For the first time in years, North Carolina will have a budget in place in time for the start of the fiscal year on July 1. John Locke Foundation Director of Health and Fiscal Policy Studies Joe Coletti discusses the details of the final budget, including spending on K-12 education and higher education, tax rates, and more. Coletti also comments on the politics of the budget deal, which saw the Republican led General Assembly override the veto of Gov. Beverly Perdue, with the help of five House Democrats. Then we turn to a brewing controversy in K-12 education. No one really knows how much North Carolina spends to educate illegal immigrants in public schools, but some lawmakers want to get a handle on that figure. Rep. Dale Folwell, R-Forsyth, sponsored legislation called the Safe Schools Act. One of its chief components called on school officials to ask about newly enrolled students’ immigration status. Folwell explained the legislation during a recent debate. You’ll hear his comments, along with criticism from Jose Rico of the N.C. Dream Team, immigrant Viridiana Martinez, and State Board of Education attorney Ann McColl. Next is a debate over an issue of key importance to teens and adults. Some state lawmakers want to study whether North Carolina needs to mandate formal driver’s education classes for every new driver. You’ll hear debate on the topic among Reps. Jamie Boles, R-Moore, Becky Carney, D-Mecklenburg, and Ric Killian, R-Mecklenburg. That’s followed by a look at free markets. Many people fear that greedy businessmen will ruin the environment. Jonathan Adler, law professor at Case Western Reserve University, responds that free markets work better than government regulation to protect the environment. He explains why. And finally, recent headlines have touted big jumps in North Carolina’s high school graduation rates. John Locke Foundation Director of Education Studies Terry Stoops digs deeper into the new data and discusses what the numbers do and don’t mean.
Done Deal: New State Budget Takes Effect July 1
Related
Environmental commission drops lawsuit against rules review group
Less than two weeks after going to court, the N.C. Environmental Management Commission has dropped its lawsuit against the state Rules Review Commission. The EMC offered the court no explanation for its decision.
Reports: Credit recovery program allows failing students to graduate
Students in North Carolina who are failing core classes are still getting high school diplomas. Over the past week, WBTV in Charlotte twice reported allegations claiming Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are using the credit recovery program to graduate failing students. The program allows high school students to get the necessary credits to graduate without retaking a course. Rather,...
Jon Hardister to resign effective April 8
Rep. Jon Hardister, R-Guilford, announced Thursday that he will resign his position in the North Carolina House, telling Carolina Journal that he would not rule out a return to public service at some point in the future, but for now he will be working in the private sector.
Federal felon voting lawsuit scheduled for April 22 trial
A federal judge will hold an April 22 bench trial in Winston-Salem in a lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s restrictions on felon voting. Critics argue that the restrictions are racially discriminatory and violate the constitutional rights of felons who have completed active prison time but remain on parole, probation, or post-release supervision.