GOP MVP
The Republican team’s best player this season is – the envelope please – Senator Phil Berger. Now, this is a judgment about political skills, not philosophy. I disagree with Berger on... Read More
NC Spin Articles
Tax Reform Part of Broader Plan
A few weeks ago, I was interviewing one of North Carolina's senior Democratic statesmen for my upcoming biography of former Gov. Jim Martin. Not surprisingly, the interview occasionally veered from... Read More
Standing Up For The Old North State
Many of us moved to North Carolina because of its Southern charm and the attributes of its economy and culture that made it stand apart from its Southern counterparts. Many more of us were born here... Read More
Budget is Not What State Employees and Retirees Deserve
Late Sunday night, the N.C. General Assembly released its compromise $20.6 billion budget proposal which includes five bonus days, but no pay raises or retiree cost-of-living adjustments. To say that... Read More
North Carolina Republicans Push Harsh New Voter ID Law
North Carolina was long regarded as one of the most progressive Southern states—an island of moderation amid a sea of conservatism. But since Republicans took over the state legislature in 2010 and... Read More
The myth of teacher tenure
If only we could abolish teacher tenure, propose liberals and conservatives alike, surely we could improve our nation’s public schools. Right? Wrong. Although hailed as a panacea, getting rid of... Read More
Deep wells inappropriate for NC fracking
By Vikram Rao, the executive director of the Research Triangle Energy Consortium and a member of the Mining and Energy Commission , Published in News and Observer, July 23, 2013. The General... Read More
GOP delivers a tight budget
Editorial from Winston-Salem Journal, July 22, 2013. The compromise state budget released Sunday night and almost certain to be approved by the House and Senate this week moves North Carolina spending... Read More
The airport mystery
Editorial, Greensboro News and Record, July 23, 2013. One of the most baffling political dramas of this year — and there have been many — has been the struggle between the state legislature and... Read More
No need to grease the skids of 'streamlining' state personnel
Editorial, News and Observer, July 21, 2013. Now, one can’t blame state employees for being a little hesitant to support Gov. Pat McCrory’s desire to “streamline” the State Personnel Act... Read More
