First the good news: North Carolina state government has more than $600 million to close any budget hole this fiscal year.
Now the bad news: Revenues are $95 million less than what lawmakers projected when they passed a $19 billion budget last summer. Adding to the problems, the state’s unemployment rate [...]
The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that Buncombe County lawmaker Susan Fisher has joined Ellie Kinnaird, Pricey Harrison, and the Pitt County commissioners in calling for an investigation into anti-health reform mailers and robocalls produced by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.
The elected officials are calling [...]
The year was 1994 and President Clinton’s plan to reform health care was being hotly debated. NC Blue Cross was right in the midst of it as usual when then-CEO Ken Otis penned an editorial for the Durham Herald-Sun laying out Blue’s position. It boiled down to three [...]
Governor Beverly Perdue seems to be trying to have it both ways on the provisions in the State Health Plan that subject state employees to random mouth swabs to verify they are not smoking and charging workers more if their weight is deemed out of line.
If creating commissions with long fancy titles were solving the greenhouse gas problems, North Carolina might lead the nation.
At last count, at least three boards are charged with identifying ways the state can reduce carbon emissions and thrive in the emerging green economy.
When one of those panels—the Legislative Global Climate [...]
According to the national policy blog, Think Progress, North Carolina’s most embarrassing member of Congress is at it again.
“Foxx: Republicans ‘Passed Civil Rights Bills back in the 60’s without Very Much Help’ from Democrats
During a debate on the House floor today over designating 21 [...]
The press releases are out.
Sen. Richard Burr takes a jab at the bill’s length but basically has a neutral statement.
Last night, Majority Leader Reid unveiled the Democrats’ health care reform bill. It is expected we will have an initial, procedural vote on the bill sometime this weekend. While I [...]
In his commentary “A double struggle for the poor,” Chris Fitzsimon points out that low income families are stuggling not only to afford basic necessities like food and shelter but to pay taxes, which consume a higher percentage of their income than they do for the richest one percent [...]
Here are a few of the buttons you can click on the website of the North Carolina Exploitation Lottery.
“Rick Flair Wooooooo! Scratch-off Game: More fun than a figure-four leglock”
“Don’t miss your chance to play poker with the pros.”
“Carolina Cash 5; Is today your day?”
“Jingle Ol’ bucks:Perfect [...]
With the flood of health care legislation introduced by the right recently you may have forgotten that Republicans controlled Washington for six years. During that time there were no efforts to expand health insurance to all Americans or eliminate preexisting conditions or any of the things now [...]
I want my Congressional representatives to get busy. Sure, they’ve got their hands full with health reform, saving the economy, and – I hope – job creation measures, but I want them to stand up for me and my right to choose. Specifically, I want to choose to deny them [...]
The Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy is out with its new “Who Pays?” report, which examines what different income groups pay in the way of state and local taxes throughout the country. The media release below from the N.C. Budget and Tax Center summarizes the not terribly surprising [...]
Dr. Amy Abernethy, a respected oncologist at Duke University Medical Center, writes a great op-ed today in the News and Observer about the change in recommended routine mammogram screening for women under 50. Her most interesting point is not only that we should acknowledge the lack of evidence supporting [...]
That's Ramin Bahrani, the native of Winston-Salem (born in 1975) who's becoming a talked-about creative force in the world of movies and whose most recent film, "Goodbye Solo," was shot entirely in Winston-Salem, except for the climax scene which was shot at the Blowing Rock with [...] 
Forbes has the details of a new study by the United Health Foundation ranking the states on the health of their populations. Vermont tops the list.
Eight of the ten lowest-ranking states are in the South. North Carolina comes in at 37.
Crooks and Liars points [...]
In his “Monday’s numbers” column, Chris Fitzsimon looks at campaign contributions and presents some interesting findings.
Progressive Voices commentator Barlow Herget writes “A letter to the blue dogs” chastising them for their ‘nay’ votes on health care reform and posing the question “Who’s going to vote for you?”.
In his [...]
As we’ve noted before, Burr comes up with a new misrepresentation about health reform every month. In a Fox News interview Burr even claimed that no plan being considered in Congress covers the majority of Americans. This despite the fact that every Democratic plan extends health [...]
The four newest members of the Wake County School Board will be sworn in December 1st.
While they have pledged to lead the public schools in a new direction, the president of Wake Education Partnership says there’s much to consider before making sweeping changes.
