Twas the week before Christmas

Published December 20, 2014

By Chris Fitzsimon

by Chris Fitzsimon, NC Policy Watch and NC SPIN panelist, December 19, 2014.

‘Twas the week before Christmas and as far as the eye could see,

Governor Pat was melting down over the tales of Lending Tree.

It’s a liberal media conspiracy it’s plain to see now,

He meant to disclose his windfall, he just didn’t know how.

And 60 minutes came calling to talk coal ash with Leslie Stahl,

Another unfair attack McCrory claimed, like he says about them all.

Everyone’s always out to get him, they don’t want him to win

Or maybe the problem is the Gov needs thicker skin.

Quite a year for McCrory and his administration all right

Stomping hard on the toes of the left, but never the right.

Tillis is leaving the state House to breathe the Washington air,

Wonder how he’ll divide and conquer the poor when he’s there?

He surfed a national GOP wave and kicked Hagan out the door,

We know he’s against Obama, did he ever tell us what he’s for?

Gas prices are way down and the stock market is roaring,

Unemployment’s down too, and corporate profits are soaring,

More people have health care, the economy’s bouncing back,

Remind me again why Obama’s so far off track.

Back in Raleigh Berger’s the boss the Senate GOP again selected,

He wields a big stick, but not big enough to get his son elected.

In the House, the next Speaker will be Cleveland County’s Tim Moore,

Who for four years was loyal to Thom Tillis for sure,

In charge of the rules that were bent and more often broken,

To punish teachers and workers and marchers outspoken.

There’ll be some new faces, bye to Ramsey and Murry and of course ol’ Tim Moffitt,

When it came to attacking Asheville, Tim probably should have stayed off it.

Medicaid’s still on the table, as there are louder calls for expansion,

Common sense on this one is even creeping into the Mansion.

But Berger’s still adamant, half a million uninsured should wait

It’s more important to buck Obama than help the people in his state.

Moore’s opposed to expansion too, at least that’s his initial take,

Maybe his local hospital can convince him what’s at stake.

The state budget will be a problem thanks to the massive tax cuts for the top,

The shortfall’s at 200 million, who knows where it will stop.

McCrory promised reform that would bring in the same dough,

It’s costing us 700 million and to a billion it might go.

Not much money to help the teachers ignored in the last year,

The ones with valuable experience that we want to stay here.

Meanwhile vouchers are going to schools without any strings,

Your money paying to teach kids the most outrageous things.

Like slaves were treated well and evolution denied

Because dinosaurs and humans once walked side by side.

Now comes a plan for charters that are virtually taught,

But it’s about the money for the companies not teaching kids a lot.

The environment’s under siege from fracking to the ash from coal

Slashing more regulations and protections remains the foolish goal.

At least the season brings a pause in blaming those who are down,

As a plea for charity and love pervades old Raleigh town.

Here’s hoping that next year brings something long overdue,

That same spirt of caring long after the year is new.

We need it on Jones Street when the budget bill is created

And when help for workers and children and families is debated.

It means Medicaid’s expanded and the EITC is renewed,

It means listening and hearing and a new attitude.

It means textbooks for schools and more money for supplies,

TAs back in more classrooms to be teachers’ ears and eyes.

Let’s rediscover our awe in the natural beauty that abounds

And stop seeing it all as merely profits to be unwound.

Here’s hoping for a year where people have a chance at the dream,

Where leaders actually behave like they care, to be rather than to seem.

That’s the holiday wish, a state with leaders who do what’s right

Happy holidays to all and to all a peaceful night.

- See more at: http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2014/12/19/twas-the-week-before-christmas-4/#sthash.I744AUOp.dpuf

December 20, 2014 at 6:31 pm
Frank Burns says:

Let us build on legislative gains by cutting spending further, reduce the cost of higher education and eliminate public contributions to all non profit organizations.