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MAYOR FOXX WON'T SEEK RE-ELECTION: Mayor Anthony Foxx will not seek reelection, according to a report on WSOC. In the TV interview, Foxx did not say what he will do when he leaves the mayor's office. Foxx has been reported to be a candidate for U.S. Department of Transportation secretary, but there is no word on when that decision will be made or whether Foxx will be President Obama's choice for the cabinet post. Check charlotteobserver.com for updates.

A MIXED MESSAGE: Gov. Pat McCrory's budget slashed $200,000 from the N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development -- but he will attend the group's luncheon today at noon in Pinehurst. The move could signal the governor is willing to reconsider the cuts in his budget -- particularly these which drew loud complaints from minority lawmakers in the first legislative budget hearing. Legislative Black Caucus leaders called his cuts to a handful of minority groups "insensitive" and suggested he is trying to erase them from the budget.

***Thanks for reading the Dome Morning Memo, the source for North Carolina political news and analysis. Send news and tips from anything we missed in this chaotic week to dome@newsobserver.com. ***

Some of the nation's largest Medicaid management companies sent suggestions for changing Medicaid to the state Department of Health and Human Services.

This week, Gov. Pat McCrory said the state would seek to move 1.5 million Medicaid recipients into managed care plans, a move that will open the state's Medicaid business to management by private companies.

North Carolina is one of the bigger states that does not contract with companies to manage Medicaid patients for a flat fee per enrollee. Medicaid managed care companies have wanted into the state for years.

The state received about 140 responses to its request for information. Among the Medicaid managed care companies that sent in suggestions were Amerigroup Corporation, AmeriHealth Mercy, Coventry Health Care of the Carolinas, Magellan Health Services, MOLINA Healthcare, and United Healthcare.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina highlighted high-profile problems with Medicaid managed care in other states as it voiced its objection to Gov. Pat McCrory's proposal.

McCrory on Wednesday announced a plan that would open the state's Medicaid business to management by for-profit companies. Each of the state's 1.5 million Medicaid recipients would sign up for coverage with one of three or more companies. The companies would receive a set amount of money per person, and would be liable for overspending

In its objection, SEANC noted problems with Medicaid managed care in Kentucky, Texas, and New Jersey.

In Kentucky, providers complain of late payments and one managed care company has pulled out of the state.

"McCrory stated the move would control costs, provide a better quality of care and increase efficiency," says the email signed by SEANC executive director Dana Cope.

"SEANC shares with the governor these goals for Medicaid, but we differ with the underlying premise that privatization is the key to fixing the Medicaid budget, providing better care or efficiencies."

VOTER ID DUEL STARTS THE DAY: Democratic leaders frame the day with a 9:45 a.m. press conference about recent election legislation, from curtailing early voting to voter ID measures, but it better not take too long because House Speaker Thom Tillis will take the same podium at 10:30 a.m. A Republican announcement of a voter ID bill is possible given next week's Elections Committee hearing seeking public comment on the issue.

GOP FLOODGATES OPEN: Voter ID joins a long list of other major policy changes blossoming at the same time in the middle of this legislative session. Let's try to put it in one sentence: With voter ID, the House is launching the most politically volatile issue of the session at the same time Senate Republicans explore a major income tax overhaul that would redefine who carries the burden of the state's tax system and Gov. Pat McCrory readies a long list of policies to reverse course on Democratic rule for the past 20 years, starting with his Medicaid overhaul and state budget proposal, while other lawmakers push plenty of smaller but equally major bills to create a separate governing system for charter schools, repeal the state's renewable energy credits, support gun ownership, restart the death penalty, legalize some sweepstakes, put restrictions on those seeking public assistance, consider an Arizona-styled immigration checks and establish a resolution that says N.C. towns and cities can set an official religion. All this arose in various ways in a single day. When's sine die?

***Don't miss today's Dome Morning Memo -- a recap of news and analysis from a big day at the statehouse. More below. Send news and tips to dome@newsobserver.com.***

Gov. Pat McCrory's campaign raised $156,394 with the help of nine men and a woman who will take their seats Thursday as his appointees to the state Board of Transportation, according to financial disclosure statements released Wednesday by McCrory's office.

