Legislators backtrack on 2005 decision

  RALEIGH (AP) – General As*sembly members who approved hundreds of new laws in 2005 are now pleading with their col*leagues to repeal several of them before they wrap up their two-year session this month.
  From ending mandatory eye exams for schoolchildren to blocking required pay*ments of property taxes when renewing license tags, many lawmakers this year seem to be looking for ways to undo what they consider misjudg*ments by their colleagues.
  Onslow County Republican Rep. George Cleveland is trying to repeal or weaken a provision giving in-state status to out-of*state students on full scholar*ships to University of North Carolina system schools.
  “The bill was totally un*fair,” he said.
  Undoing something before the ink hardly has time to dry in the statute books can be a tougher challenge than getting legislation passed in the first place. Successful repeals often hinge on connections, alliances and simple good fortune.
  The chances of convincing the full General Assembly to reverse itself on the matter seemed slim. Supporters of the University of North Car*olina at Chapel Hill sought the scholarship change last year and have powerful friends in both chambers, par*ticularly the Senate.
  Rep. Larry Bell, D-Sampson, a co-chairman of the education committee, said no one ever urged him to kill Cleveland’s bill. But he questioned the wis*dom of repealing legislation be*fore it even takes effect.
  Meanwhile, automobile deal*ers are worried about the effect a 2005 law might have on their sales. The measure requires car owners to pay automotive prop*erty taxes at the same time they pay their license registration.
  But dealers have a friend in Rep. Nelson Cole, D-Rocking*ham, a retired car dealer himself and co-chairman of the House Rules Committee. He helped push through his panel approval of a bill that would repeal the provision – despite the fact it passed unanimously in both cham*bers last year.

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