newsobserver.com projects - Smart Start - Comments

Re: Budget: health and human services

robdarich — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:25:36 -0400

Wasn't the fishing pier under HHS?

Re: On the Budget: Andrew Brock

dharmakay — Tue, 05 May 2009 22:40:36 -0400

Re: More-Smart merger alive in House

robdarich — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:34:53 -0400

Yes, they can be seen as baby-sitting; but they also serve to absorb classroom space to make schools seem just that much more crowded. Nothing soaks up a bleeding heart more than crowded schools; and if it weren't for smart-fhart, where would illegal alien and anchor children get their early medical treatment?

Not funding this is not an option! (did that sound like a politician?)

Jim Black almost put these deserving issues at the forefront with his "Everybody has to pay my business before they can enter kindergarten" program.

Jim Black is suffering severely for his deeds. TAKE THAT! Jim Black, no new cars for you and a moral victory for voters to cherish while Fibrowatt dances across NC in it's contorted perspective that spreading disease and stench is "Less filling" - or does it "Taste great" - I forget which it is, but I know that if Fibrowatt's saying it: "It's Greeeat!"

Re: More-Smart merger alive in House

tangoz — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:25:41 -0400

Aren't most of these state subsidized babysitting services?

To the guy attacking Latino programs

John_Burns — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:05:39 -0400

Please enlighten us as to why you focus on those specific programs.

I have my ideas why you targeted that, but I want to see what you come up with.

Re: They ought to propose 5% pay cut

John_Burns — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:05:08 -0400

That's pretty much what she did. A friend of mine who works high in one department said that each department was told they had 95% of last year's salary budget. Up to them to determine how to spend it.

Re: Republicans pitch $590m in cuts

danbesse — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:30:19 -0400

First, let me commend Berger and Stam for coming out of the usual dodge and specifying what they would cut, in numbers sufficient to have some meaning to the overall budget gap.

Second, it's clear that they're both lawyers and not teachers. With even my limited teaching experience, I can tell them that denying the educational benefit of smaller class sizes will get them laughed out of any gathering of teachers (and most gatherings of parents). And contrary to their assertion, there is ample research proof of the effectiveness of smaller class sizes in boosting student learning.

So let's recap: Democratic leaders want to fund education. Republican leaders want to cut education so as to cut taxes. It's about as straightforward as I've ever seen it--and an absolutely fair summary of the difference between Democratic and Republican state leadership today. Thank you, gentlemen!

Re: Republicans pitch $590m in cuts

TOPASSISTANT — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:30:02 -0400

How much of our tax dollars will we save if we cut out the position held by Mary Lazo-Chadderton, Special Assistant for Hispanic/Latino Affairs & Constituency Services, working for President Pro Tempore? What about the grants going to Latino groups like El Pueblo and LaRaza, I am told is over a million dollars a year? What about tightening down on tax money going to illegal aliens in the form of educating their children, K-12, free medical care, etc? That amounts to over $1.1 billion in state dollars alone, not counting local and federal dollars.

Re: Republicans pitch $590m in cuts

cbrose — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:39:14 -0400

Well for one thing the state needs to get out of subsidizing business period. It's atrocious that a company can basically "bargain" it's tax rates when locating somewhere. If all 50 states would adopt this attitude then it would end this massive "race to the bottom" of every locality willing to subsidize businesses that leave at the next better offer leaving locals with the tax burden and infrastructure payments. Think about this? Do you get to negotiate your property and income taxes when YOU move somewhere based on YOUR potential economic impact?? Also we need to look at athletics in education Why is so much money spent on this? And why are tax payers forced to subsidize privately funded sports businesses (NFL, NBA, NHL, etc)through college athletics, and paying for stadium construction? There is plenty of money out there. As Americans we just need to make certain things a priority and insist our government treat everybody equally and quit picking favorites.

Re: Republicans pitch $590m in cuts

AquaMan — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:15:10 -0400

how about a tax increase for the wealthiest North Carolinians and corporations?

Re: Republicans pitch $590m in cuts

AquaMan — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:06:57 -0400

Come On Republicans, Didn't Governor Arnold in California end up agreeing to increased revenues?

Re: Republicans pitch $590m in cuts

domewatcher — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:54:24 -0400

'''''end the state's $80 million appropriation to the Golden LEAF Foundation.''''''

Why does the state give money to Golden Leaf? I thought Golden Leaf had all that tobacco money and they were in existence to give that money back to the citizens of North Carolina.

Re: Republicans pitch $590m in cuts

domewatcher — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:51:19 -0400

"""Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger of Eden and House Republican Leader Paul Stam of Apex said the biggest savings — $300 million a year — would come from increasing class sizes in public schools by two students. That would bring the average class size to 23, they said."""

I do not know if these are realistic figures but saving $300 million just by increasing class sizes by 2 students is phenominal. This sounds almost as good as hitting the lottery.

If we increase class sizes by 4 students would it save $600 million?

They ought to propose 5% pay cut

PoliticalJunkie — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:21:30 -0400

for all state workers making over $25,000 a year.

That way they wouldn't have to lay any of them off.

Re: Republicans pitch $590m in cuts

jonoflocke — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:18:56 -0400

They are right about class sizes; in fact, a report from the State Board of Education found no statistical evidence that smaller class sizes raised student achievement.