must do’ in the Senate’s mind but more than take-or-leave-it.
“It sounds like it is something they would like to do if they have a chance.”
NC JOBS Act backers have mounted a last-ditch lobbying effort to get legislation H680 passed.
Bottom line: Some Senators are listening. Others aren’t.
“I spoke to Sen. Rick Gunn, R-Alamance, and Sen. Welsey Meredith, R-Cumberland, [about] Rep. Tom Murry’s start up investment bill,” Binker says.
Meredith told Binker “he is aware of the bill but it has not made it onto the calendar.”
That’s bad news.
However, “nothing specific” is holding the bill up, Binker says.
Gunn gives heart to backers with this comment to Binker: ”It’s being strongly considered.”
“There’s a lot of interest in the bill. It’s on my radar,” he added.
But Gunn told Binker that Senators are “just making sure it’s in the form they would want to see it pass into law.”
Time to make calls and send emails, folks.
Meanwhile, the Commerce Department privatization bill – which supports say will boost economic development – is on the way to Gov. Pat McCrory’s desk.
