R-e-s-p-e-c-t
It was unusual summer – first Governor McCrory reared back and threw a punch at the old Bull Mooses, then he threw another, and another. Back in May, when he’d sent his budget over to the... Read More
It was unusual summer – first Governor McCrory reared back and threw a punch at the old Bull Mooses, then he threw another, and another. Back in May, when he’d sent his budget over to the... Read More
Not far from the N.C. Association of Educators’ headquarters in Raleigh looms a billboard asking “Teachers: Want a $450 raise?” It’s part of a campaign by the conservative Civitas Institute to... Read More
Regarding your Aug. 4 editorial “ UNC board should lift cap on financial aid”: In adopting a policy that limits the percentage of base tuition revenues that UNC campuses may set aside for need... Read More
Money from coal companies has been fueling Republican House Speaker Thom Tillis’ race to unseat U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, including $21,100 from the nation’s largest privately owned coal company. The... Read More
House leaders say they're planning to call their members back on Aug. 14 for a full session, but it's not clear yet what they'll be voting on. Meanwhile, Senate leaders say they're not coming back in... Read More
To make the most money coming out of a North Carolina university, study nuclear engineering and you'll earn almost $90,000 a year. To make the least, study dramatic theater and earn $10,400. Amid the... Read More

Early next year, the John Locke Foundation will be celebrating our 25th anniversary. I’ve been with the organization since it opened its doors — earlier than that, actually, as I helped draft its... Read More
Every budget is chock-full of details that don’t get much scrutiny from the residents and taxpayers that feel the effects, and this year’s $21.3 billion budget by Republican lawmakers is no... Read More
Yesterday I quoted at length from Senator Jeff Jackson’s speech on the legislature’s budget process. Today we learn what a prophet “the new kid” was. Jackson said on the floor last week... Read More

The most conspicuous failure in this year’s largely unsuccessful legislative session was the adjournment—or more correctly congressional-style recess— last weekend without the passage of a bill... Read More