As President Barack Obama continues to ponder the future of American troops in Afghanistan, U.S. Rep. David Price stressed this week that the matter isn’t just one for the military.

"Nobody thinks this should be a rushed decision – or a decision that should just be about the military,” Price said. “We have to be aware of the security requirements to back up national policy – not military action for its own sake.”

Price, a Chapel Hill Democrat, returned Monday from a week-long swing through the Middle East, reports Barb Barrett. While there, he spent three days in Afghanistan meeting with troops, generals and Afghan government officials.

Price said in an interview he doesn’t expect to brief the White House on the visit, but he did speak with the State Department before the trip, and he stressed afterward that Obama shouldn’t rush into a decision on Afghanistan.

"He should take the time and consideration he needs to to make the decision in a careful and responsible way,” Price said.

   Comments (1)

There has been some grumbling among lobbyists who through it was inappropriate that they received a campaign solicitation from Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, whose office regulates lobbyists.

Marshall, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race next year, sent out an e-mail solicitation on her birthday (Nov. 18) asking for an $18 campaign donation to mark the occasion, reports Rob Christensen.

"We didn't intentionally put any lobbyists on the list," said Thomas Mills, Marshall's campaign manager. "If they got a solicitation it is because they had some sort of relationship with Secretary Marshall in the past. We would be glad to remove their names."

Mills said the solicitation went out to a broad range of people, including people who had contributed to her past campaigns, friends and others. He said people can easily unsubscribe from Marshall's e-mail list.

Local school districts no longer have to hunt for former students who left school without diplomas to offer them the chance at the credential.

Former students who did not graduate because they failed state competency or computer skills tests are now eligible for diplomas if they earned enough credits, Lynn Bonner reports. After some questions about its initial instructions, the state education agency has made it easier for schools and students to comply with the new rule.

The state Department of Public Instruction has dialed back the aggressive searches for former students it wanted local districts to conduct. Districts no longer have to write letters to students who left school as long ago as 1981, telling them they may qualify. Former students will no longer have to dig around for their old transcripts to show school personnel. Certificates of achievement will be good enough, along with identification.

Recent overpayments to hospitals by the state health plan are more evidence of the need to put the plan under new management, said the State Employees Association of North Carolina.

A preliminary audit last week showed six hospitals owe the state $2.5 million for overcharges.

"Overpayments in those amounts are noticeable to state employees, teachers and retirees who saw their out-of-pocket costs increase by $600 with the passage of (legislation this year) that required zero cost concessions from" Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, which administers the plan, wrote Dana Cope, SEANC's executive director, in a recent letter to House Speaker Joe Hackney. (Click below to see the whole letter.)

SEANC wants the plan moved from under the legislature's control to the executive branch of government, arguing that the legislators tasked with keeping an eye on the plan have failed to protect the interests of the state employees who use it.

The association also blamed Blue Cross Blue Shield, saying their contract gives them no incentive to cut their own costs.

N.C. Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight told the state’s congressional delegation today that North Carolina doesn’t need any more study about a Navy outlying landing field.

The Navy, he wrote, can save its money.

“I am pleased to inform you that these studies and their significant costs are not needed. The people of northeastern North Carolina DO NOT wish to have an outlying landing field constructed in their community,” Basnight wrote in a letter to the delegation, reports Barb Barrett.

The Navy is conducting an additional study of migratory bird flights this winter near Hale Lake in Camden County, one of five locations it wants to consider for an airstrip.
The landing field would serve a squadron of F/A-18 Super Hornet jets at a Navy base in Virginia.

Basnight, who represents Camden County, asked the delegation to stop the study.

Generally speaking, folks don't like taxes.

But North Carolinians seem divided on the question of tax fairness, according to a new poll by Elon University.

Almost half (48 percent) of North Carolina residents polled Nov. 16-19 say the current state tax system is either "not at all fair" or "not too fair." But 43 percent said they considered state taxes to be fair or "very fair."

Asked about local taxes, more than half (51 percent) said they consider them to be fair or "very fair." Less than half (42 percent) said local taxes are "not too fair" or "not at all fair."

As for the fairness of specific taxes, respondents overwhelmingly preferred alcohol taxes (24 percent consider them "not fair" or "not at all fair), retail sales tax (29 percent) and tobacco taxes (33 percent.)

The gas tax was considered "not fair" or "not at all fair" by 64 percent of those surveyed.

Elon surveyed 563 North Carolina residents, with a margin of error or plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

North Carolinians may not know much about how the state's judges are selected. But they know they don't want to change it.

A new poll of North Carolina residents by Elon University found that 90 percent of those surveyed were either not familiar or only "somewhat" familiar with how North Carolina judges are selected. Only 9 percent said they were "very familiar" with the process.

Yet the same survey found that 69 percent said they favor continuing the process of voters electing judges to their positions. Only 20 percent said they favor a change to have judges appointed.

Elon surveyed 563 North Carolina residents Nov. 16-19. The survey had a margin of error or plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr said on the Senate floor this morning that health reform should empower Americans to make healthier choices.

In a conversation ahead of a key Senate vote Saturday about health reform, Burr criticized the bill put forward by Democrats, reports Barb Barrett. He said it gives Americans a public option that allows patients “to be insured and be managed and be run by the federal government.”

“In North Carolina, it’s been overwhelmingly rejected by the population,” said Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican.

An Elon University poll released this month found that three of four North Carolina residents favor health reform, and 54 percent support a public option.

Rep. Wil Neumann, a Belmont Republican, plans to run for the Gaston County senate seat currently held by Sen. David Hoyle, a Democrat who lives in Dallas.

