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Biennial Session… Cont’d From P. 18 In the House, Rep. Tim Moore was re-elected as the

Speaker. Rep. Sarah Stephens was re-elected Speaker
tion. The fifth Extra Session was held on December 21st Pro Tempore. The Republican Majority Leader is Rep.

during which the General Assembly considered the re- John R. Bell, IV and the Democratic Minority Leader is
peal of House Bill 2, (a/k/a the “bathroom bill”) that was Rep. Darren G. Jackson. (Former House Democratic Mi-
enacted on March 23rd, but no action was taken to repeal nority Leader Larry Hall was appointed Secretary of the

this bill. Department of Military Affair and resigned from the

The General Assembly convened for its Biennial House.)
2017-2018 Session with an “organizational session” on
The turnover rate among legislators decreased

Wednesday, January 11, 2017, then adjourned. They re- significantly this Session. Twenty-four new members of
turned two weeks later (January 25th) to begin the full the 170 member total are “freshmen.” There are five (5)

session. (This early organizational session is something new Senators this Session and 19 new House mem-
new, begun three Sessions ago, and is solely to elect of- bers. Of these new House members, 12 are Republicans

ficers, adopt rules and announce plans for the upcoming and 7 are Democrats.

session.) The top issues for this Biennial Session will be much

In the Senate, Sen. Phil Berger was re-elected as as in the past: The State Budget, revenue, Medicaid, ed-

President Pro Tempore and continues to lead the Senate. ucation funding, transportation issues, economic devel-
Sen. Louis Pate continues to serve as Deputy President opment, and teacher pay raises. Also, you can expect the
Pro Tempore and Sen. Harry Brown continues to serve “circus” to continue as the controversial – and now infa-

as the Republican Majority Leader. Sen. Dan Blue con- mous – “bathroom bill” continues to be a focus.
tinues to serve as the Democratic Minority Leader.

(Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest serves as the President

of the Senate.)

Local Lodge News

Durham County Lodge 2 Activities

By Terry Mangum – Durham County Lodge 2 State Trustee

On January 30 Durham County Lodge 2 carried the recruit class of the Durham Police Department Acad-
emy to lunch prior to their graduation which we do for every recruit class. Providing information about
the Fraternal Order of Police and answering questions from the recruits during these lunches has proven
to be an excellent recruitment tool for our Lodge. This may be something which would be beneficial for
your Lodge in recruiting new members.

Then on February 1 Durham County Lodge 2 again sponsored the refreshments for the Durham Police
Department Academy Graduation Ceremony reception. Lodge 2 has been sponsoring these graduation
receptions for many years.

On February 4 Durham County Lodge 2 Vice President Bobby Gaddy and I attended the State Executive
Board meeting in Statesville at Iredell County Lodge 10.

Durham County Lodge 2 conducted our annual Emergency Personnel Appreciation Day event on Febru-
ary 26 at the Ale House which is held in conjunction with the Daytona 500 each year.

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