The four major Republicans running for governor are fans of nonprofits.

They expressed their gratitude today at a forum in Raleigh sponsored by the N.C. Center for Nonprofits and Generation Engage, reports David Ingram of The Charlotte Observer.

One candidate cited the 19th century French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, who toured America.

"He went and looked at the nonprofits, which were at that time the churches, and he said that’s what makes America great," said state Sen. Fred Smith.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory said nonprofits are important in economic development, citing the Charlotte area’s recruitment of Johnson & Wales University, a culinary school.

"It took cooperation between the private and public sectors, and a lot of speed to beat out our competition," McCrory said.

Read more after the jump.

   Comments (2)

The Civitas Institute says it has a poll showing voters do not support the state budget.

But at least three of the questions it asked are so loaded that they aren't reliable.

As an example, Civitas' pollsters asked voters:

"The state is preparing to spend most of the $300 million in temporary taxes on more than 100 special interest projects, such as a drag racing hall of fame, a study of the horse industry in North Carolina and subsidizing a private culinary school. Do you support or oppose these expenditures?"

Not surprisingly given that framing, 84 percent of people said they oppose the spending and only 7 percent supported it.

Incidentally, the drag racing hall of fame was cut from the House budget and cut the subsidy to Johnson & Wales University culinary school in half on May 9, the same day Civitas began polling.

A House committee tinkered with the state budget for about nine hours Wednesday.

The Appropriations committee made dozens of changes to the $20.3 billion budget, which will head to the House floor for a vote today.

Among the cuts: Money for Winston-Salem State, Johnson & Wales University, a Greensboro museum and drag-racing hall of fame.

House Speaker Joe Hackney praised the final product:

"I think we have a pretty clean budget," he said. (AP)

In all over 90 budget amendments were proposed, and 53 were adopted. The third edition of the bill is now available online here. (N.C. Bill Drafting)