A policy victory, not a political one
Republicans claiming victory over the imminent passage of their tax bill should understand the limits of that victory. They got a policy victory, not a political one. They haven’t done anything that... Read More
NC Spin Articles
After six years of howling
The politicians are hollering, again, about redistricting – about the new State House and Senate district maps drawn by the federal judges ‘Special Mapmaker.’ But look beneath the surface: What... Read More
What's often missing in discussion of teacher pay
Discussions over teacher pay often overlook an important factor Rising benefit costs have been crowding out funds for salary increases Total compensation has been rising faster than just salary... Read More
Former Superintendent accuses current Superintendent of misleading public
by Bill Ball, NC Policy Watch, December 7, 2017. North Carolina’s former public school superintendent June Atkinson says the state’s current K-12 leader “misled” the public when he blasted the... Read More
Pipeline process a deliberate one
Editorial by News and Observer, published in Burlington Times-News, December 8, 2017. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline will face many hurdles from gaining permits to burrowing through 600 miles of terrain... Read More
College student impact on local poverty rates
Colleges and universities can have a significant impact on local demographic and economic statistics. College towns tend to see inflated poverty rates: more off-campus students (as share of population... Read More
NC Economy thriving but tax cuts a bummer?
A narrative published Sunday in the Washington Post seeks to redefine the belief that North Carolina’s tax cuts are the model for Washington. But there is more. The piece attempts to shape a... Read More
Revenue trend doesn't merit panic
North Carolina has collected less state revenue so far than projected for the 2017-18 fiscal year, to the tune of about $134 million. Alarm about this would be premature — we’ve learned in recent... Read More
Where's the money for smaller classes?
Editorial by Greensboro New-Record, November 26, 2017. It’s a great idea: Reduce class sizes in primary grades and make sure every child learns to read. What could go wrong? Quite a bit, it turns... Read More
We've arrived at a national moment of truth
Seven years and almost $7 trillion in new debt ago, we released a bipartisan package of tax and spending reforms as co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. At the... Read More
