NC Budget

From an opinion piece published by Asheville Citizen-Times on Sunday:
see more at http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013301200020

Art Pope is not famous.

He is wealthy, though. And powerful. In fact, he probably has more political influence over your life than anyone else in the state of North Carolina. This includes the governor, the legislators or even the Rev. Billy Graham.

He’s like Billy Graham, though, in that he preaches a gospel. It’s a Horatio Alger story of pulling one’s self up by the bootstraps. That’s peculiar, since he inherited his money from his family, which started the Pope’s five-and-ten cent chain in Fuquay-Varina and later bought up the Roses variety stores. And he’s like the governor in that he successfully steers policy in our state. Patrick McCrory named Pope his chief budget writer on Dec. 20, so there’s no question of Pope’s influence...

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Original Message Rep. Verla Insko (D-Orange Co.) replied to from Rep. Nelson Dollar (R-Wake Co.)

From: Rep. Nelson Dollar
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 11:33 PM
To: Martha Brock; lauriecoker; Rep. Verla Insko
Cc: Mary Annecelli; Emma Thorne; Bonnie Jo Schell; Chris Fitzsimon
Subject: RE: Collaborative letter for LOC and for local legislators

There have been no additional cuts or reductions to the Medicaid budget. Reports and speculation flying around this week are incorrect.

I want to thank Governor Perdue for standing up and fighting the Republican Budget.  I am ashamed that 5 Democrats decided to do what was in their best "Political Interest" instead of what is best for the State of North Carolina and the citizens of North Carolina.  Make no mistake this Budget takes our state in the Wrong Direction!  

The Republicans claim that their budget protects the class rooms but all they do is force the Local Governments to take on more of the burden of making those cuts.  A burden that they can't afford to bare.  

The Republicans have cut funding to Early Childhood education that really helps low income families and minorities, but the Republicans could careless.  All the while Tom Tillis gives his staff Raises, teachers across the state are going to get Pink Slips!  It's unforgiveble!  

And screws NC yesterday stating "At this point in time, I don't know how to spell tax increase. It is off my plate right now." She said she was going to balance the budget without raising taxes and allow the temporary tax increase to expire.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/8789753/

I wonder what Republican wrote the Democrats playbook section on how to handle tough economic conditions. I'm sure there is 3.9 billion in waste in a 19 billion budget. Why we waited so long for such an easy goal is beyond me.

Here are a few quick ideas that come to mind below the fold.

I confess to having had on-again-off-again enthusiasm for Governor Perdue over the past year or so, but lately I'm mostly "on." I think she's done a good job in general handling the catastrophic financial mess she inherited from George W. Bush. And I especially appreciated her recent push-back against the regressive budget proposals from the House and Senate. The showdown has naturally captured the attention of North Carolina's editorial pages, many of which share the sentiments of BlueRidgeNow.

Even if you don't agree with Elaine's specific recommendations (though I do) - today's BTC analysis is well worth the read.

Things are getting heated over in Raleigh in lobbyist circles as special interest PAC's seek to be the last loophole standing when the budget is signed. We thought you might like to follow the players in this scramble and enjoy seeing a copy of our new research report entitled NC Budget, Tax Loopholes & Special-Interest PACs

Via NC Policy Watch:

It turns out the provision snuck into the state budget by Senate leaders in 2005 that allows out-of-state athletes to pay in-state tuition at UNC campuses is worse than we thought.

Two months ago we all came together to support financial reform and sound fiscal policy.

Now, with North Carolina in the most severe budget crisis in decades, some extremist politicians refuse to let the North Carolina attempt to stem the bleeding. 

Legislators are proposing unprecedented cuts to critical services by eliminating 12,000 teaching positions, cutting children's health insurance, teacher pay, cancer research, medicare, and job placement services, and closing rape crisis, abuse, and sexual assault centers across the state.  Conservatives believe the way out of the recession is eliminating the safety net for the economically disadvantaged while preventing the next generation from getting the education they need to succeed.