Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican legislative leaders seemed to be discussing two different documents when they spoke to reporters this week about the General Assembly’s budget conference report. Cooper lashed out at legislative Republicans on Tuesday, calling their compromise $23 billion spending plan possibly “the most fiscally irresponsible budget I…
Legislation to provide surplus computers to students from low-income homes has passed the General Assembly. Republican Sens. Jeff Tarte, R-Mecklenburg; Andrew Brock, R-Davie; and Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell; sponsored Senate Bill 312. Rep. Jason Saine, R-Lincoln, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee on Information Technology, sponsored a similar version of the bill…
Mark Walker is a Baptist minister, so his explanation as to why he and other Republican congressmen survived a mass assassination attempt isn’t surprising. “God’s hand of protection was on that field that day,” said Walker, who represents North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District. “Let me say on behalf of our…
The $23 billion House and Senate budget compromise will include a 3.1 percent increase in spending in the 2017-18 budget year, which is higher than the two chambers agreed to several months ago when budget writing began. (Committee report here. Table of Contents for Senate Bill 527 here.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday overturned a ruling by the N.C. Supreme Court that prevented sex offenders from using social media. In Packingham v. North Carolina, a convicted sex offender was arrested for using Facebook. The man, Lester Packingham, claimed a violation of his First Amendment rights. In the court’s opinion, social media…
Former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory says Roy Cooper, his Democratic successor, is repaying his trial lawyer campaign contributors by hiring them for expensive, politically motivated lawsuits against the GOP-led General Assembly. In a wide-ranging interview with Carolina Journal, McCrory also accused Cooper of massive firings of people hired during McCrory’s…
Sen. Andy Wells, R-Catawba, wants know how much state taxpayer money agencies are spending for unintended purposes. During debate Thursday on House Bill 403, Wells joined other senators in criticizing the nearly $1 billion in reserve funds held by the seven state-designated Local Management Entities/Managed Care Organizations. The LME/MCOs administer regional services for mental…
UPDATED, June 16, 4:33 p.m. The Court of Appeals issued an order refusing Cooper’s requested stay. The elections/ethics board merger will remain in effect at least until the court hears arguments and comes to a decision about the constitutionality of the new board. 1:17 p.m. Late Friday morning, Gov.
A Senate panel passed legislation Thursday to accelerate mental health Medicaid reform and free up nearly $1 billion in frozen assets to provide more behavioral health services. Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, a co-chairman of the Senate Health Care Committee, presented an amended version of House Bill 403 that…
North Carolina’s fiscal policy is relatively strong when compared to much of the country. A 2017 survey by the National Association of State Budget Officers found state governments have collected less revenue than expected after tax season. North Carolina, though, has done pretty well. NASBO says governors are recommending spending increases averaging 1 percent in…
