Tag search result

Americans for Prosperity will spend $500,000 on a campaign to promote a new state tax code, the organization announced Tuesday.

AFP, a political advocacy group founded by the Koch brothers, has been prominent in issues advertising on the state and national levels. In North Carolina, it ran an ad campaign supporting the legislative Republicans' budget.

Legislators have not presented a specific tax proposal, but they've discussed taxing more services such as hair cuts and lawyers' fees, while eliminating or reducing corporate and personal income taxes.

About a dozen people at the news conference sported green football jerseys with the campaign slogan "back in the game," meaning that the state is competing effectively for jobs.

AFP has spent about $500,000 in Indiana on a campaign supporting tax code restructuring, said AFP national president Tim Phillips, who was in Raleigh on Tuesday.

"One of our goals is to let legislators know they will have someone who will have their back if they just do the right thing," Phillips said.

The ads will run in specific districts and identify legislators by name. In a later phase of the campaign, AFP will run ads in national and international publications promoting the state, said Dallas Woodhouse, AFP state director.

Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, who spoke at the news conference, said he had not talked in detail with AFP about more extensive participation in its campaign, but said he would be willing to participate in its community meetings and appear in ads.

State officials dismissed a Republican campaign finance complaint filed days before the November election that alleged illegal collusion between Democrats Walter Dalton and Bev Perdue.

The state Republican Party said it identified 65 donors who received refunds from Perdue's campaign committee who later made contributions to Dalton, the Democratic candidate for governor. But in a letter dated Tuesday, the State Board of Elections said all 65 donations identified as suspect were legitimate.

"Our office found no campaign finance violations ... for these contributions and as such this matter is considered resolved," the letter states.

First Lady Michelle Obama will be in North Carolina on Wednesday for campaign stops in Greenville and Durham.

The Obama campaign said more details will be provided later today. Michelle Obama is a familiar presence in the state, appearing at campaign events and fundraisers in 2008 and this year. 

She was in North Carolina just two weeks ago, delivering a televised speech on the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte and speaking to smaller convention gatherings.

Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton will be taking the big stage at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte next week.

His campaign has confirmed that the Democratic candidate for governor will speak at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, the last day of the convention.

Dalton will also speak at the Labor Day celebration CarolinaFest, and talk to North Carolina delegates at their breakfest Wednesday.

The Obama campaign is releasing a series of radio ads in seven states today.

The ad in North Carolina, "Big Decisions,"  focuses on GOP candidate Mitt Romney's VP pick, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, and two of Ryan's votes on military health spending.

Restore Our Future, the Super PAC supporting Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, has an ad focusing on the economy that depicts a debate with President Barack Obama.

The PAC says it is spending $10.5 million to run the ad in 11 states, including North Carolina, in the week running up to the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

The candidate in the Secretary of State race will face off in a forum next week in Raleigh.

The Aug. 23 event is hosted by the N.C. Center for Voter Education and the League of Women Voters. The audience can ask questions and others will come through Facebook and email. It will take place at the Unitarian Universalist church on Wade Avenue.

Democratic incumbent Elaine Marshall faces Republican newcomer Ed Goodwin in the campaign.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton's campaign launched a group to reach out to educators in the race for governor. It's called Educators for Dalton.

Former NCAE President Sheri Strickland is its chairwoman, and founders include the current NCAE president and vice president.

Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory is the Republican candidate.

“Walter Dalton created the state's early college system, led efforts to decrease classroom sizes, and worked to give teachers the largest pay raise in a generation,” Strickland said in a statement. “Walter has stood up for our children and teachers, and it’s time we stand up for him.”

Correction: Dalton's campaign started the group.

The response by House Speaker Thom Tillis to the indictment of a fellow Republican lawmaker drew praise Friday from GOP gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory,  Jim Morrill of the Charlotte Observer reports.

But his opponent, Democratic Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, said the indictment of Rep. Stephen LaRoque makes it harder for McCrory to criticize a Democratic “culture of corruption.”

“It’s harder for (McCrory) to say that with a straight face given what’s going on,” Dalton told reporters. “There are examples in both parties … that neither side should continue.”

The question came up after both candidates spoke to the North Carolina Trucking Association in Ballantyne.

Dalton was asked by a reporter about GOP efforts to brandish a “culture of corruption” label against Democrats in light of recent incidents involving legislative staffers and LaRoque.

Laroque, of Kinston, was indicted on federal charges of theft and money laundering involving his management of more than $7 million in federal funds.

Tillis, a Cornelius Republican, has urged him to resign.

“I’m very pleased with Thom Tillis,” McCrory said. “That’s the type of leadership I will demand as governor.”

Dalton said Friday told the trucking group that he opposes making portions of I-95 a toll road but later said he would leave the option open for the proposed Garden Parkway in Gaston County and Monroe Bypass in Union County.

McCrory said he would do a “total evaluation” of all road projects, including those, if elected.

Asked about the two controversial Charlotte-area road projects, Dalton said he would leave decisions about them to highway engineers.

Funding questions have dogged the proposed Gaston project. This week the federal government withdrew its “Record of Decision” in favor of the Monroe bypass.

Four months before Election Day, the N.C. Republican Party is preparing to test its operation.

In a "Super Saturday" event, the party will launch four new field offices across the state for the coordinated "victory campaign." The new offices are located in Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, Greenville and Wilmington. U.S. Reps. Virginia Foxx and Renee Ellmers, along with Party Chariman Robin Hayes and other congressional candidates will cut the ribbons. Four others are already operating in Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro and Asheville.

Party spokesman Rob Lockwood said the party's goal is tens of thousands of voter contacts through phone calls and door knocking. "This is a way to engage our volunteers and test our operation in a competitive setting," Lockwood said, referring to North Carolina's battleground status.