RALEIGH — Nearly a year after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down an Arizona campaign-finance law allowing some candidates to receive "rescue funds" provided by taxpayers, North Carolina lawmakers are pushing a bill that would end a similar system for some elected offices.
HILLSBOROUGH – The Orange County Board of Commissioners is expected Tuesday to approve a $1.3 billion light-rail project for Durham and Orange counties and vote June 5 on a half-cent sales tax to fund the controversial transit plan.
RALEIGH — Primary election night Tuesday resulted in several upsets and close races in legislative contests in North Carolina, setting the stage for a competitive general election season this summer and fall. Voter turnout was 35 percent, nipping at the heels of the record-breaking turnout of 37 percent in 2008, another presidential year.
RALEIGH — Bedrock conservative principles such as limited government, support for the free market, and reducing taxes and regulations reverberate in the House District 82 Republican primary campaigns of appointed incumbent Larry Pittman and challenger Herbert Jay White.
RALEIGH — Either Randy Ramsey or Jarrett Bay Boatworks is connected with at least four flights provided to the 2008 Perdue campaign for governor, based on records from an investigation by the State Board of Elections. Ramsey says he recalls providing two of the flights.
RALEIGH — As county commissioners consider whether to put a “transit” tax — a half-cent sales tax increase — on this year's ballot to pay for the estimated $4.6 billion rail project, the railroad companies that must provide access to their lines haven’t signed off on the proposal.
RALEIGH — Several political analysts note that the impact of a gerrymandered redistricting plan diminishes over time as political and demographic factors shift. That presents opportunities for the political party not in power — in this case, the Democrats — to make inroads.
RALEIGH — For 32 candidates vying to win a seat in the state legislature, the election ended at noon Wednesday — and they all won. That’s the combined number of House and Senate candidates who weren’t challenged to a primary and who won’t have opposition in the general election.
RALEIGH — Critics of requiring voters to present a photo ID at the polls say the practice would disenfranchise minority voters, and some even accuse proponents of being motivated by racism. They don’t mention, however, that a 21-member bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform, co-chaired by former President Jimmy Carter, advocated just such a policy in 2005.
RALEIGH — Partisan map-drawers must weaken their party’s power in certain districts to strengthen their power in others. GOP lawmakers diluted Democratic strength in key congressional districts at the expense of the incumbents in the 3rd and 6th districts.
If the courts uphold a law preventing payroll deductions of teacher union dues, the North Carolina Association of Educators could become nothing more than another interest group.
