The State Board of Education, during its two-day retreat at Raleigh's Sheraton Hotel, set out six goals for students and teachers.

The goals are written in ed-wonk language, but Dome has tried its best to write them in English, Lynn Bonner reports. Essentially, the board wants:

* Every student prepared for global competition.

* Student progress measured in a way that alerts teachers to problems so they can adjust the way they teach.

* Every "learning environment" (Dome thinks this means "schools" and classrooms") to be "inviting, respectful, supportive, inclusive and flexible."

* School leaders that create a culture that embraces change and continuous improvement.

* Financial planning and budgeting aligned with maximizing student achievement.

More after the jump.

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When President Barack Obama comes to Raleigh today, he will visit a state heavily invested in the health-care debate where millions are being spent to shape its outcome.

The pharmaceutical industry, working to fight off new generic competitors and Canadian imports, employs 118,000 people in North Carolina. Medical schools churn out doctors torn between careers as specialists or taking the less lucrative but sorely needed path of primary care. And major corporations such as Lowe's Home Improvement are trying to figure out how to cover their employees' medical needs.

In all, North Carolina companies and agencies with an interest in shaping the bills that may reform the nation's health-care system have spent $4.8 million this year in Washington lobbying — a jump of nearly 40 percent over this time a year ago, according to an analysis by The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer.

National pharmaceutical companies with significant interests in North Carolina have spent millions more. Together, lobbying dollars for GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Biogen and Wyeth have shot up 23.8 percent over this time last year, to $15.7 million.

GlaxoSmithKline, which spent $4.7 million in the first six months of this year, has its U.S. headquarters in Research Triangle Park. The other companies either now have or plan to build drug manufacturing plants in the state.

The lobbying boost comes as the health industry also pours thousands of dollars into lawmakers' campaign chests. The state's two senators sit on the Senate health committee that wrote significant chunks of the reform bill. Several Democratic lawmakers are viewed as sitting on the fence about reform. (N&O)

On Wednesday, the health care debate reaches a fever pitch in Raleigh at the president's town hall and a rally by opponents to his plan. Throughout the day, Dome will bring you the latest on who's there, who's not, what they're saying and what it all means.

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The major health care bills moving through Congress would require nearly all Americans to have health insurance. But as lawmakers struggle to achieve the goal of universal coverage, a critical question is whether the plans will be affordable to those who are currently uninsured.

All the bills offer some kind of assistance to lower-income people who do not get health benefits through the workplace. But lawmakers and consumer groups say insurance could still be out of reach for many families with modest incomes who receive small subsidies or none at all. (NYT)

Those questions and others are being debated across North Carolina through television commercials, rallies and a visit this week from President Barack Obama, who is appearing at a town hall meeting Wednesday in the Broughton High School gym.

Alhough the health-care debate is national, it is particularly loud in North Carolina because of the concentration of moderate Democrats that both sides see as potentially persuadable, particularly freshman Sen. Kay Hagan.

The Tar Heel State is also the home of some major players in the health-care industry, including GlaxoSmithKline, one of the nation's largest pharmaceutical companies.

Moreover, North Carolina is now seen as one of the nation's newest battleground states, having gone for Obama last November after voting Republican in the previous seven elections. (N&O)

With the health care debate in Congress reaching a critical juncture, the pharmaceutical industry is spending large sums on TV advertising in North Carolina to help shape the discussion.

PhRMA, the pharmaceuticial industry group, won’t say how much it is spending in the state, Rob Christensen reports.

But public records show that the industry group has spent $75,377 on WRAL-TV alone.

The industry ad that has been running in recent days — and was airing Monday — praised Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan, a member of the Senate Health Committee. The ad is also sponsored by Families USA a nonpartisan advocacy group that pushes for affordable health care.

Hagan is one of the Southern moderates who had expressed reservations about the public health option part of President Barack Obama’s healh care plan.

"On the issues that matter to working families, Kay Hagan has been there — whether it's fighting to make healthcare more affordable or voting to expand healthcare coverage to 11 million kids without insurance," says the industry ad. "And now, Kay Hagan's leading the fight to ensure quality, affordable healthcare for every American, so you get to choose your doctor, and your doctor decides which treatments and medicines are best for you. Call Senator Hagan today. Tell her thanks for standing up for us."

The industry group, which includes local giant GlaxoSmithKline, began the advertising campaign July 2 and it is scheduled to continue at last until August 2nd, according records.

The ad campaign is part of a stepped up effort by both sides on the health care debate.

Moveon.Org., a liberal advocacy group, had threatened to run TV ads against Hagan, but so far has not done so. The Washington Post has reported that Obama has asked health advocacy groups to stop criticizing Democratic senators, including Hagan.

Update: Post now states that the ad has two sponsors. 

The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce is adding its voice to the great health care debate of 2009.

The Chamber will hold a Health Care Forum at 8 a.m. on July 24 at WakeMed Raleigh Campus, Rob Christensen reports.