The district is Republican, but Hoyle has managed to hold the seat because of his pro-business record and ties to the business community. Neumann said he has worked well with Hoyle for several years and called him a "very good friend."

Hoyle has not said whether he will run for a 10th term.

"I’m not looking at this as a challenge to David but as it’s time for a Republican to be in that seat," Neumann said. "The community has asked me to do this."

Neumann, 47, was first elected to the House in 2006. He owns two small businesses with partners, a renewable energy company and a contractor, but said lately he has been focused on helping Republicans reclaim a majority in the House and, now, the Senate.

Kathy Harrington, the Republican candidate for Hoyle's seat last year, has not announced whether she will run again.

On the day before a key Senate vote on health reform, U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan sent an email to Democratic party faithfuls asking for cash and reminding them of Republicans’ ways.

The e-mail (subject line: Yikes) began: “Imagine a battalion of right-wingers, tea partiers and ultraconservatives being elected and descending on Washington in January 2011.” It was sent through the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and urged readers to donate $5 or more to the committee, Barb Barrett reports.

In the e-mail, Hagan recalled her own challenges in last year’s election: “I know first-hand what it is like when the extreme right comes after you with vicious personal attacks,” Hagan wrote. “I have seen the way they make up lies to suit their agenda, having no qualms about sullying a person's good name with deceitful tactics.”

The committee contributed millions to Hagan’s quest last year to defeat then-Sen. Elizabeth Dole. And the DSCC could prove pivotal to whoever is the state’s Democratic nominee against incumbent Republican Sen. Richard Burr. The Senate is scheduled to take a key procedural vote Saturday on moving forward with debate on health reform.

With the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee trying to recruit former state Sen. Cal Cunningham into the race, Elaine Marshall has issued a poll memorandum arguing why she would be a strong opponent of Republican Sen. Richard Burr next year.

The memo by her pollster, Celinda Lake, notes that in every poll taken this year, Burr has failed to gain majority support, Rob Christensen reports.

"Burr's reelection numbers are among the lowest in the nation with just one-fifth of the voters (21 percent) indicating their plans to support his reelection," writes Lake. The memo argues that Marshall, the Secretary of State who has announced her candidacy, is as strong in the polls as Congressman Bob Etheridge, who the senatorial committee had tried to recruit into the race. Etheridge announced last week that he would not be a candidate for the Senate.

"In sum," writes Lake, "Senator Burr is vulnerable. Voters have a net-unfavorable impression of him and a strong plurality is ready to vote for someone else. Secretary Marshall is well-liked and a strong competitor against Burr. Her record of service and her fund raising capabilities makes her the Democrat to beat in the race."

The memo does not mention Cunningham, the former state senator and Iraqi war veteran from Lexington, who the committee is trying to recruit into the race.

The N.C. Republican Party's top legislative leaders asked party officials not to block independents from voting in the Republican primary.

Republican candidates have to form a coalition with independents to win races in the state, wrote Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger, of Eden, House Republican Leader Paul Stam, of Apex, and the party's Joint Caucus Leader, Sen. Eddie Goodall, of Charlotte. The trio dispatched a memo Thursday to their party's executive committee explaining that independent votes are critical to winning a majority in the legislature next year. The executive committee is expected to vote on a closed primary tomorrow.

The legislative leaders highlighted a recent Civitas Institute poll that showed unaffiliated voters favor Republicans in legislative races.

"All of us know at least one Conservative Republican – and probably many more – that have switched to Unaffiliated out of frustration with the national or state Republican Party," the three lawmakers wrote. "Are we sending these Conservatives the right message and encouraging them to return to the Republican Party by telling them they cannot participate in a Republican Primary and can only participate in the Democratic Primary?"

Voters are slightly more likely to vote for Republican legislative candidates, according to a recent poll.

The GOP has independents to thank, since they said they would vote Republican by a wide margin, according to the survey by Public Policy Polling.

Voters said they would vote Republican in state legislative races by 45 to 44 margin and by a 45 to 43 margin in congressional races. Republicans are faring well, despite the state's heavily Democratic registration, because independents are siding with the GOP and Republicans are more unified, PPP's Tom Jensen wrote.

Those results come one week after a Civitas Institute poll showed similar results.

The PPP poll surveyed 711 voters from Nov. 9 to 11 and has a margin of error of 3.7 percent.

GOING CHILLY: Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin didn't appreciate having to share a campaign bus with U.S. Sen. Richard Burr when she was stumping the state. Palin is scheduled to appear at Ft. Bragg next week to promote her book, which could make for an awkward moment if Burr shows to get a book signed.

POLITICAL PRENUP: Presidential candidate John Edwards offered to quit his campaign and endorse President Barack Obama in exchange for a guaranteed spot on the ticket. Hillary Clinton got the same offer. This reminds us of a time when Edwards' political value meant more than a cheap joke, such as this one.

LIGHTWEIGHT GOVERNOR: At a women's health conference, Gov. Bev Perdue shared stories about her days as a lawmaker when she would scarf a whole bag of Doritos. On a stage in front of a crowd, Perdue challenged her transportation secretary, Gene Conti, to slim down. Woe to any Perdue cabinet members who still smoke.

IN OTHER NEWS: Former Gov. Mike Easley's campaign manager appeared before a federal grand jury this week. Members of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are heavy political contributors. An African American artist unveiled a portrait of U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms.

NO GOOD TIMES: Gov. Bev Perdue says group of prisoners who could soon be released have to stay. (N&O)

TOLL FREE: Wake County wants to know why they have to pay tolls and Charlotte doesn't. (N&O)

COURTHOUSE ENVIRONMENT: A state environmental regulator was called to the courthouse in the probe of former Gov. Mike Easley. (AP)