Heard on the Street Posted: Thursday, January 14th, 2010 The “New” Perdue
Governor Beverly Perdue appears to have gotten the message that she needs to reinvent herself if she is to make her mark as governor and this past week we saw the results of the effort. Unfortunately, as she has done in recent months, her new thrust felt frenetic and all over the place.
Perdue told the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, "Our number one priority in North Carolina has to be jobs, jobs, jobs and more jobs ... I am, and will continue to be known as the 'jobs governor.'" Jobs governor? Where did that come from?
Note to Perdue advisors: Ixnay the self-proclaimed titles. Show us, don’t tell us what she wants to be remembered for. Less boastful rhetoric and more hard work will go a long way.
Perdue’s new agenda has three main points:
JOB CREATION– she plans to propose a tax credit for homegrown small businesses and expand programs that assist with credit, advice and salaries. Following UNC Charlotte Economist Jack Cannaughton’s calling the past ten years “the lost decade” in our state it appears Governor Perdue is admitting that our massive economic incentives approach to economic development has been a failure.
For more information on this subject be sure to catch this week’s NC SPIN and also read My Spin, Lost Decade Proof of Failed Economic Policies.
EDUCATION REFORM – It is good to hear a governor admit that our public education system is failing one-third of our students. Perdue wants to raise our graduation rate by 10 percentage points over the next three years. But Perdue said in Kannapolis, "It's pretty simple. All this stuff that we do in the public school system I believe must be wrapped around that core mission." The Governor also said that the fact that up to 60 percent require remediation in community colleges before beginning curriculum is “offensive.” To succeed in these goals Perdue must be prepared to challenge and change an education bureaucracy that has so far refused to reform itself.
CLEAN UP GOVERNMENT – Pledging to set government straight Perdue is urging zero-tolerance for corruption. Nice rhetoric. Let’s see action…like calling for the resignation of Senator R.C. Soles who has been indicted or removing DOT board members who admitted to circumventing state election laws or even calling for an end to an ABC system that has created a “culture of entitlement.” (read more later in this newsletter)
It is an ambitious but worthy agenda Governor Perdue has outlined for the next three years and will be a major test of her leadership. We should all wish her well, for if she succeeds, so does our state. Now it is time to put some meat on the skeleton and show specifics of how we will get there from here. Read more comment about Perdue’s plans by colleague Chris Fitzsimon and an excellent story by Mark Binker, the very solid Capital correspondent for the Greensboro News and Record.
NC SPIN will cover this story in depth on next week’s show. Be sure to catch us.
Budget focus of weekend
Despite the vision the governor has cast over the past week, the facts are that she (and the state) continues to be plagued by major budget problems. Governor Perdue will spend this weekend holed up with her budget advisors and top agency officials. She plans to review, line item by line item, programs and funding in the state budget. We are told that agency heads are being told that they will have to make do with less, both in the remainder of this year and in next year’s budget. Expect budget reductions of 10 to 15 percent due to budget projections that predict we could end the fiscal year as much as $300 million short. Nobody believes the short session will raise taxes, so cuts are coming and there will be major screaming if more is cut from mental health and other service agency budgets.
For more discussion on the budget be sure to tune in this week’s NC SPIN.
Helms on the way to resign?
The Charlotte Observer’s Mark Johnson reports today that Parks Helms, head of the Mecklenburg ABC Board may have been on his way to Raleigh to resign his post until he heard that the chair of the state ABC Board criticized him personally in an open meeting. Jon Williams, head of the state board, cited Helms as part of the “culture of entitlement” that is found on local ABC boards.
Johnson called Helms while he was driving to Raleigh on I-85 to tell him of Williams’ remarks. Helms would not admit exactly why he was headed to Raleigh but quickly turned around and drove back to Charlotte, refusing to disclose why he was going to Raleigh. You connect the dots after reading Johnson’s article.
The ABC Board pretty much confirmed many of the problems with our current system. Charlotte Observer cartoonist Kevin Siers often has a way of focusing on the salient points and today’s offering is no exception. It’s time for reform…time for change…time for privatization.
Feds on Rand
We keep hearing rumors that former Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand is himself the subject of federal investigations due to his involvement in the corporation that has close connections with DOT, DMV, SBI and other government agencies. Rand has tried to distance himself from the operations of the company but we understand the feds aren’t buying it.