Dr. Ann Denlinger discusses growth, diversity, and the [...]
When the United States Preventive Services Task Force decided to change its recommendation for routine mammography screening to start for women at age 50 instead of age 40, it caused quite a stir. From the considered story in the NYT to the N+O, front pages were aflame this morning.
In [...]
A recent post on the Political Animal, the blog of the Washington Monthly, cites a story in the Boston Review that explains just how horribly the Bush Administration treated many veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The story is long, but well worth the time to [...]
More news today about the impact of eight years of casino capitalism in the White House (and in a mostly complicit Congress) – this is from today’s Washington Post:
The number of Americans who lack dependable access to adequate food shot up last year to [...]
I recently attended the Old North State Medical Society’s Health Care Reform Banquet. The keynote speaker was national health care policy expert Kenneth Thorpe.
Thorpe worked on the Clinton health care reform attempt. He said obesity contributes to health care costs. He stressed prevention as an important part [...]
An analysis of the Tennessee state health plan by HealthLeaders-InterStudy includes several interesting notes relevant to North Carolina’s State Health Plan wellness provisions.
Tennessee is planning to levy a surcharge on smoking state employees — although the timing of the charge could get delayed until 2011. In many ways Tennessee has [...]
For all the dissension in the Democratic Party, the Republicans have their own internal rotting fish heads.
The folks at the News & Observer covering Wake County schools apparently don’t have access to their own publication’s archives.
Monday’s front page story about the possible end of magnet schools quotes Ron Margiotta, who is likely to be elected the new board chair, saying that he [...]
Because it is an excellent safety precaution that saves lives and keeps insurance costs down, North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance Wayne Goodwin this past week received both his seasonal flu vaccine and also the H1N1 vaccine.A few months ago Karl Smith, an Assistant Professor of Public Economics and Government, at the UNC-CH School of Government launched a blog where he posts his thoughts and analysis about NC’s economy. Economic analysis is often complicated and impractical. Karl’s blog is not like that at all. He [...]
NC Policy Watch released the following media advisory this afternoon:
MEDIA ADVISORY: New statewide poll shows that North Carolinians favor tax hikes over education cuts.
An overwhelming majority of state’s voters favor candidates who would protect education funding.
RALEIGH (November 13, 2009) – North Carolina voters strongly favor state legislative [...]
In the bio on his website Rep. Mike McIntyre includes this line:
Congressman McIntyre has received the “true blue” award for two consecutive years for his 100% voting record on family issues.
That seems nice. But McIntyre does not explain who certifies his blue credentials or what family [...]
Chris Fitzsimon takes on the Civitas Institute in his end-of-the-week commentary The Follies.
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[...] The experts at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities have a new and compelling report out on the need for additional federal fiscal relief. Here’s the gist:
“States face a serious fiscal problem that could force them to institute additional deep budget cuts and tax increases in 2010, weakening [...]
One tiresome refrain from corporate lobbyists and the folks on Right Wing Avenue is that the state’s corporate tax rate and overall tax structure are so out of line with other states that it makes it extremely difficult to convince businesses to come here.
They like to cite the lower corporate tax rates [...]
Today’s Fitzsimon File entitled “The narrow special interest ratings” looks at a new ranking of state legislators put out by a business group. But are the actions ranked highest by this special interest group really what’s best for our state?
Share and Enjoy:The NYT has a great graphic detailing key numbers about the districts of Democrats who voted against the health bill – like the percentage of uninsured and the voting percentage in the Obama/McCain race. It’s great information and also highlights just how strange Rep. Larry Kissell’s vote against reform [...]
Kissell quietly announced his opposition to the House health care bill shortly before the floor vote. After voting against health reform, he went silent.
The Richmond County Republican Party Chairman Lee Butler actually made a good point about Kissell’s position:
He said the announcement felt like a [...]
There is discussion in Washington about allowing employers more discretion to impose financial penalties on unhealthy workers. The legislation would allow more businesses and governments to create wellness provisions similar to the ones proposed in North Carolina.
Now some heavy hitters are opposing these punitive wellness provisions.
Here is part of what [...]
Apparently you are against business in North Carolina if you want to reduce the influence of big money in municipal elections, allow local school boards to decide when the school year begins, and make people wait to join private clubs that serve alcohol.
