North Caorlina Politics

There has been a lot of innuendos and misinformation out there about what SEANC/SEIU Local 2008 did and did not do in the decision not to make endorsements in this year's NC state legislative races.
As an elected officer in SEANC, and a member of the 2008-2010 State EMPAC Committee, I was approached by a former Democratic party activist and asked to weigh in. The following is factual and is my own representation of the process that was decided upon for this year's campaign.
First some background:
1. SEANC is a member-driven organization. While the staff is encouraged to offer their opinions and insight into the pressing issues that state employees deal with, only "active" members of the association have the authority to make decisions on the directions of the association.
2. The state EMPAC committee is composed of 18 members elected from around the state to make decisions on endorsements and campaign contributions in primary and general elction races.

According to a study by the N.C. Budget & Tax Center in a March 21, 2007, article by Jonathan Cox at the N&O, the method NC uses to estimate benefits to be gained from large give-aways to lure business to NC is flawed. This means lawmakers making key decisions to give away future income and tax benefits to companies in exchange for building in NC are based on misleading information that does not accurately predict the benefits of the deals.

"Instead of pumping millions of dollars into state coffers, some economic development deals might actually be costing revenue and hurting taxpayers, according to the study by the N.C. Budget & Tax Center, a non-profit group that advocates for the poor."

Read the complete article...

News and Observer
March 2q1, 2007
Jonathan B. Cox, Staff Writer

Report challenges N.C.'s incentives formula

State officials overestimate the benefits gained from companies that get rich incentives to expand in North Carolina, a report says.

Instead of pumping millions of dollars into state coffers, some economic development deals might actually be costing revenue and hurting taxpayers, according to the study by the N.C. Budget & Tax Center, a non-profit group that advocates for the poor.

Despite the widespread use of the term "Triangle" to refer to the Raleigh-Durham area, there is no real Triangle to speak of when it comes to politics. Not only are we divided into three Congressional districts, the dynamics of our legislative races are wide ranging and tightly focused in individual districts.

Most of the real action this year is in Wake County, where two races in particular are up for grabs. In District 36, progressive Greer Beaty is challenging Nelson Dollar, a run-of-the-mill Republican government-hater whose website perpetuates right-wing lies about North Carolina's tax rates. Dollar also spouts the Puppetmaster's delusions about using lottery proceeds to pay for badly needed school construction. As Chris Fitzsimon at NC Policy Watch says, this is just more deception by Republicans about the lottery.

In District 41, Ty Harrell is a bright new progressive face challenging the homophobic, xenophobic wacko named Russell Capps who currently holds the seat.

According to one insider, "the results of these races will say a lot about where NC’s urban areas are headed with the influx of more moderate GOP and independent voters." Here's hoping the so-called "moderate" GOP voters pull their heads out of sand and confront the reality that most Republicans running for the NC state house are kool-aid drinking Puppets hell-bent on destroying excellence in public service.

(There's more.)