Rick Henderson on dynamics of U.S. Senate race; Edward Lopez on key ideas from Milton Friedman; N.C. officials discuss getting rid of unused properties; legislators & Bellhaven mayor on negative impact of CON law; Terry Stoops on Common Core review
Research is largely on senators' side, though political realities might compel them to rethink some of their proposals.
Rick Henderson on key political races; Joe Coletti on government efficiency; Jerry Ensminger on military families suing over Camp Lejeune water contamination; Chris Conover on risk of having no health insurance; Jenna Ashley Robinson on college athletics
RALEIGH — Political pundits across the nation are watching closely this year as North Carolinians prepare to head to the polls to decide whether first-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan will keep her job. Republican N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis is her chief opponent. Fred Barnes, Fox News contributor and Weekly Standard executive editor, is focusing much of his attention on North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race. He explained why during a conversation with Mitch Kokai for Carolina Journal Radio.
RALEIGH — The proposed N.C. Senate budget plan would shift money away from lower priorities to meet the goal of raising public school teacher pay across the state. John Locke Foundation experts reviewing the $21.2 billion plan for 2014-15 like the Senate’s focus on spending existing revenue more efficiently. Compared to Gov. Pat McCrory’s budget plan, which would increase state General Fund spending by 1.7 percent from 2013-14 to the new budget year that starts July 1, the Senate would increase spending by 2.5 percent.
RALEIGH — North Carolina’s government mandates for renewable energy and energy efficiency will likely cost the state 3,600 jobs and $1.8 billion in higher electricity rates, while slashing the state’s economy by more than $140 million a year by 2021. That’s according to a new report from a Boston-based economic research team.
RALEIGH — North Carolina lawmakers should reject many ideas now included in the state Senate’s budget plan, if they want a responsible blueprint for state government spending. That’s the assessment of the John Locke Foundation’s top budget expert. The Senate voted 32-16 Wednesday to approve its budget plan, Senate Bill 202. A second vote is scheduled today before the budget debate shifts to the N.C. House.
RALEIGH – Final state budget negotiations could produce a document that’s more fiscally responsible than either the House or Senate budget plans, according to a John Locke Foundation budget analyst.
If this year's House campaigns are likely to feature controversial Speaker Jim Black, surely the same can’t be said about races for NC Senate, right?
In the interest of going out further on a sagging legislative limb, here is a list of 13 races to watch as Democrats battle Republicans for control of the NC Senate. Surprises are possible.
The latest revelation about independent expenditures in the Bowles-Burr race show the absurdity of a campaign-finance system in which no one is supposed to know anything.
