May 20, 2010

Smart Start Lobbyists

Posted by Becki Gray at 3:48 PM

Lobbyists attend legislative hearings and committee meetings to ensure their clients’ interests are protected.  Some are trying to avoid regulation, some are trying to avoid fees or being taxed, some are advising on compliance with new laws and some are just trying to get more money. And all of those clients pay a pretty penny for lobbying services.   

What if taxpayers were paying for lobbying services  - services that would advocate for more taxpayer money to be used for more and bigger government, which would require – more taxpayer money?   

Well, you are. McGuire Woods, lobbyists and silk stocking law firm (employer of former Governor Mike Easley and other former high power government operatives, including .Ruffin Poole and Franklin Freeman) has eight of their best and brightest lobbying the legislature for Smart Start.  Also known as NC Partnership for Children is classified as a non-profit but is generously funded with state government money. This week, the McGuire Woods folks were busy trying to convince lawmakers to restore a $15M cut in the Senate budget, even though taxpayer’s will still be paying $183 M for this child care subsidy program.   

As the budget discussion continues, keep in mind that your tax money is hard at work – paying for lobbyists to get more money to fund more government programs.    

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More than "Mec Deck Day"

Posted by Jessica Lee Thompson at 3:40 PM

Although heavily debated, North Carolinians have traditionally celebrated “Mec Deck Day” on May 20. According to legend (and the North Carolina state flag and state seal), more than 25 prominent citizens of Mecklenburg County signed the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence on May 20, 1775, preceding the Declaration of Independence by more than a year.

May 20 is also significant date in North Carolina history because 149 years ago today North Carolina seceded from the Union. The date of secession is no coincidence, North Carolinians deliberately chose May 20 to announce their secession as a symbolic nod towards the North Carolinian  “right to revolution.” For more on North Carolina secession and more information on the Tar Heel state during the Civil War, visit the North Carolina History Project.

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Chucky is coming

Posted by David N. Bass at 2:50 PM

Playing off the assumption that Harry Reid is going to get his backside handed to him on a silver platter this November, The Washington Post devotes quite a few inches of column space to floating this nightmarish, disturbing, odious, and cringe-inducing suggestion for a replacement: Chuck "Chucky" Schumer.

During his three-decade legislative career, Schumer, 59, has developed a reputation as a razor-elbowed, shamelessly self-serving, media-addicted political monster. He is also arguably the single most effective lawmaker of his generation.

Now, with confidant Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) hanging on to his seat by a thread, the Brooklynite is nearing the goal line of his long game. Succeeding Reid would make Schumer the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in American history and, more important for the uber-competitive politician, the first among peers.

Schumer has thrust himself into the center of issues ranging from jobs to immigration to Supreme Court hearings, but as that momentum has carried him into a more intimate arena where popularity matters, the grating architect of the current Democratic majority has become noticeably more collegial. Perhaps not coincidentally, his colleagues see him as the front-runner to be their leader.

May God have mercy on our souls.

Cross-posted on AmSpecBlog.

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Latest CarolinaJournal.tv lead story focuses on N.C. budget debate

Posted by Mitch Kokai at 12:17 AM

Anthony Greco examines the latest steps in the N.C. budget process in the new CarolinaJournal.tv lead story.

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RE: Jim Hunt could have ties to $15 million in technology funds

Posted by Dr. Terry Stoops at 11:53 AM

Republicans didn't want to use the Hunt-held device money for just any ordinary school buses.

Nope.

Republican Senators wanted the money to go to Triad-based Thomas Built Buses, Inc. Who would not be on board with using the money to purchase the new Saf-T-Liner® C2 and ever reliable Saf-T-Liner® EF and Saf-T-Liner® HDX models?

Leave it to Republicans to make this an argument about economic development, rather than the possible Jim Hunt connection to the handheld device software company, Wireless Generation.

