Lessons in strategies
Two big races; two very different lessons to learn from each. When the tallies came in from Tuesday night’s primary election, Republican state House Speaker Thom Tillis had done something that didn... Read More
NC Spin Articles
Legislators lacking revenue but not confidence
Editorial by News and Observer,May 10, 2014. The legislative session after the passage of a two-year state budget is referred to as the “short” session because it is devoted mainly to budget... Read More
Sen. Phil Berger, self-made and self-certain, is likely the most powerful politician in NC
by Jay Price, News and Observer, May 10, 2014. Last summer Ellie Kinnaird, an Orange County Democrat, resigned after 17 years in the state Senate to organize a grass-roots counterattack on the new... Read More
Primary lessons: Money, women and song
Here are seven lessons from last week on Karl Rove, the Southern Manifesto, Clay Aiken and related subjects. Lesson One: “Money makes the world go around,” as they sing in the musical “Cabaret... Read More
McCrory pledges to be more assertive policymaker
Republican Gov. Pat McCrory’s first months on the job were trying ones. It was legislators from his own party who drove major policy debates on everything from abortion rights to voter... Read More
Manning to educators: "What about this do you not understand?"
Editorial by News and Observer, May 9, 2014. It will never be said of Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning Jr. that those subject to his rulings don’t know where he stands. Thus, the... Read More
Long summer ahead for House Speaker and Governor
The House Speaker and the U.S Senate nominee House Speaker Thom Tillis, now the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, made it clear recently that he has no plans to step down as Speaker for the... Read More
Aiken for the win
I’ve been in politics longer than Clay Aiken has been alive (38 years vs. 35), but he took me to school this week. Everything I’ve learned tells me that if (A) you’re massively outspent by... Read More
Reserves can't cover revenue hole
Editorial by Winston-Salem Journal, May 8, 2014. Gov. Pat McCrory and legislative leaders must determine the root of the state’s revenue problem, and fix it. They cannot rely on reserves to cover... Read More
BCBS: ACA enrollees in NC are older than expected
The people who signed up for Affordable Care Act plans with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina turned out to be older than expected. BCBSNC, the state’s largest health insurer, released... Read More
