News that former Gov. Mike Easley has taken a leave of absence from his law firm has political watchers wondering what it means and if it has anything to do with former aide Ruffin Poole’s agreement to cooperate with prosecutors looking into Easley’s activities. Carolina Journal Managing Editor Rick Henderson discusses the leave, as well as a published interview with Rowan County District Attorney Bill Kennerly, who is working on the criminal referral from the state Board of Elections. Henderson also weighs in on NC State’s dismissal of Mary Easley’s appeal of her firing by the university and her attorney’s claim that she hasn’t received due process. Then we turn to the future of North Carolina’s public charter school movement, which has attracted a lot of attention this year, especially as state lawmakers considered whether to loosen charter school restrictions in an effort to secure more federal education dollars. Charter supporters are pushing for an end of North Carolina’s statewide cap of 100 charters. You’ll hear from charter operators Michael Pratt of Rocky Mount Preparatory School and Joe Maimone of Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy in Rutherford County, along with analysis from Terry Stoops, John Locke Foundation director of education studies. Next, some North Carolina community college presidents take home smaller paychecks than their vice presidents. That’s due in part to a state cap on community college president salaries. Some legislators are pushing a bill to allow county commissioners to supplement their community college presidents’ pay. But the idea has generated some concerns, including the possible impact on the state government pension fund. You’ll hear details from a recent debate. That’s followed by a look at one of the founding principles within the U.S. Constitution. It involves limited government. Limited government depends on a concept known as subsidiarity. Christopher Wolfe, co-director of the Thomas International Center and professor emeritus of political science at Marquette University, explains the concept and its importance to our system of government. And finally, Attorney General Roy Cooper is advocating for a House bill that would give the state the right to take a DNA sample from a person who is arrested for, but not yet convicted of, certain felonies. John Locke Foundation Director of Legal and Regulatory Studies Daren Bakst says the bill turn the justice system on its head, since a basic tenet of our system is that each of us is innocent until proven guilty. Bakst explains that while some may view this as a “law and order” policy, it is actually a serious infringement on freedom and liberty.
What’s Ahead for Mike and Mary Easley?
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