Brunswick County has declared a state of emergency following Tuesday morning’s tornado. The County is encouraging impacted individuals to call or e-mail county offices with requests for assistance instead of visiting in person.
First, I want to express my condolences to those affected by the severe weather across North Carolina this week. I saw firsthand the devastation in Brunswick County from the tornado that touched down, and it’s always heartbreaking to see the toll nature can take on lives and property.
Brunswick County Code Administration has also set up a temporary satellite office to assist with permits and questions. The office is located at the Ocean Ridge Club House (351 Ocean Ridge Pkwy SW). Code Administration staff are available to assist from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Wednesday, Feb. 24. Individuals from outside the Ocean Ridge Plantation community can notify the front gate that they are arriving to visit the temporary satellite office for entry.
Here are other updates on events ongoing both in Washington and in North Carolina:
House Democrat leadership and the Biden Administration continue to pursue their $1.9 trillion plus spending package that contains a host of bailouts for liberal interest groups, particularly for Democrat states and cities that have been plagued for years with financial mismanagement. The hot topic of the Democrat conference now seems be focused in on an increase in the minimum wage, which the Congressional Budget Office said last week would cost 1.4 million jobs, and whether it can be included in the package under the Senate’s procedural rules for budget reconciliation.
As I’ve written in previous newsletters, Democrat leadership is using this mechanism so they can avoid the 60 vote threshold required for policy legislation. Under budget reconciliation, only revenue items, mandatory spending items, and debt related matters are eligible to be included. And under budget reconciliation rules a simple majority of 51 votes is all that is needed to pass the legislation, thereby eliminating any need to negotiate with Republicans. Stay tuned for more on this when the House returns to session next week.
An update on COVID-19 vaccinations here in North Carolina:
The state has announced it expects delays in some vaccine shipments and deliveries due to this week’s severe weather. This may mean that some appointments previously confirmed by providers will have to be postponed. Be sure to contact your provider to verify your appointment.
