Folwell talks about GOP's aims for next legislative session

The state’s ailing budget will take precedent, but Republicans will have time to tackle other issues, including gay marriage, abortion and illegal immigration, when the new legislative session begins, newly elected Speaker Pro Tem Dale Folwell, R-Forsyth, said this week.

Folwell, who won his fourth term in the November election, was voted Saturday into what is basically the No. 2 spot in the House leadership hierarchy. As speaker pro tem, he’ll get to hold the gavel from time to time, overseeing formal sessions in the House of Representatives when new Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenberg, is out of the room.

He’ll also help push the new majority’s agenda when the session starts Jan. 26, and make sure the largest freshman class in North Carolina House history — a product of the historic Republican takeover earlier this month — knows what it’s doing. With his number-crunching skills — Folwell is an accountant by trade — it’s a good bet he’ll be heavily involved as the GOP looks for cuts to help balance a $3 billion-plus hole in next year’s state budget.

Folwell, interviewed by phone Monday, spoke with a heavy heart. His mother died Saturday, the same day he was elected speaker pro tem.

“Words can’t describe how personal it is,” he said of her death.

Q. Where do these elections leave the Winston-Salem area in terms of political clout and an ability to get things done or bring home the bacon?

A. I think that we had a major upgrade in terms of political clout ... because now you don’t have a majority delegation serving in a minority body. ... There have always been more (Republican legislators) than (Democratic ones) in this county. But once the delegation drove itself to Raleigh, there was always more of them than us.

Q. How will the new majority go about building the budget? Particularly, is there a guarantee of no tax increases, and that the temporary increases from a few years ago will expire as scheduled?

A. That is our plan. ... Every budget item we need to ask three questions. What are we doing that we need to stop? What are we doing that we need to do more of in order to get a higher return out of the taxpayer dollar? And what good idea, no matter where it comes from, have we not thought of in order to run this government more efficiently?

Q. What departments can be heavily cut or even eliminated?

A. I don’t know. ... I do know that we cannot have small-number-tis ... When somebody presents something that saves $933,000, everybody says, ‘Well that’s not going to make any difference.’ That’s one of my biggest responsibilities is to make sure we don’t get small-number-itis. ... We didn’t get into this situation overnight and it’s like an ant eating a ham biscuit. We’re not going to get out of it overnight either, so every dollar matters.

Q. What kind of priorities will you guys have beyond the budget? Will immigration reform come up? Will we see a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage? Will we see new abortion legislation?

A. I think there will be enough time and talent to hit singles and doubles on all of those issues. But, more specifically, voter ID and voter fraud and voter integrity (will be addressed). ... I think there will be enough time and talent to deal with how people who murder pregnant women in this state are going to be charged. I think there’s enough time and talent and will of the people to deal with the marriage amendment issue. I think there will be enough time and talent to do that, including figuring out what’s going on with illegal immigration.

Q. How do you keep from over-reaching ... from going too far beyond the mandate of this election and causing a backlash?

A. The same way that you would hopefully prevent yourself from over-reaching if you haven’t been up to the plate in a while and your intention is to go up there and hit a grand slam. Chances are you’re going to pull a muscle.

Q. With your new leadership position, does that mean you’ll have less time for constituents?

A. Absolutely not. There’s never been a person who has written a letter to my office or called my office who hasn’t gotten a response, assuming I got (their message).