When the public sector does it better
In today's Daily Read, Elena Botella explains that the public sector sometimes works best: I went to Charlotte-Mecklenburg public schools for 13 years. From my perspective, my CMS education was just as good as any other public or private K-12 education. For that, I...
Here’s your cup
Boy, those MetLife guys are gonna be PISSED! When they took that $90 million in government money, I don’t think they planned on peeing in a cup. But that’s what Senator Andrew Brock is going to make them do. Brock introduced a bill that would require “applicants for...
About That Terrible GOP Brand …
In today's Daily Read, Stuart Rothenberg of The Rothenberg Political Report says elections are about more than brands, so don't count the GOP out yet: I certainly agree with pollster Andrew Kohut’s overall assessment of the Republican Party’s image and positioning...
It’s time to fix what’s broken instead of breaking what works
In the controversy over the state leasing the Dorothea Dix property to the city of Raleigh, state Senator Josh Stein correctly summarized the situation: “This is about a lease you didn't like, signed by a governor you didn't like with a city you don’t like.” And that...
Kay Hagan should support gay marriage. It’s both smart politics and the right thing to do.
Yesterday, Senators Mark Begich (D-AK), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Mark Warner (D-VA) came out in support of marriage equality. In addition, a Buzzfeed reporter says that Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Tim Johnson (D-SD) now oppose the Defense of Marriage Act....
Is Hagan owning the middle at the expense of her base?
In the lead up to her re-election campaign, U. S. Senator Kay Hagan has been firmly staking out moderate ground. Last week, she was one of four Democrats to vote against the Senate budget and she joined with a Republican colleague to protect tuition assistance for...
McCrory’s budget, the free market and rural NC
For the past 50 years, North Carolina has been shifting from a rural to an urban/suburban state. During that time, state leaders have put money and effort into easing the transition for rural counties and provided resources to encourage economic growth. All that...
Cooking the goose that lays the golden eggs
In a slap to the state’s most impoverished counties, Pat McCrory’s budget steals $65 million from the Golden LEAF Foundation. For rural residents, Golden LEAF is like the goose that lays a golden egg. It’s non-tax revenue that provides benefits like schools,...
The Republican Divide and North Carolina
The so-called “Republican autopsy” conducted by party leaders calls on the GOP to broaden its base by reaching out to minority and women voters and becoming less dogmatic in its approach to policy. At the same time, however, participants at CPAC were calling for the...
North Carolina’s great divide
Yesterday's job report showed North Carolina’s unemployment rate inched up to 9.5% in January. However, the news wasn't all bad. The state is steadily adding jobs but it’s also attracting “job seekers from other parts of the country.” Essentially, there are more...
