newsobserver.com projects - Van Braxton - Comments

Re: Hackney: House can pass budget. Maybe

jesmyopinion — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:24:01 -0400

"he added that he is willing to give people time to examine it and make a final decisision."

So it is 300 pages thick, the copies are being made today, and he hopes it is voted on later today?? Does not give people much time to read it, and the citizens sure are not going to get a chance to look at it to provide their opinion to their Representatives.

Re: SEANC airs two more ads

troubled — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:27:28 -0400

Good for you SEANC. I would add my vote to making both Representatives Holliman and Gibson "priors"......
Neither has any intention of any kind of serious
reform to the state annexation law.
They don't care about the little old ladies that will lose their homes. They don't care about the children and families that do not have insurance now because times are so bad.
They don't care about the children wanting to go to college and
their parents not being able to afford it.
They don't care that the Chappell's family farm near Rocky Mount will have to be sold because they cannot pay for the main water and sewer lines that this annexation will allow the city to run around their property at a cost to the Chappells of $217,000.00. This the Chappells will be forced to pay, even though they don't need water and sewer.
They don't care that Mr. Chappell is fighting cancer also.
They only care about staying in good standing with The League and being informed by The League. before the session is even over, that they can continue with the annexations in their districts.
They only care about allowing cities like Charlotte to have bragging rights about being among the fastest growing cities in the nation.
Charlotte's own Chamber of Commerce said that Charlotte didn't really grow, they just annexed.

Re: The Tobacco Growers Caucus

cdtew — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:42:06 -0500

Another wrench in this problem...how much Medicaid money does the state allocate to each county. Here's a map:

http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dma/2007report/2007tables.pdf (Go to p.13)

I imagine that has something to do with being able to force cooperation in voting for a smoking ban, even though a representative might represent a "Grower" district.

Now I'm just getting academic, and I have no substantive basis at all to claim such muscling is going on.

Re: The Tobacco Growers Caucus

tecolote — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:04:51 -0500

Sorry, R.T.
I just couldn't resist. At least it demonstrates
readership!

Re: The Tobacco Growers Caucus

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:10:57 -0500

Welcome to the Dome copy desk.

— RTB

Re: The Tobacco Growers Caucus

tecolote — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:09:37 -0500

Re::Sager and Stewart was not in the House at the time."

" . . . were not in the House at the time." ??