It’s called high-speed rail – a proposed $461 million expansion and upgrade of North Carolina’s rail route between Charlotte and Raleigh. But should North Carolina accept the federal grant? John Locke Foundation Director of Health and Fiscal Policy Studies Joe Coletti rebuts myths associated with the project as it relates to air quality, train speed, and road congestion. He also peels back the veil on dubious job numbers supporters cite for the project and reveals the numbers have been inflated. Then we turn to auto insurance reform and one analyst’s conclusion that North Carolina’s system penalizes good drivers to help subsidize bad drivers, and it guarantees profits for private companies. Eli Lehrer, vice president of the Heartland Institute, recently prepared a report for the John Locke Foundation highlighting these flaws in the current system. Lehrer also recommends a series of changes that would make the auto insurance system better for most drivers. Next is a look at the contentious issue of medical malpractice reform. North Carolina legislators are debating potential changes to the state’s rules for medical malpractice lawsuits. You’ll hear Rep. Jonathan Rhyne, R-Lincoln, outline and defend proposed changes, while Rep. Bill Faison, D-Orange, a defense lawyer, argues against the reform proposals. That’s followed by a look inside recent rulings by the state Supreme Court. Thousands of lawyers spend much of their time dissecting the rulings and proceedings from the U.S. Supreme Court, but North Carolina’s Supreme Court has attracted much less scrutiny. Now the Federalist Society hopes to shine more light on North Carolina’s highest court. Attorney Philip Romohr recently discussed for a Federalist Society audience his analysis of N.C. Supreme Court decisions in 2010. You’ll hear details. And finally, Carolina Journal reporter David Bass discusses multiple pieces of legislation on social issues such as abortion, funding for Planned Parenthood, and same-sex marriage. The bills are making their way through the General Assembly in a year that has fiscal matters dominating the public discussion. Bass explains the likelihood that some of the bills will end up as law, and the motivations behind advocates on both sides of the issues.
Debunking the Myths of ‘High-Speed’ Rail
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