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Contradictions in state law deserve the blame for any charter school diversity concerns

Posted by Mitch Kokai at 11:45 AM

Terry Stoops' latest research exposes flaws in the criticism that North Carolina's public charter schools are not racially or ethnically diverse. State law mandates that charter school operators fill slots with a colorblind lottery, thus limiting any efforts to pursue racial or ethnic diversity.

You'll find details in the new Spotlight report on charter school diversity and in the video clip below.

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Generic ballots don't matter

Posted by Joseph Coletti at 11:32 AM

I'm guessing it won't be the great GOP year many expect.

According to polls by the Civitas Institute and just about everyone else, Republicans are in a dead heat with Democrats this year. Voters hate ObamaCare and are ready for change. But you need to live the change you talk about, and so far Republicans haven't done that.

This isn't just about the national GOP blowing three races, including this past Tuesday's election to replace the late, corrupt, John Murtha.

Here in North Carolina, three Senate Republicans voted for the anti-freedom $19 billion budget. Instead of going after the profligate spending, $1.6 billion in on-time federal money, the flat-out earmarked pork for RTI International (though the budget writers couldn't even get the name right) and Wireless Generation, or the continued refusal to consider low-cost alternatives for the state health plan, the Senate GOP complains about what the Senate did not spend on school buses.

The mind reels.

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Jim Hunt could have ties to $15 million in technology funds

Posted by David N. Bass at 11:04 AM

Senate lawmakers give final approval to a $19 billion budget today — and it might include monetary candy for a company with ties to former Gov. Jim Hunt.

Hunt is chairman of the board of advisers for Wireless Generation, a hardware/software company headquartered in New York. It contracts with the Department of Public Instruction to implement reading software for the federal Reading First program.

More recently, DPI contracted with Wireless Generation in December 2009 to provide support for schools participating in a pilot program created by the state that encourages teachers to use diagnostic technology to help students learn.

The Senate budget proposal devotes another $15 million to the pilot program. Gov. Bev Perdue’s original budget would have allocated a whopping $39 million to the program. If passed, the new funds might go to Wireless Generation for the hand-held devices.

Yesterday on the Senate floor, Republicans tried to pass an amendment that would have diverted the $15 million to fund school buses rather than the pilot program. It failed on a party line 20-29 vote.

It’s not clear whether Wireless Generation compensates Hunt, who is the longest serving governor in state history. The company’s website lists 14 other advisers aside from the former governor.

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How other states are handling the pension crisis

Posted by Joseph Coletti at 10:35 AM

To reduce future pension obligations, states are raising retirement ages, getting more contributions from employees, or ending defined benefits.

If you have ideas how North Carolina should respond, join the Future of Retirement Study Commission for a public comment session June 10. Please register by email.

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RE: Senate passes budget 30-16*

Posted by David N. Bass at 10:20 AM

And Senate Majority Leader Martin Nesbitt had to remind lawmakers that the green button is "aye" and the red button is "no." You'd think they'd have it down by now.

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Senate passes budget 30-16*

Posted by Joseph Coletti at 10:14 AM

Nothing to see here. It's already off to the House.

* Held vote again so two more senators (Shaw and ____) could get their names in the "yes" column.

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Latest dispatches from the campaign trail

Posted by David N. Bass at 08:30 AM

• In a huge endorsement, Ken Lewis backs Elaine Marshall over Cal Cunningham in Dems' U.S. Senate primary.


• Breazeale, Crow not backing down in 7th Congressional District GOP spat.


• Public Policy Polling highlights poor approval numbers for Richard Burr in two GOP-leaning state Senate districts.


• Proposed union-backed third party can’t get enough signatures and thus buys the proverbial farm.


• Republican primary candidate Tamera Frank turns down opportunity for a runoff with Frank Hise after a recount put her in second place.

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New Carolina Journal Online features

Posted by Mitch Kokai at 06:37 AM

The latest Carolina Journal Online exclusive features Sarah Okeson's report on the management fees collected by a San Diego firm connected to North Carolina's state pension fund and former state Treasurer Richard Moore.

John Hood's Daily Journal assesses the wisdom of cutting millions of dollars in state Medicaid spending on in-home "personal care services."

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