Senators skirmish over shellfish
A proposal to rewrite long-standing environmental rules and spend half a million dollars on a questionable shellfish experiment is moving forward in the Senate budget, despite Democrats’ efforts to... Read More
NC Spin Articles
Senate gives final approval to $22.2B spending plan
Senate members voted 26-13 shortly after midnight Friday to give final approval to their 2016-17 spending proposal. Unlike Thursday morning, when the debate was contentious on several points before... Read More
There's a lot to like in the Senate budget
I highlighted a few of my favorite things in the House budget two weeks ago. The Senate has put their budget together now, and there are things to like in it as well. Here are a few of my favorites... Read More
The cynical and damaging election-year Senate budget
It’s not hard to tell it is an election year for the General Assembly. Senate leaders, who for years have demonized public school teachers and openly challenged assertions that they are underpaid... Read More
Sponsor says he will pull HBCUs controversial tuition provision
Faced with backlash from students and alumni of historically black colleges and universities, Sen.Tom Apodaca, R-Henderson, said Wednesday he would pull three HBCUs out of a controversial tuition... Read More
NC Teacher survey: Principals are the key to job satisfaction
North Carolina public schools released the results of its latest Teacher Working Conditions Survey on Wednesday. The survey is given every two years and asks teachers, principals and other school... Read More
House approves limited charter takeover of public schools
The state would call on charter school operators to take over low-performing schools under a bill that cleared the state House on a 60-49 vote Thursday. House Bill 1080 creates an "achievement school... Read More
In Raleigh, it pays to be wary of motorcycle bills
Sometimes, in this job, you just get a funny feeling about what might happen next. That happened recently when a bill was filed in the N.C. House with an odd title: “DOT/No Discrimination Against... Read More
NC ranks No. 21 in fiscal solvency
North Carolina ranks just above the middle of the pack among the states — at No. 21 — when it comes to fiscal solvency. That’s according to a new report from the Mercatus Center at George... Read More
Keep a lid on state debt
It’s cheap to borrow right now. That doesn’t mean you ought to load up with new debt, however, and this same wisdom applies to the public sector. North Carolina has traditionally maintained low... Read More
