The debate over health care reform has focused on the federal government’s role in paying for, and helping to deliver, services. But a new report from Joe Coletti, the John Locke Foundation’s Director of Health and Fiscal Studies, concludes reforms that could yield real results – rather than just promises – could be implemented right here in North Carolina by changing several laws and policies. Coletti also refutes the claim that ObamaCare will lower costs while increasing quality and access. Then we turn to K-12 education. North Carolina recently won a federal Race to the Top education grant that could bring up to $400 million to the Tar Heel State. While state education bureaucrats are cheering, Darrell Allison of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina has concerns. His group says North Carolina secured grant funding for educational innovation despite lawmakers’ refusal to make any changes to the state’s restrictive charter-school law. Next, we discuss the serious issue of domestic violence. The N.C. General Assembly has devoted much of its time and millions of taxpayer dollars in recent years to fight domestic violence. Lawmakers recently learned about an anti-domestic violence program that requires no state money. Brenda Rivera of the N.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence explained the coalition’s efforts to convince lawyers to volunteer for 12 hours a year to represent at least two domestic violence victims in court. That’s followed by a look at higher education economics. Advocates for state funding of the University of North Carolina often tout the economic benefits of higher education funding. The Pope Center for Higher Education Policy recently put those economic claims to the test. Pope Center President Jane Shaw and senior writer Jay Schalin explain the results of their research. And finally, we discuss the October 2 citizen’s constitutional workshop designed for today’s patriots who want to see a return to the original intent of limited federal government based on the rule of law. One of the workshop’s presenters, Dr. Troy Kickler, the director of the North Carolina History Project and an adjunct professor of U.S. history at N.C. State University, explains what will be covered and why the workshop has proved so popular that it’s being offered a second time. Registration and cost information at www.JohnLocke.org/events.
Real Health Care Reform Can Start Right Here in N.C.
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