Open thread

Submitted by James on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 5:53pm

Everything you never wanted to know about Duke Energy's crappy Save-a-Watt program, courtesy of Mark Binker.

Updated with another good post from NC Policy Watch.

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James's blog

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More from NC Conservation Network

Submitted by James on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 6:50pm.

Via NC Policy Watch

The plan's many critics (including consumer and environmental groups and, uh, Wal-mart…) fail to see this plan as any sort of incentive to save energy because it would price-gouge consumers, only provide modest power savings, and allow Duke to rake in huge profits—literally charging consumers for the lack of using power. [As a side note, I think many groups understand the charges that would be associated with starting an energy efficiency program, but I think it's the exorbitant profit margin of 61% that's causing the real debate.]

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Jesus Swept, this December

Indicting Stevens = Charitable Donations

Submitted by Christopher on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 6:57pm.

Ted Stevens gave $21,000 to Dole since 2001, with $10,000 coming this cycle. Kay Hagan says give it all to charity.

Dole agrees, sorta.

Great piece on Obama in the New York Times

Submitted by Betsy Muse on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 10:07am.

You can find it here.

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Vote Democratic, the ass you save may be your own.

Some environmentalists?

Submitted by James on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 11:13am.

Whenever free-market extremists want to take shots at environmental responsibility, they always do two things. (1) They pretend they understand the environmental community as though we are long lost friends. (2) They project their own delusions and motives onto their opponents. Stagemanager Hood does this routinely.

If the poor guy were back in J-school, he'd receive an automatic F for crappy journalism. Ding.

The illusion of being fact-based. That's how the right wing works.

Well, whadayaknow ...

Submitted by Leslie H on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 11:14am.

We use less oil, oil prices go down.

Didn't Jimmy fricken' Carter figure that out 30 years ago?

We don't need to drill for more oil, voters. We just need to pull our spoiled American heads out of the sand and trade in our 12 mile/gal SUVs in for 18 mile/gal SUVs and vans. And kick every executive in every American car company who didn't see this trouble coming ten years ago to the curb ... because they are complete idiots, totally at fault for the demise of an entire industry.

"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." - Harry Truman

"They took all the trees and put them in a tree museum Then they charged the people a dollar 'n a half just to see 'em. Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone? They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."

Yes he did.

Submitted by Linda on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 5:23pm.

Didn't Jimmy fricken' Carter figure that out 30 years ago?

Jimmy F. Carter is my favorite prez. Of all time.

Mine too.

Submitted by James on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 5:27pm.

Both in and out of office, he has set the bar for integrity in a way that no other president in our lifetime has even come close.

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Jesus Swept, this December

Me, too.

Submitted by Leslie H on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 4:32pm.

He tried, Lord knows he tried to tell us. If only we had listened.

I have so much admiration for Jimmy F. Carter. He was honest, moral, generous, merciful, upright, genuine, and humble -- and he has continued to be ALL of those things in and out of office.

"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." - Harry Truman

Grier Martin's summary of the GA actions

Submitted by James on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 12:43pm.

Via email

Education

* 3 percent salary increase for teachers for a total of 8 percent increase in this biennium
* $15 million in grants to help schools and groups working on dropout prevention
* $10 million to improve instructional technology in the schools
* $3.2 million more for academically gifted students
* $23.8 million to fully fund enrollment growth in the community colleges and an additional $2.5 million for an enrollment growth reserve fund
* $34.6 million for enrollment growth in the UNC system
* $15 million for campus safety recommendations from the UNC Campus Safety Task Force

Economy

* $3 million to expand the Home Protection Program. The program offers counseling as well as short-term and long-term loans
* $7 million for the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund to finance apartments for people with disabilities
* $2 million more to the North Carolina Housing Trust fund to provide decent, safe and affordable housing for people with low to moderate incomes. The trust fund is now $10 million a year.

Taxes

· Expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit to 5 percent.

· $8.5 million to extend a tax credit for small businesses that provide health benefits to their employees

· Creation of a disabled veterans' property tax homestead exclusion to give disabled veterans and their surviving spouses a break on property taxes

· $1.4 million for a three-day sales tax holiday on energy-efficient appliances

· Repeal of the state gift tax in 2009

· $2.2 million for clarifications to reduce the amount of the State estate tax

Health

* $9.4 million to expand NC Health Choice insurance program by about 7,300 children, for a total of 129,700 enrollees
* $3.75 million to pay for networks that coordinate free health care for low-income and uninsured patients
* $2 million for obesity prevention efforts
* $2 million for in-home and community based services for seniors

Mental health

* $8.1 million for expanded local psychiatric inpatient services
* $6.1 million for walk-in crisis and immediate psychiatric aftercare
* $5.2 million to keep the Dorothea Dix Overflow Unit open after the opening of the new Central Regional Hospital.

Transportation

* Reduce transfer from the Highway Trust Fund by $25 million.

* Reduce DOT central administration budget by $12 million
* $24.5 million for highway maintenance that extends the life of infrastructure, such as pavement, bridges and traffic signals

Military

* $1 million for grants to provide community support and quality of life programs at military installations
* $1 million for traumatic brain injury services, with veterans getting special attention
* $326,500 for scholarships for children of veterans killed or disabled during wartime. Total amount for the program would be $10.2 million.

Public Safety

* $10 million for gang prevention, suppression and intervention grants
* $2.5 million for a reserve fund to address critical staffing and resource needs in Probation and Parole field offices

* $1.1 million for the Rape Victim Assistance Program to pay for forensic rape kits
* $650,000 for domestic violence shelters
* $600,000 million to train sheriff’s departments in immigration enforcement
* $260,000 to enhance GangNet, an Internet-based database with information about known gang members that is expanding statewide

Environment

* $50 million for Land for Tomorrow to continue land preservation efforts for a total of $170 million this biennium
* $6 million for drought relief
* $4 million for farmland preservation for a total of $12 million this biennium
* $5.5 million for matching money for drinking water system improvements
* $2.5 million for matching money for wastewater treatment improvements

Ethics

* $356,000 for the State Ethics Commission to increase staffing, reduce the backlog of work and provide legal materials
* $310,000 to hire four additional workers at the State Board of Elections to help with management responsibilities, audit campaign finance reports and educate candidates, committees and the public

Salaries

* $390 million for raises for teachers and state employees
* 3 percent for teachers for a total of 8 percent over this biennium.
* 2.75 percent raise, or $1,100, whichever is greater for state employees.