Cooper budget uses excessive debt

North Carolina has already been evading its balanced-budget rule for decades by promising pension and retiree-health benefits to public employees without setting aside enough money every year to cover the cost.

Judge’s error offers opportunity for lesson about taxes

A judge's "findings of fact" fall short of the mark when it comes to N.C. income tax rates.

Yes, but it’s never really been tried

Nope, nothing to see here

Conservatives should favor redistricting reform

Letting politicians choose their voters rather than letting voters choose their political representatives is incompatible with basic principles of conservative governance.

Funding surplus in N.C.? The money is already spent 

There’s no extra money.  The 2019-20 General Assembly session is well under way. Bills are being filed and committees are meeting, but the attention will soon fall on the biennial budget, which the governor introduced this week and included new and expanded spending, including a 9.1 percent raise for teachers. Early revenue returns have been...