 |
 May 12, 2008
National Trends to Influence Legislators
By Mitch Kokai
RALEIGH — State lawmakers will be watching national economic news closely for any effects on revenues as they return to work Tuesday on the state’s $20 billion budget.
5.12.08 - Short money means short legislative session
RALEIGH — Unlike a year ago, available money for this year’s budget will leave little room for lawmakers to wrangle and will likely result in a relatively speedy session. “The goal is eight weeks,” said Rep. Rick Glazier, a Fayetteville Democrat. “We should be able to finish fairly quickly.”
Related NC Budget and Tax Articles:
April tax collections higher than expected
States look to tobacco tax for budget holes
First Charter to pay back N.C.
State budgets dwindle as economy sours
Latest attempt at fiscal review underway
Report: N.C. spending hard to follow
5.12.08 - How McCrory won the nomination
CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory flew to Europe five months ago preparing to study transportation systems but also contemplating a run for the Republican nomination for N.C. governor. He returned a week later with advice from a neighbor to the south, S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford. “He basically told me, ‘What have you got to lose?’” McCrory said.
Related NC Politics Articles:
Governor election pits two old pros
McCrory, Perdue signal new campaign rules
Labor post might take runoff
Obama regains footing, but no guarantees
Obama barrels past Clinton in N.C.
McCain outlines vision on judges
5.12.08 - Incumbent Shuler is an ‘independent voice’
ASHEVLLE — Look for a campaign as you’ve never seen before. That’s the message from Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower, who defeated two challengers in Tuesday’s Republican primary and now faces U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, in the November election.
Related NC Delegation Articles:
Round 2, McHenry already has gloves off
5th District recount weighed
Hagan to take on Dole
Hagan wins Senate primary
Mumpower defeats Campbell, Armor
Jones defeats challenger McLaughlin
5.12.08 - Offices wrestle to clean up N.C.
RALEIGH — Two state agencies charged with cleaning up state government are fighting over who gets to hold the broom. The N.C. State Ethics Commission, created in response to corruption scandals that sent powerful officials to prison, says it has the sole responsibility to enforce the state’s ethics law.
Related NC Ethics & Corruption Articles:
Probe of jobs for Black’s son ends
Wright sentenced to 6 to 8 years in prison
Wright sent to prison on corruption charges
No verdict yet in case involving Wright
No verdict in Wright case
Democrats pick Hughes to replace Wright
No. 941 Shell Game Still Smells
5.12.08 - Counties keep on losing tax votes
RALEIGH — Last year, the General Assembly and county commissioners statewide thought they had found a way to help local governments pay for the infrastructure needs of a growing North Carolina. So far, voters aren’t buying in.
Related Local Government Articles:
Chatham may face increase in taxes
JLF: What government costs cities and counties
Speedier Durham project reviews eyed
Developer sues Navassa over building moratorium
With tax defeated, officials ask ‘what now?’
Guilford bonds pass, but money’s still tight
No. 935: Bureaucrats’ Survival Tips
5.12.08 - Bruton Smith’s $80 million incentive
CHARLOTTE — Last August, Concord leaders learned that Bruton Smith, billionaire owner of Lowe’s Motor Speedway, wanted incentives for a proposed drag strip and track expansion. Three months passed, and Smith threatened to move his racing complex, before Concord and Cabarrus County worked out a deal he would accept.
Related Economic Incentives Articles:
Cabarrus sales tax hike a possible option
GE Hitachi to get up to $25.7M
TIMCO says Honda steals engineers
State courts upholstery center for Hickory
Skybus’ wings are clipped
Incentives debated in High Point
5.12.08 - Medford’s alleged take was large
ASHEVILLE — Bobby Medford’s total take from illegal gambling during his 12-year tenure as Buncombe County sheriff could have been as much as $553,300, trial testimony indicates. He took in the bulk of that money during the second half of his time in office, a period when the illegal payoffs would have matched his official annual salary, according to an estimate based on testimony in his corruption trial.
Related Police/Public Safety Articles:
Two cities to get anti-gang money
Action on Charlotte crime expected tonight
Owners of stolen cars often face huge storage bills
Chapel Hill asked to revise picketing rules
Triad ABC official will be fired
3rd sheriff implicated in Medford trial
5.12.08 - Cities review drought lessons
RALEIGH — Those who think growth was the culprit in the Triangle’s recent water shortages may be disappointed when Dale Crisp, Raleigh public utilities director, addresses a gathering of regional water managers Tuesday. They may be equally dismayed if they expect a session of self-criticism about what some say was a failure to impose conservation quickly enough in the face of the recent drought.
Related Water & Sewer Articles:
Council has questions about storm-water
Durham adopts tiered water rates
Buncombe to head off contaminated wells
Sunset Beach sewer assessment up to $10,000
Durham water rates may rise June 1
JLF: Variable prices can work better than restrictions
5.12.08 - No more free Rx samples at CHS
CHARLOTTE — It’s been a tradition in most doctors’ offices. You get a new prescription, and to test out the drug or save a little money, the doctor hands over some samples. But if your doctor works for Carolinas HealthCare System, that’s no longer the deal. Since Jan. 1, the system’s 600 physicians have been told to stop giving out free drug samples.
