Remember how the National Association of Educators (NEA) spent $2.2 million helping Bev Perdue get elected governor? Well, it looks like it has bought them a seat in her inner circle. From the News & Observer: Dawn Shephard Pope is Gov. Bev Perdue’s new teacher adviser. The governor’s teacher adviser is a liaison between the [...]
- Aug03
Gov. Perdue speaks about new Ethics Bill
Gov. Bev Perdue speaks about HB 961—a major ethics reform law— in a signing ceremony from the Old House Chamber in the State Capitol. Standing behind the Governor are Rep. Paul Stam (R-Wake), Speaker Joe Hackney (D-Orange), Rep. Deborah Ross (D-Wake), Rep. Rick Glazier (D-Cumberland), and Sen. Josh Stein (D-Wake).
- 3Jul29
Real Gubernatorial Leadership
As a proud North Carolinian, I can’t recall a time where I’ve ever felt jealousy for anything in New Jersey over anything here at home. Well, NJ Governor Chris Christie is changing my opinion. Just check out this clip: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Two questions for fellow [...]
- Jul28
State Government workers’ union fighting privitization of IT jobs
Governor Perdue is pursuing the idea of asking private companies to run some of the information technology infrastructure to save money. But the State Employees Association of North Carolina (an affiliate of Service Employees Union International) is fighting the idea. This is from a recent post of the association’s web site: SEANC is perplexed that [...]
- 2Jul22
Gov. Perdue Increases Tax Breaks to Billion-Dollar Corporations
Gov. Perdue is set to sign into law more central planning of our economy – this time ramping up more tax breaks for (among other things) television and movie studios filming in NC. North Carolina was already in the business of granting tax breaks to such companies, this bill will expand the size of the [...]
- Jul21
If It’s Good Enough for Britian’s PM…
Then why can’t Governor Perdue fly commercial every once in a while? British Prime Minister David Cameron trekked across the pond on a commercial British Airways flight and saved his country $300,000 in travel costs according to The Sun. Yet, NC Governor Bev Perdue continues to hopscotch around the state and nation in a Department [...]
- Jul16
Highway Patrol Commander resigns
Highway Patrol Commander Randy Glover has submitted his resignation, according to a report on WRAL.com. “This morning, I met with Highway Patrol Col. Randy Glover and (Crime Control and Public Safety) Secretary Reuben Young,” Gov. Bev Perdue said in a statement. “After a brief discussion, I accepted the colonel’s resignation.” Perdue did not say why [...]
- 2Jul15
DNA Sampling Bill Signed
This morning Governor Perdue will sign the DNA sampling bill in Greenville, NC (you can follow the live tweet of the signing here). HB1403, “Collecting DNA Sample on Arrest,” requires police to take DNA samples of suspects charged with serious crimes, including murder or rape. Then, the DNA sample will be entered into a larger [...]
- 1Jul14
Investigate the State Board of Elections?
Did the Executive Director and the Chairman of the North Carolina Board of Elections (SBOE) really make changes to an investigative report prepared by its own investigators? If so, it’s time for an outside investigation into the State Board of Elections. WRAL has reported that sources told them Gary Bartlett, executive director, and “Chairman of [...]
- Jul01
Secretary Marshall in Bed with Lobbyists?
This past Tuesday, the North Carolina Democratic Party held a fundraiser in their headquarters that was attended by Gov. Bev Perdue, members of the Council of State, a handful of legislators (including Speaker Joe Hackney), and an unknown number of lobbyists. The gathering was held the same week that members of the General Assembly were [...]
- May04
Talk Amongst Yourselves
Bev Perdue’s campaign finance reports say something a little fishy—besides the illegal contributions from Rusty Carter’s friends and relatives. Governor Perdue’s amended campaign finance reports include loans of almost $400,000 from her husband, Robert Eaves, who on the report listed his employer as the State of North Carolina and his occupation as “First Gentleman”. Is [...]
- Apr21
Gov. Perdue Getting Younger by the Day?
I was watching this WTVD video of Gov. Bev Perdue getting a little testy with a reporter over being asked about any potential connections between her and Ruffin Poole and noticed that the Governor appeared to look a little different in each video clip. Take a look and see for yourself: (Fast forward to about [...]
- Apr20
Perdue Budget Makes Strange Cuts
The left will say that the right should be pleased with the $1 billion in cuts Perdue has made as she tweaks the second year of the two year budget. But the budget cuts don’t seem all that thoughtful and let’s not forget the $1 billion in tax hikes last year. For instance (from WRAL): [...]
- Apr05
The Truth on the Hewitt Incentives
Brian wrote last week about the Governor’s office announcing a $4 million incentive package for Hewitt Associates to “create” 463 jobs in Charlotte over the next few years. While that made a nice photo op and press release for the governor, we get the truth of the story today from the Charlotte Business Journal. It [...]
- Mar31
It’s Your Fault, Bev!
Oh poor Gov. Perdue. After President Obama announced that he was allowing offshore drilling to begin to proceed off the east coast (including North Carolina), she has the audacity to say that it is happening “with or without us.” Well, Governor, who do you think has drug her feet on making a decision on offshore [...]
- Mar31
After $1 billion Tax Hike, Perdue Still Doling Out Corporate Welfare
During North Carolina’s ”budget crisis” last summer, taxpayers were told that they need to fork over an additional $1 billion of their money in order to allegedly preserve the “bare essentials” of state government. It was one of the largest state tax hikes in the nation. Families across the state struggling to pay their bills were asked forced [...]
- Mar29
Fraud and Beverly Perdue or “It Takes One to Know One”
Here are a couple of definitions of the word “fraud” that I found on the internet using “U.S.Legal Definitions, and “The Free Dictionary” A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain One that defrauds; a cheat Fraud may also be made by an omission or purposeful failure to state material facts, which [...]
- Mar24
More Follies From the “Jobs Governor”
Last week, I blogged about Gov. Perdue’s trip to Hollywood in order to bribe millionaire movie moguls with North Carolina’s enhanced film tax credits. In that post, I mentioned a number of reports showing the negative budgetary impact such tax credits have. In this Journal of Planning Education and Research article, the researchers cast even more [...]
- Mar17
In Spite of Recession, Revenue Shortfall; Perdue to Shower Tax Dollars on Hollywood Fat Cats
At 11.1%, North Carolina’s unemployment rate is tied for eigth highest in the nation. State revenues are below projections for this year, and so sluggish that next year’s projections are likely to be revised downward. Struggling North Carolina families are scraping together funds to pay their taxes, or waiting as the state holds on to [...]
- Mar03
Tiger Woods More Popular than Bev Perdue
I know, it’s a running joke, right… But according to a new poll by ABC News, Tiger Woods’ favorable rating is higher than that of our own Gov. Bev Perdue. In a basic measure of popularity, just 39 percent express a favorable opinion of Woods overall, essentially unchanged from its level just before his apology [...]