Those are some of the [...]
Hello, Pulsies, I know you’ve missed me, and I’m sorry about depriving you of my pearls of wisdom. It was selfish. Everything’s going to be all right, though, I’m back now. In fact, I’ve just finished a book that taught me oh so much. I [...]
In his Weekly Briefing “Okay, let’s go over this one more time“, Rob Schofield provides just with just the simple facts about health care reform.
Share and Enjoy:Yesterday in his comments at the Budget & Tax Center’s legislative briefing in Fayetteville, Senator Rand said that the he has been told by legislative fiscal staff that state tax revenues are behind projections by $90 million through the end of October. In the grand scheme of things that is [...]
Burke is a former insurance regulator who sold out to Blue Cross and now pushes the company line. In almost every interview she hesitates and stammers a great deal. I like to think it’s because she can barely force the misrepresentations out of her mouth.
One particularly entertaining [...]
To ensure that state employees aren’t sneaking cigarettes at work the State Health Plan is contracting with a company to travel around the state shoving swabs in the mouths of workers.
We knew this was going to happen. But what if employees decline to undergo this violation? The [...]
Scott Huler lives in Raleigh (though he had the misfortune of being born in Ohio). He's worked and written for the Raleigh News & Observer and done on-air commentaries for "All Things Considered" on National Public Radio. "All Things Considered" is kind of the perfect venue' [...] Foxx is always good fodder for late night comedians. In this clip Stephen Colbert explains why health reform is more dangerous than terrorism — an idea first raised by Foxx on the House floor.
Click here to view the embedded video.
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Rep. Larry Kissell is North Carolina's newest representative in Congress, elected in 2008 from the NC-8 (which includes all the counties on the South Carolina border, from the eastern suburbs of Charlotte to Cumberland County and Fayetteville). Most analysts agree that Kissell won his seat against' [...] 
...for N.C. Senate, Dist. 45 ... against incumbent Steve Goss.
USA Today has an interesting look at the priorities of colleges and universities these days.
Fifty-six football coaches now earn more than $1 million a year, 25 make more than $2 million, and three more than $4 million.
And that may not be the most disturbing part of [...]
Chris Fitzsimon reports on the legislative committee meeting on mental health in his commentary “Admitting the problem.”
Senator Martin Nesbitt, the chair of the legislative commission that oversees the system, told lawmakers Tuesday morning that the General Assembly made a serious mistake this year by deeply slashing funding for mental [...]
President Obama talked up paid sick days on the campaign trail leading up to his election and the First Lady has discussed paid sick leave, as well as broader work and family balance issues, on multiple occasions.
But we had yet to hear a clear signal from the new Obama Administration [...]
This latest anti-reform mailer by NC Blue Cross is really outrageous. Why?
NC Blue Cross executives are using our premium dollars to protest taxes that apply only to very wealthy people like them. The House health reform bill taxes families making over $1 million a year and individuals making over $500,000 [...]
Finally an answer to why Wall Street financial companies are getting the swine flu vaccine before most of the rest of the country.
It is the same answer to why Goldman Sachs and several other financial firms that received federal bailout money are paying huge bonuses to [...]
Although Inclusive Health, the state’s insurance plan for people with preexisting conditions, is valuable, the monthly premiums are still unaffordable to many individuals and families.
But a new $1.5 million federal grant will help provide premium assistance for Inclusive Health enrollees beginning today. For approved applicants the discounts will range [...]
They are at it again. If they hadn’t made people mad enough, here they are sending out yet another round of a new design. This one complains about high fees and taxes as a part of health reform. That would be taxes on millionaires – like BCBS CEO Bob Greczyn [...]
To get the Democratic votes for the narrow victory on Saturday for the House's "Affordable Health Care for America Act," Speaker Nancy Pelosi was forced into a corner by the Blue Dogs, led by Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan. She allowed a vote on the' [...] 
Let's review, shall we?
Stories about the fallout from the recent Wake County school board elections continue, but many of them are leaving out vital pieces of information about the new board members.
A Sunday N&O story quoted parents worried that the new majority on the school board will end magnet schools [...]
As far as I can tell, only Tennessee matched us in having three Democrats actually vote against health care reform – more than any other state. This is pretty embarrassing for a state that voted for Obama for President and where there was an unprecedented battle over the last few [...]
to Rep. Bob Etheridge for a tough “Yes” vote for health reform.
