They're not afraid

A lobbyist with the N.C. Association of Realtors has a different take than Gov. Mike Easley's on why the idea of a transfer tax is stuck in the legislature.

The House Democratic leaders want it. Senate Democrats don't. The influential real estate lobby is fighting it hard.

Legislators aren't afraid of Realtors as Easley said earlier today, says lobbyist Rick Zechini.

Lawmakers Zechini says he's talked to don't think a tax that property owners pay when they sell is good public policy.

Controversy over how the state should pay for the counties' share of Medicaid and whether counties should be allowed to raise a local sales tax or impose a transfer tax is stalling budget negotiations.

Senate leader Marc Basnight said Friday that a budget won't be ready Monday, despite Thursday's sunny assessment from one of his budget writers.

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Weekend warriors

Submitted by Anglico on July 22, 2007 - 11:31am.

You guys need to start blogging on weekends.

Interesting that N&O reporters, who rumor has it knew all about Boylan's escapade for weeks, declined to cover yet another story of Republican sexual harassment.

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They're either afraid . . . or just plain stupid.

Submitted by Anglico on July 20, 2007 - 9:07pm.

The days of ironclad control by Raleigh over counties and cities in North Carolina are coming to a slow and painful close. Each cycle brings more demands from people who have to make government work at the local level - and more evidence that the General Assembly is strangely disconnected from reality.

When it comes to fiscal issues, local governments face the pain and should have more flexibility to address their issues. Citizens of towns and counties should have the right to vote on more options for local revenue. If, as the realtors claim, they won't approve such options, so be it.

(When it comes to so-called values issues, I see it slightly differently. In those instances, the majority has the potential to subvert the rights and freedoms of the minority and the bar should be much higher.)

By the way, Mr. Woodho, taxpayers aren't working any months a year to pay taxes. They're working to pay for services that, at least theoretically, contribute to the common good. I agree with you that certain expenditures do NOT contribute to the common good, and that there is a fair amount of frivolous spending. For example, Mr. Fred Smith's companies have taken in many millions of dollars in state highway spending that effectively subsidize the sprawl lobby (read: Realtors).

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