Ten Percent Penalty Looms Over Highway Bills
North Carolina legislators face a choice on five highway related bills tied to federal funds. If passed they would bring over four million dollars in federal aid, but if defeated a ten percent withholding penalty could cost about eleven million per biennium. Rep Thorne Gregory and Rep Nel son Taylor push bills to align state law with the National Highway Safety Act and Beautification Program. Rep Jesse Austin and Rep Gilbert Boger oppose citing property rights concerns.