Share and Enjoy: [...]All three NC Dems we’ve been following most closely voted “No” on health reform:
Rep. Larry Kissell
Rep. Mike McIntyre
Rep. Heath Shuler
With a convincing 240 vote majority on the vote to send the House reform bill to the floor, debate has started. A final vote on the bill is expected later tonight. That first 240 vote majority is important since the Democrats only need 218 votes to pass the bill. [...]
Mark Binker reports in the News and Record today that Representative Pricey Harrison of Greensboro has sent a letter to the Department of Insurance and the Attorney General calling for a probe of the Blue Cross postcard campaign.
Harrison’s main contention is pretty simple: Should a nonprofit be [...]
In the wake of the ongoing investigations of former Governor Mike Easley, a new scorecard suggests an antidote to North Carolina’s money-in-politics problems.
NC Voters for Clean Elections has released its 2009 Scorecard on Campaign Reform, highlighting the state’s progress on campaign finance reform. The scorecard hones in on legislative [...]
Perhaps that reader was you? In any event, the complete text of the bill, H.R. 3962 is available for your perusal on Congressman David Price’s website (h/t Lenice Williams), should you care to attempt it. Also, links to an overview of the bill, section-by-section summaries, and [...]
1. The Congressional Budget Office says the House health reform bill will reduce the federal deficit by over $100 billion in first 10 years.
2. This bill shows an unprecedented degree of fiscal responsibility. Compare this to the Medicare Part D drug program passed several years ago. The costs of Medicare [...]
Madam Virginia Foxx stood on the west front of the Capitol yesterday, shucking and grinning as one of Michelle Bachmann's backup singers, basking in the glow of some 5,000 anti-abortionists and tea partiers bused in by Americans for the Prosperous to shut down the government and' [...] 
You might want to think twice before enrolling in an online for-profit college like the University of Phoenix.
A joint investigation by the public radio program Marketplace and ProPublica found that the online university continues to make questionable promises to prospective students and engage in other enrollment practices that prompted [...]
Candidate Larry Kissell (NC-8) sounds a much different tune on health care reform than his current stated intention as Congressman Larry Kissell to vote against the historic health care reform bill close to a vote in the House:
Click here to view the embedded video.
Share and Enjoy:[...] On Wednesday night, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) stood on the House floor
and read the names of those in Republican districts who had died from
lack of health insurance. In a heartfelt plea for reform of the health
care system, he asked, “Is it really asking too much of us [...]
Take a minute to check out this website — Doc Hendley, NCSU Class of ‘04, is the founder/leader of an organization, Wine to Water, that’s doing great work in the Third World using money raised courtesy of good old American drinking.
Doc’s one of 10 finalists in [...]
Rob Schofield offers a simple, cost effective health care reform measure in his Weekly Briefing “An obvious first step.” Schofield’s solution for better health–paid sick days.
Share and Enjoy: [...]
Ben Jealous, the dynamic young leader of the national NAACP will be in Raleigh today (along with North Carolina’s own dynamic young leader – state NAACP president, Rev. William Barber). Their purpose: to help push national health care reform legislation across the finish line. The two will [...]
The Charlotte Observer today features a blistering editorial about Madam Foxx, who is "more than just mildly embarrassing for North Carolina." She's positively "find-an-island-to-ship-her-to embarrassing." And then this small shiv directed at you and me: "how-can-voters-keep-electing-her embarrassing .... Her words and actions should scare voters'" [...] 
Tony Rand, Democratic Majority Leader in the NC Senate and arguably the second most powerful member of that body, is resigning from the Senate to take an appointment as chairman of the state parole board.
One final but important note about Tuesday’s elections that has largely been ignored by the state’s media.
The voters in Lee County approved a 1/4 cent increase in the county sales tax to renovate Lee County High School. And they did it despite the usual overheated rhetoric [...]
In this column “Time has come today,” Chris Fitzsimon fills in the details of how the Interim Joint Finance Committee on Tax Reform was created and what happened at their first meeting Tuesday.
His commentary “Anxious, but not crazy,” discusses what election day results mean in North Carolina and [...]
The State Employees Association of North Carolina today launched a new website and petition to counter the anti-health reform website and postcard campaign by Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
The top of the website says it all:
Stop Using Our Health Care Dollars to Fund Your Political Machine!
Check [...]
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