Category: SPIN Blog
North Carolina has become a red state. In 2010 and again in 2012, Republicans convinced voters that Democrats had done a poor job of running our state and they had a better plan. Their message was louder and more effective and they won control of state government with boldness, conviction and an incredible display of [...]
by Tom Campbell You have to hand it to North Carolina’s Republican Senators. They relish going, as Star Trek proclaimed, “Where no man has gone before.” They appear to enjoy painting bull’s-eyes on themselves, daring feedback. We admire their boldness and courage but their tax reform proposals and recently passed budget deserves closer deliberation. The [...]
Tune into NC SPIN this week as we discuss The Senate Budget, Tax Reform and Crossover deadline. Joining moderator Tom Campbell this week are Gene Arnold, Former Legislator, Chris Fitzsimon, Director of NC Policy Watch, John Hood, President, The John Locke Foundation and Cash Michaels, Journalist. . Air Times
by Tom Campbell Sometimes it feels that just one more problem will overwhelm us, but there is one that needs immediate exposure and urgent attention: the growing problem of human trafficking, defined as the illegal trade of humans for purposes of reproductive slavery, sexual exploitation, forced labor or other modern-day forms of slavery. Trafficking has [...]
Tune into NC SPIN this week as we discuss Transportation reform, Fracking cracks, The chancellor’s priorities and New mental hospital. Joining moderator Henry Hinton this week are Chris Fitzsimon, Director of NC Policy Watch, John Hood, President, The John Locke Foundation, Joe Mavretic, former House Speaker and Connie Wilson, legislator . Air Times
by Tom Campbell Government is nothing more than a social contract. An essential function of government is to provide infrastructure for the common good that is too costly, too big or impractical for individuals to undertake themselves. A look at our history reveals that public infrastructure has been funded through bonds, taxes, tolls and the [...]
Tune into NC SPIN this week as we discuss Tax Reform, Taking the political temperature, Sweepstakes donations and the Board of Elections and Consumer lending Joining moderator Henry Hinton this week are Jeanne Bonds, Political Analyst, Chris Fitzsimon, Director of NC Policy Watch, Becki Gray, Columnist, Carolina Journal and John Hood, President, The John Locke [...]
by Tom Campbell For weeks we’ve heard the legislature will present details of a significant tax reform package. Lawmakers agree they want to lower personal and corporate income tax rates while expanding the tax base to include a wider range of sales and service taxes, but the devil is in tax reform details. Our current [...]
Tune into NC SPIN this week as we discuss Legislative Update, More Legislative Issues and Protests. Joining moderator Tom Campbell this week are Linda Coleman, Former Legislator, Chris Fitzsimon, Director of NC Policy Watch, John Hood, President, The John Locke Foundation and Chris Sinclair, Political Analyst. Air Times
Departing UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp said more than he knew in a recent interview with The News and Observer. Thorp said that dealing with intercollegiate athletics was the most important part of the job of chancellor. Notice it wasn’t educating students, training future thinkers and leaders, undertaking research or attracting the best faculty possible. Thorp [...]
By Carter Wrenn, from the “Talking About Politics” blog, May 21,2013 There’re a lot of clever politicians and smart politicians but there’re not many politicians with the courage to take a stand they know is unpopular. The other day, baffled by the raft of tax reform plans floating around the State Legislature, I asked an [...]
By Brad Crone There’s no doubt that Senator Berger’s tax reform plan is an attention getter. The problem, however, is the math just doesn’t add up. Under the GOP tax reform plan, North Carolina’s middle-class families will actually end up paying more in their state taxes while the rich and powerful will pay less. Two [...]
The snarling, regressive Senate budget
by Chris Fitzsimon Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger’s office issued a press release Sunday night about the Senate budget a few hours before the actual budget itself was online for reporters and citizens to read. Berger’s Chief of Staff Jim Blaine couldn’t understand why reporters also wanted to see the actual budget document at [...]
