By Staff
Williams makes second appearance in two days
By DAN PARSONS
Staff Writer
Still buzzing from the success of their party’s fundraiser Tuesday night, the Beaufort County Democratic Women welcomed Rep. Arthur Williams to their monthly meeting at King Chicken Wednesday night.
After a second meal of fried chicken in two nights, conversation turned from the success of that fundraiser to what Williams is doing for Beaufort County in Raleigh.
Surry Everett, chairman of the Beaufort County Democratic Party, said that even with the success of the fundraiser, the party would continue to raise money.
Around 200 people turned up at the Washington Civic Center the night before, including Williams, Hackney and Holliman. During his speech Wednesday, Williams took advantage of the less hectic atmosphere to list some inclusions in the recently passed state budget. More than half of that budget — $11.5 billion — went to education, he said.
Williams also spoke briefly on the Legislature’s decision to take some of the burden of Medicaid off county purses. The state budget, passed in July, allotted at least $500,000 to each county to help cover Medicaid costs.
As chair of the state’s wildlife committee, Williams said all hunting and fishing bills come through him, as well as most of the legislation regarding the environment. In the budget, $100 million was earmarked for water and sewer development in rural areas of North Carolina.
Eltha Booth, the group’s president, thanked Williams for attending their meeting.