Among those participating in a panel discussion will be Jack Bailey, senior vice president, of GlaxoSmithKline, Bob Greczyn, president and CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina; Bob Seligson, executive vice president and CEO, North Carolina Medical Society; and Hugh Tilson, senior vice president, North Carolina Hospital Association.

The forum comes as numerous groups have been mobilizing as Congressional debate reaches a pivotal point on President Barack Obama’s proposals to reform health care.

MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow may not think much of Sen. Richard Burr, but University of North Carolina president Erskine Bowles thinks he great.

Burr defeated Bowles, Clinton's former White House chief of staff, in the 2004 Senate race. But since then the two men have formed a close working relationship, Rob Christensen reports.

"The Lord moves in mysterious ways," said Bowles, in introducing Burr to a meeting of biopharmaceutical companies meeting at GlaxoSmithKline's headquarters on Thursday.

"I think by the Grace of God we both ended in up in the exact right jobs for North Carolina," Bowles said. "Richard Burr is a champion for North Carolina in the U.S. Senate. Let there be no question in your mind about that. He has an unwavering focus on North Carolina.

"Having someone who is focused on your own state and has a strong and effective voice for North Carolina truly makes the difference. I can tell you from first hand experience, nobody works harder or smarter than this guy does in Washington."

Bowles said that Burr is the first guy he turns to when UNC has issues in Washington.

"I think we are so fortunate to have a man like this in the U.S. Senate," Bowles said.

Think that might show up in a Burr TV next year?

Update: That didn't take long. The National Republican Senatorial Committee e-mailed a link to this post to reporters at 12:30 p.m. 

Attorney General Roy Cooper raised $2.8 million in his successful re-election campaign.

Cooper, a Democrat, reported raising $282,193 from Oct. 19 to the end of the year, according to campaign finance disclosures.

Cooper's largest contributors for the quarter included Charles Barker, chief executive of Concord-based ACN, Inc., a telecommunications company; Thomas Belk, chief executive of the Belk department store, Jim and Ann Goodnight; and Michael DeMayo, a Charlotte lawyer.

Cooper also received significant contributions from committees affiliated with Citigroup, GlaxoSmithKline and Smithfield Foods.

Cooper spent $2.5 million on his run for Attorney General. He has $367,000 left in his campaign account.

GlaxoSmithKline will no longer give directly to politicians.

The drugmaker announced Monday that it will stop making direct political contributions in about 20 states where they are currently legal. Such giving is illegal in North Carolina and under federal law governing Congressional candidates.

The company gave $585,425 to candidates this year. 

"If this is the company's way of saying they're not interested in getting special access and trying to influence (lawmakers') thinking through money, that's worth applauding," said Massie Ritsch, a spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington. "But on a practical basis, this won't make a lot of difference."

The company will continue its lobbying efforts, which it spent $8.2 million on last year, and support a political action committee run by its U.S. workers that gave more than $1.5 million. (N&O)

Political committees, including PACs gave the candidates for governor $468,000.

The largest share of contributions to both candidates came from individual donors.

Democratic Party committees gave Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue $1.1 million in the last three months. That represents 25 percent of her contributions in the recent quarter. Other political committees such as other campaigns or political action committees gave her $297,151, or 6 percent of her donations. Those committees, unlike political parties, are limited to a maximum of $4,000 per election cycle. Individual contributors gave 69 percent of the money she received.

The rest came from interest or refunds.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory received $311,401 from Republican Party committees. That represents 10 percent of the money he reported raising. He received 84 percent — $2.6 million from individual contributors and 6 percent, or $311,401 from political committees.

The rest came from refunds or interest.

McCrory got a $4,000 donation from a Coca-Cola political action committee. Perdue got $4,00 from a Pepsi committee.

More PACs that gave $4,000 after the jump.

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Three members of the State Board of Education are in line to travel to China in November, if a few companies open their checkbooks.

Board members Wayne McDevitt, Patricia N. Willoughby and  Melissa Bartlett are invited to a conference of “education ministers” as part of the board's exchange program with China’s Jiangsu Province.

Board chairman Howard Lee said he was looking to raise up to $20,000 for their trip from GlaxoSmithKline, Lenovo, and Jim and Ann Goodnight. Jim Goodnight is the SAS Institute CEO.

The state board and the provincial education department formally agreed this year to collaborate on classroom and student projects, hold joint conference and host exchanges for students and teachers.

Teachers from China visited North Carolina last spring. The N.C. Center for International Understanding sent 23 teachers and principals to China last year. No state money was used for their travel.

This November's conference registration fee includes sightseeing on the final two days, including a visit to the Great Wall, the Olympic stadium and Tiananmen Square.

McDevitt said board members may not be able to stay for the days that include trips to tourist attractions because they want to visit partnership schools.

The partnership aims to give North Carolina students the chance to work on projects with students from other countries, learn other languages and engage in other activities they’ll need for the workplace, said Stephanie Caplan, the center’s spokeswoman.