After seeing many other states and nations successfully construct new toll roads and bridges through public-private partnerships (PPPs), North Carolina has finally decided to take that step and hop on the bandwagon. The N&O reports that NC has signed a preliminary agreement to have a private company build a new toll bridge to the outer [...]
Monthly Archives: April 2009
- Apr29
Civitas Poll: Burr 35, Cooper 34
Our poll this month has incumbent US Senator Richard Burr holding onto a slim one point lead over potential Democratic challenger, Attorney General Roy Cooper 35% to 34%. 32% of voters say they are undecided at this point. We also asked favorability ratings of each. Burr has 33% favorable, 18% unfavorable for a net +15 [...]
- Apr29
Follow the Money
If you want to follow how the federal stimulus dollars are being spent in North Carolina without the government spin, check out www.ncopenrecovery.com. This new site is run by Capitol Monitor, "an organization which seeks to promote a better understanding of state government through increased transparency." Capitol Monitor President Perri Morgan says that her organization's [...]
- 2Apr29
Swine Flu: What Epidemic?
Once again, the media and the government have over sensationalized a non-issue with this swine flu panic and “epidemic.” Why would I call it a non-issue? The Centers for Disease Control told me. Well, not directly, but I did take a peek at their webpage on influenza. “Each flu season is unique, but it is [...]
- 1Apr29
So What Changed?
Let me take you waaaay back to April 21, 2009, just one short week before Gov. Perdue announced the budget deficit was much worse than originally thought (now $3.3 billion). According to N&O Under the Dome, Perdue told a gathering of NFIB: Gov. Beverly Perdue said the early news on the April 15 tax returns [...]
- Apr28
DC Vouchers, RIP
A voucher program that sent poor minority students to the school of their parents' choice in the District of Columbia has been killed by liberals in Washington. Why do they fear giving parents a choice? The education industrial complex is hell bent on making sure they keep an iron clad monopoly on our students. [...]
- 1Apr28
When a Furlough is Really a Pay Cut
I love all the spin coming out of Raleigh and the governor's office today that Gov. Perdue's actions today were a "furlough" of state employees and teachers. It most certainly was not. It was a pay cut, plain and simple. Employees are not forced to take the time off, they are just granted an additional [...]
- Apr28
Civitas Poll: Voters Reject Senate Tax Plan
Voters aren't took keen on the NC Senate's plan to begin taxing some services while reducing overall tax rates according to our April poll. And are even more opposed to it when they know that it raises taxes by $500 million. Brian Balfour's analysis of the Senate package is here. When asked if they approve [...]
- 1Apr28
Perdue Orders Pay Cuts, Furloughs for Teachers and State Workers
As reported by the N&O's Rob Christensen: All teachers and state employees will receive a pay cut of 0.5 percent and in exchange will receive 10 hours of flexible time off before June 30. All this coming just days before "State Employee Recognition Week and State Employee Appreciation Day."
- 1Apr27
Waste?
From reading this, does anyone else get the feeling that Speaker Joe Hackney is almost surprised that voters don't like wasteful spending? Why in the world would voters be so skeptical of government (over)spending? Could it be the $159 million in pork in the 2008 budget? Or the $205 million in pork in the 2007 [...]