Republicans are planning a major challenge to the seat vacated by Rand. They plan on an indictment, and anti-Democrat backlash to capture a seat long held by Democrats.
Soles to plea and resign
We also hear rumors that Senator R.C. Soles, indicted on assault charges, is being privately pressured to resign his Senate post prior to the May primary election. Soles has stated he won’t run for re-election but Democrats are uniting to urge him to resign so that former House member David Redwine can be appointed and have a leg up in both a primary and general election.
Marshall adopts grass roots strategy
Senate campaigns among Democrats are taking different approaches. While Cal Cunningham may have the support of the national Democrat Senate Campaign Committee and is focusing on raising money, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall has adopted a different strategy, one she unveiled recently.
Marshall is working hard in key urban counties to get prominent Democratic leaders to publicly endorse her, counting on grass roots support to help her in winning the nomination in May. We’re told Marshall’s folks acknowledge that she won’t be able to raise the money Cunningham will receive, so she is going back to the basics to turn out a vote on her behalf. Marshall is gaining support among women and older voters…the key demographic that turns out to vote, especially in primary elections.
Malone to run against Hunt
Charles Malone has announced he intends to seek the Wake County seat currently held by Republican Neal Hunt. This seat has been hotly contested in recent years but Hunt has held on. Malone has a website: charlesmalonencsenate.com.
Voters in foul mood
Speaking of voters, most all political consultants and pollsters admit that the electorate is in a foul mood at this time. They remain fearful of the Great Recession and are worried about what is taking place, both in Raleigh but especially in Washington. The rumors leaking out about back room negotiations on the health care bill are enough to frighten anyone, even those who have enthusiastically endorsed health reform. BTW, word from Washington is that the President and those trying to put together a final plan have taken two flawed health reform bills and are making them even uglier.
The end result is that Democratic consultants and supporters are increasingly concerned about the 2010 elections. Proof can be found in the understated remarks of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, architect of the 1994 Republican takeover in the House who was in Raleigh last night to speak to the John Locke Foundation’s 20th Anniversary observance and charmed his audience of about 600. But here’s the clue: Instead of ranting and shouting at Democrats, Gingrich sounded very assured and confident, telling the News and Observer that former Republican National Chairman Haley Barbour was saying the Democrats are in more trouble than in 1994 and that the House could turn Republican this year and the GOP should see a sizeable pick up on Republican governors. To view parts of Gingrich’s remarks click here.
WRAL reports that Gingrich considers himself to be one of 7 or 8 potential candidates for the 2012 GOP nomination for President.
Locke 20 years old
The story got little play in the mainstream media but deserves recognition. The John Locke Foundation celebrated 20 years of contribution to the public debate last night in Cary. There are some on the far left who think of the organization as the Darth Vader of public policy, but we believe differently. Any organization that respectfully presents a point of view and challenges us to think about important issues is making a significant contribution to the public debate and we should encourage and applaud that effort. If our republic cannot withstand such an examination we are in a sad state of affairs. In truth we have fought to ensure such organizations and individuals have that right in our nation.
But we think the John Locke Foundation has made a more significant contribution to our state. While we don’t always agree with their points of view, we do think they have helped shape public policy in our state and have encouraged many to get involved in the process. We need such groups on all sides of the issues.
Happy 20th Birthday John Locke Foundation.
Martin honored
Former Governor Jim Martin was honored at the Locke Foundation event for his service to North Carolina. Martin received the James Knox Polk award, named after a former North Carolinian who served as President. Martin has not gotten the recognition or appreciation due him and this award was fitting tribute to a man who served ably in local government, in Congress and as our Governor.
New Film premieres
Award winning columnist Cash Michaels, who we also proudly claim as a panelist on NC SPIN, is announcing the world premiere of the movie “Obama in NC: The Path to History,” Saturday, January 16th at 3:00 pm at the YWCA of the Greater Triangle, 554 East Hargett Street in Raleigh. Seating is limited so get there early. We have heard a couple of excerpts from this film and we can promise you it will be interesting and exciting to hear about how Barack Obama won this state for Democrats for the first time in over two decades. If you cannot attend you might visit the website www.ObamaInNC.com which will be up later this week or early next week.
Good reporting, Cash. ");
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