Perdue

Who should be the next Governor of North Carolina? Take this quick survey or read the full post.

Thank Governor Perdue for her willingness to stand up to the far right over the past year. Sign the petition here or read the full post.

Join us at a protest rally near Charlotte this coming Monday night. Details here or read the full post.

Progress NC has created a petition to thank Governor Perdue for her service to North Carolina, especially her willingness to stand up to the far right over the past year. We've already heard from people all across North Carolina and we'd love for you to add your name and a quick note to the list as well. You can sign the petition here. If you think she was way too moderate and no better than a rightwing dog, then I invite you to take a look at why I think Governor Perdue deserves your thanks regardless: please see my recent Progress NC blog post, Barbarians At the Gate.

Yesterday, Governor Bev Perdue surprised a lot of people with her announcement that she would not seek re-election. By this morning, plenty of people had thrown their hat into the ring to be her successor. The election season is young but we here at Progress North Carolina think it's never too early to know what the people of North Carolina think. Take our quick survey and tell us who you think should occupy the Governor's Mansion come 2013. We've given you plenty of choices to choose from. They hail from all across the political spectrum, so go ahead and indulge -- this is your chance to vote outside the box! We'll announce the results next week. Take the survey now.

The latest? In case you missed as relayed via Verla Insko the pm:

Yesterday NC's GOP-controlled state legislature failed to muster the 3/5th majority to overturn Democratic Governor Perdue's veto of a Voter ID Bill. Today the GOP made a back-door procedural maneuver to circumvent yesterday's vote. A series of local bills was moved into the Rules Committee, the purpose being to replace the contents of the local bills with the Voter ID requirements overridden yesterday.

The Governor cannot veto local bills.

Action item

The money is already allocated in the state's budget. It's been voted on and passed. The need is clear. Why is the resource not being used? Tell Governor Perdue to release the $4 million being held in reserve.

There are plenty of the instances where the experience of businesses with branding can shed light on public policy and electoral politics. In a world where a carefully built reputation can be toppled with a flurry of mouse clicks, "brand" is the foundation of resilience.

I am a teacher. I had no choice; both parents, two siblings and their spouses were in education in some capacity. If a gene exists for teaching, it runs rampant in my family. Of course that gene usually goes with the "struggling middle class" and the "you ain't never going to be rich" genes. Teachers know and accept such terms because Teaching is an honorable profession.
Teachers have long endured low pay; for decades it was the norm in North Carolina. I timed a career change rather well for near the beginning of this decade, NC's leadership, the governor and the GA, made increasing teacher pay a priority. During those heady days, NC creeped up to nearly 20th or so in rankings of teacher salary. Our current leadership has reversed that trend, forgetting, it would seem, that Teaching is an honorable profession.

Presumptive Republican Presidential Candidate, John McCain, wormed out of answering a reporter's question today as to whether or not he believes that health insurance companies should be required to cover birth control for women, particularly considering they cover Viagra for men.

McCain has long held radical positions on reproductive issues, having consistently voted AGAINST:

*Ensuring women's access to birth control

*Providing educational information for teens on birth control

*Requiring health insurance companies to cover birth control

McCain has stated that Roe vs. Wade "must be overturned." His position is that abortion should be not legal even in cases of rape, incest or life threatening conditions for the mother.

Winston-Salem Jaycees, who boost one of the state’s largest and most active chapters, have given the campaigns of gubernatorial candidates Bev Perdue and Pat McCrory something to think about. They have proposed a Town Hall meeting in Winston-Salem– the only major media market snubbed in the debate schedule.