Related Health Care Policy Articles:
State denies hospital plans
Study finds 1 in 5 babies lags on shots
Fewer autopsies being performed
JLF: Repeal Certificate of Need laws
Findings criticize Franklin County hospital
Hospital report due this week
Counties Burdened by Medicaid
State Government
State government coverage includes CJ exclusives and other stories about the North Carolina General Assembly, state departments and agencies, statewide political trends and institutions, and key policy
issues such as health care, regulation, and the environment.
Education
Education coverage includes CJ exclusives and other stories about public education, charter schools, private and home schools, testing and accountability, standards and curriculum, parental choice, and
the best practices of successful North Carolina educators.
Higher Education
Higher education coverage includes CJ exclusives and other stories about North Carolina’s public and private colleges and universities, with a focus on such issues as academic integrity, taxpayer
funding, free speech, political bias, and affirmative action.
Local Government
Local government coverage includes CJ exclusives and other stories about the challenges facing cities and counties in North Carolina, with an emphasis on issues such as tax and budget policy, privatization,
Smart Growth, transportation, and management.
Opinion
Opinion coverage includes columns by CJ staff and a diverse and timely collection of the best editorials and op-eds published by other North Carolina and national media on issues of great importance to
state residents.
|
|
 5.12.08
The Mythical Voter-Registration Surge
I’m about to write some counterintuitive things about voter turnout, so let me start off by granting the obvious.
5.12.08
What’s a degree worth?
So what is a college degree worth? The Pope Center’s George Leef says it depends, but for some it’s worth almost nothing.
5.12.08
Night vision
Evening programs for high school students could help many of them complete their studies and raise their prospects says the Raleigh News & Observer.
5.09.08
Tuesday’s messages
What did Tuesday’s primary election mean? It meant that voters will flock to the polls when political parties give them good choices says the Charlotte Observer.
5.09.08
Governor to be
The Raleigh News & Observer says that in Pat McCrory and Beverly Perdue, voters have the choice of two strong candidates to succeed Mike Easley as governor.
5.09.08
Aliens and college
The attorney general’s office may be legally correct that illegal immigrants aren’t entitled to go to our state colleges. Every rule should have a few exception says the Wilmington Star-News.
4.07.08
No. 963 Is It Easy To Measure Progress?
With talk of recession in the air, we’re seeing more stories about whether households have really gotten ahead, economically speaking, in recent years. Some analysis shows the average household’s wages and income have actually retreated this decade. Some say this has been the situation for longer than three decades.
2.21.08
Young journalists unto the breach
As I looked out on a sea of shining faces at the University of North Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communication on Tuesday, I couldn’t help thinking to myself: “Man, I’d hate to be you guys.”
11.30.07
Is the MSM depressing the hell out of us?
RALEIGH — Extrapolating from recent polling research, I think it’s fair to conclude that journalists are depressing the hell out of us.
10.26.07
Regulations good for the economy? Wait just a minute
The News & Observer didn't look far enough when it did a story a study that says new taxes and regulations meant to fight global warming will generate more than 300,000 jobs for the state.
Monday, May 12, 2008 at 12:00 Noon
A meeting of the Shaftesbury Society
with our special guest Sam A. Hieb
Piedmont Triad’s New (Government-based) Economy
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 12:00 noon
Headliner Luncheon in Raleigh, NC
with our special guest Fred Barnes
The 2008 Election: A Washington Perspective
|
|
5.09.08
Friday Interview: U.S. Coastal Policy
5.08.08
Voters Send Message in Rejecting Tax Hikes
5.07.08
Critics: Be Wary of Smart Grid Technology
5.06.08
Are Great Books Making a Comeback?
A meeting of the Shaftesbury Society with our special guest Sam A. Hieb
Headliner Luncheon in Raleigh, NC with our special guest Fred Barnes
2007 Legislature
Air Quality in NC
Amendment One
America's Founding Principles
Center for Climate Strategies
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Climate Change
Covering the 2004 Elections
Covering the 2006 Elections
Covering the 2008 Elections
Covering the State Courts
DFI/Ethanol Affair
Early Childhood Programs
Economic Incentives
Frank Ballance's Foundation
Friday Interviews
Golden LEAF
Gov. Easley / Marina / Cannonsgate
Governor's School of NC
Legislative Slush Funds
Mass Transit
NASCAR
Natural Gas in Northeast NC
Northeast Partnership
Privaris Incentives
Randy Parton Theatre
Redistricting
Six Simple Tools
Spotlight on Speaker Black
The Currituck Ferry
The Global TransPark
Who's Who at the Board of Elections Hearings
Monday
Friday
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuesday
2.02.05
No. 163: Cracking the Code: Hoping for a Libertarian Outcome on Income Tax
|
|