The governor's top helper among the group is Michael C. Smith of Raleigh, president of Kane Realty Corp., the developer of North Hills. Smith is the new transportation board representative for Division 5, seven Triangle-area counties including Durham and Wake. Smith is the only one of the 10 new board members who reports no campaign contributions directly from himself to McCrory. But he says he worked as a campaign fundraiser, bringing in $106,000 from other donors to McCrory, and his brother gave $250.

Among the other transportation appointees, only Michael V. Lee of Wilmington reported helping McCrory as a fundraiser. Lee said he raised $500 from other donors, and he and his wife contributed $829.

Former congressman Bill Cobey was elected chairman of the State Board of Education on Wednesday.

Cobey replaces Bill Harrison, a former school district superintendent who left the board earlier this year after his term expired.

R.L. "Buddy" Collins of Forsyth County was elected vice president. Equality NC, a gay advocacy group, tried to get Gov. Pat McCrory to withdraw Collins' appointment.

Cobey is a former chairman of the state Republican Party. He was sworn in as a board of education member along with five other McCrory appointees.

McCRORY TO ANNOUNCE MEDICAID SYSTEM OVERHAUL: Gov. Pat McCrory rejected a Medicaid expansion earlier this year saying the system was broken and Wednesday morning he is expected to describe how he plans to fix it. The Republican has talked frequently about the rising costs of the healthcare system for select low-income and disabled residents and issued a video preview Tuesday saying he would create a "partnership" that will help keep costs low. Check Dome later today for more details from the 10 a.m. press conference.

***It's a jam-packed day in North Carolina politics. Get the full scoop on all the big stories from the Dome Morning Memo below. Send tips and news to dome@newsobserver.com.***

GOODWIN ADVERTISES ACCESS FOR CAMPAIGN CASH: Democratic Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin is soliciting campaign donors to join his "Commissioner's Club," promising private dinners to high-level contributors and emailed "personal updates" on his agency's work. "Be ahead of your friends and colleagues with exclusive updates -- join the Commissioner's Club TODAY," a campaign email states. (Click below for more.)

TODAY IN POLITICS:The Council of State meets this morning at 9 a.m. to handle a number of property matters. Gov. Pat McCrory's office said he won't take questions, as is customary, after the meeting. House and Senate committees are full of action now that the deadline for the majority of bills has passed and the machinations begin. (See more below). The Legislative Black Caucus will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. to criticize "tea party Republicans" who want to change election laws. McCrory will meet privately with Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer later this morning.

***Welcome to the Dome Morning Memo. Read more on Goodwin's latest fundraising effort, get all the N.C. political headlines and more below. Send tips and news to dome@newsobserver.com.***

Equality NC Monday asked Gov. Pat McCrory to reconsider his appointment of Buddy Collins to the state Board of Education, saying it has concerns about his opposition to anti-bullying measures aimed at protecting gay, lesbian and transgender students.

Collins, an attorney, serves on the Forsyth County Board of Education, was recently nominated by McCrory to serve on the state board.

“Gov. McCrory should reconsider his appointment of Buddy Collins to the State Board of Education,'' said Stuart Campbell, executive director of Equality NC. “Surely, there are others Gov. McCrory could appoint that would protect the rights of all North Carolina students. All students, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserve a high quality education, in a safe environment and free of harassment of any kind.''

According to the group, Collins voted against a policy revision in 2009 that added sexual orientation to the list of characteristics in its rules prohibiting bullying and harassing behavior.

They also had other complaints. They said Collins told schools Supt. Don Martin in 2003 that he was “disappointed that Martin allowed his staff to to interact with the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Network. In a column in the Winston-Salem Journal, Collins wrote in 2002, that same-sex unions had an effect of “disintegration of the American family.

And he said in 2002, that the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Network has an agenda to use public schools as a place to seek acceptance of its sexual practices.''

State Democratic chair Randy Voller Monday criticized Republican Gov. Pat McCrory for recommending in his budget that his office of Latino outreach be abolished.

Voller called it “a brazen effort to slam the door shut on some 800,000 North Carolina residents. The Latino outreach office provided not only a voice, but important resources for the fastest growing population in the state.''

He said McCrory's action is contrary to his party's national efforts to court Latino voters.