RPS

It's been a busy BlueNC week. We closed out February with the first-ever Women on Wednesdays, and a record 13,008 unique visitors for the shortest month of the year. We got the scoop on "new rules" for the NC House, and today we have a second-term representative, Grier Martin, stopping by to answer your questions. He's a primary sponsor on the Renewable Portfolio Standards bill, and is intensely interested in veterans affairs and family issues.

He should be online around 8, so keep your eyes peeled and your questions coming. We'll have him for about an hour.

Happy Friday, everyone.

Two seemingly unrelated issues – energy policy and veterans affairs – are high on my list of priorities. Both have been grotesquely mismanaged by the Bush administration, yet each is critical for having a strong and secure nation. And while the federal government continues to dawdle on both fronts, the states are, fortunately, taking up the slack. Here in North Carolina, some of that work is being done by Representative Grier Martin of Raleigh.

Now in his second term representing District 34, Grier has a strong and progressive record on environmental issues, children and family legislation, and veterans affairs. With those issues in mind, I invited him to join us for a live-blogging session this Friday morning.

Of special interest is a new bill for Renewable Portfolio Standards of which Grier is a primary sponsor. The complicated legislation is now making its way through the House and we all need to understand what it’s about. Mark Binker has a good overview of the ins and outs in case you want to get some background in advance.

I’ve also asked Grier to share what North Carolina can and should be doing to help make up for the federal government’s incredibly poor performance in helping and supporting our veterans.