Huh's blog

Could Judge Howard Manning rule that the state budget cuts in education are in violation of the Leandro ruling?

The teaching fellows program will no longer be funded after this group of freshmen. The teacher Academy is no longer funded, Principal fellows the same. Even the Science Oympiad funds (pocket change) were cut out. Textbook, staff development, driver education and instructional supply funding have been drastically slashed. The list goes on and on.

I thought folks might be interested to know how much we are spending on supplies for next year. I've been teaching for nearly 25 years so I've seen a lot but I've never seen a supply order allotment this small. Each year we are given a set amount we can spend and a supply list to pick items from. The county then orders our supplies and they are waiting for us when we return in August. I'm talking about pens, pencils, paper, paper clips, crayons, markers, pencil sharpeners, file folders, construction paper, rulers, index card and the like. I think when I started teaching we had around $120-140 to spend. This year we had $50 to spend. I got some red and black pens, a few #2's, some sticky notes, and a couple of dozen rulers and it was gone!

Renee Ellmers has pledged to oppose all earmarks.......but right after making that pledge she revealed that she didn't really know what an earmark was.

Renee Ellmers based her campaign on repealing health care reform.......but she says she will probably sign up for the federal health care plan that is offered to congressmen and women.

Renee Ellmers wants a smaller federal government.........but her district is home to Ft. Bragg and the local governments are being overwhelmed as a result of BRAC.

There will be a reception to show our appreciation for Elaine. It will be held on Friday the 18th from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Commons Area of the Harnett County Government Complex in Lillington. Please plan to attend if possible.

We had a good turnout at the 2nd Congressional District Convention today in Pittsboro. Rep. Bob Etheridge provided Barbeque sandwiches from Howard's and made a fine speech to those in attendance. Wake and Chatham counties offered their usual bushel basket full of resolutions (boy those folks love writing those things, :>) ) but fortunately someone moved that we vote to approve them all bundled together. Thanks to the Chatham Democrats for hosting the event.

I say that Lewis, Harris, Worthy and Williams can't get a combined 20%. If they can't then there is no runoff. Marshall 44%, Cunningham 38%

Anyone else care to venture a guess?

Al Bain is one of two Democrats that are running for the Court of Appeals. He is an attorney in Lillington where he is in general practice with 22 years experience. He holds an undergraduate degree from Duke and a law degree from UNC. He also has a specialized (tax law) master of Laws degree from U.of Florida. He is married with two young children, an assistant scoutmaster, Sunday school teacher and elder at Lillington Presbyterian Church, and president of the Lillington Police Athletic League (after school program for disadvantaged kids). He is a past president of the Harnett County Democratic Party. More important than all of that Al is a reasonable, common sense person that is highly ethical.

The word is that tea bag protesters will be in Lillington around 11:30 at the Bob Etheridge office just as they did last week in Raleigh. I am assuming this is more of Art Pope's astroturf nonsense. Why aren't these people at work on a Tuesday morning. Must be a shiftless bunch of trouble causers. My guess is this is some sort of effort to give Ellmers (one of the R's running in the 2nd) a chance to grandstand a little and get her picture and a few well crafted comments in the right wing daily, The Dunn Daily Record.

I know Bob took some hits from the the Progressives here a while back and I'm his big defender here so I thought I'd let you know about a challenge he will be getting in 2010. Remember Bob has supported our President and health care reform despite getting raked over the coals from the right and the left. He is a highly ethical man, that is truly a public servant, character traits that seem hard to find these days.

With all the mud being spread during this election cycle involving faith and God I thought it was refreshing see the following letter to the next president in my church bulletin. I know some of you aren't especially fond of the Southern Baptist denomination but I thought this might give you a little more perspective on them/us. (technically I'm a Methodist but have been attending a rural SB church for the last 22 years, the wife's home church) The author is a minister of a big SB church in Charlotte area and a graduate of ASU.

Dear Mr. President:

I do not yet know your name, but in a few days you will be elected to our nation’s highest office, and become the leader of the free world at the end of a long and engaging election season.