Tricia Cotham

PhRMA to leave it to 'Beaver'

bniolet — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:02:55 -0400

When the Partnership for Prescription Assistance "Help is Here" Express pulls into Eastland Mall next week, it will have a special guest — Jerry Mathers, aka The Beaver.

The Partnership is an outreach effort of an industry trade group known as PhRMA. The program is designed to raise awareness of programs that help patients with prescription needs, Jim Morrill of The Charlotte Observer reports.

State Rep. Tricia Cotham, a Charlotte Democrat, helped organize the visit. She says people can bring their current prescriptions for free advice or to see if they qualify for assistance. The tour is visiting areas hard hit by unemployment and the the recession.

The bus will be at the mall from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mathers, who starred in the sitcom "Leave it to Beaver" from 1957 to 1963, will appear at 2.

PhRMA and its CEO, former Republican U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin of Louisiana, have come under fire from Republicans for supporting President Obama's health care reform efforts. The group has said it's willing to $150 million on a pro-health care-reform advertising campaign.

House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio accused Tauzin and his group of "appeasement" and bowing to Democrats.

Kelley celebrated for 50 years of service

bniolet — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:30:23 -0400

After 50 years working in state government, Rosa Kelley knows how to get things done.

In fact, Kelley's friends and co-workers say it's hard to find something that Kelley doesn't know, Kevin Kiley reports.

"She knows everything about everything about everybody," said state Rep. Tricia Cotham, a Charlotte Democrat.

Kelley, 82, is a legislative assistant to Cotham but has worked in all three branches of state government during the past five decades.

Family and friends, including several lawmakers, gathered in the Legislative Office Building on Wednesday to recognize Kelley for her years working for the state Supreme Court, the State Board of Education and several members of the state House.

Kelley has worked at the legislature, a place where party labels matter, for 20 years. But even though Kelley is a Democrat, Cotham is the first Democrat she has worked for in the legislature.

More water for Senate tea leaves

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:18:03 -0400

It's time to refresh the old cup of Senate tea leaves.

The Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in 2010 continues to be completely wide open, though it's increasingly clear that most of the major state officials will pass on it.

Here's the latest conventional wisdom:

THE LAST BIG HOPE: Washington Democrats and national political pundits continue to search for a brand name. U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre is still toying with a run, and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall has lately dipped her toe in the water. A definitive "no" has not come from state Sen. Dan Blue yet.

DARK HORSES: Former state Sen. Cal Cunningham leads the pack of dark horses, though former Obama fundraiser Kenneth Lewis can't be counted out. Marshall's legislative liaison, Robert Wilson, told the Insider he was flirting with the idea, but he never returned Dome's calls and he would not likely run against his boss.

WHO'S NOT RUNNING: U.S. Reps. Heath Shuler, Bob Etheridge and Brad Miller, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, Attorney General Roy Cooper, state Sen. Malcolm Graham, state Reps. Grier Martin and Tricia Cotham, Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, and Elizabeth Edwards have all said no. Of course, so did Kay Hagan in 2008.

In Dome's view, Marshall may actually make a run for it: 1) She's interested, since she ran for Senate in 2002; 2) she wouldn't lose her day job (unlike McIntyre or Blue); and 3) at 63, this is probably her last chance to do it.

That said, Cunningham has a good biography and seems to be exciting the netroots.

Harry the Hypothetical

bniolet — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:43:00 -0400

Debate on the House tax package has become an exercise in alliterative hypothetical situations.

Rep. Thom Tillis, a Charlotte Republican, started it all by posing a scenario in which "Larry the Landlord," the owner of a 20-unit affordable housing complex would have to raise rent because of the new taxes upon him.

Rep. Deborah Ross, a Raleigh Democrat, escalated when she suggested that Larry would benefit greatly from the additional services the tax package would fund.

Rep. Tricia Cotham, a Charlotte Democrat, took the exercise even further when she said she was concerned about "Danny the Disabled Child" who apparently lives in "Larry the Landlord's" building and has disabilities and decaying teeth.

"I'm voting for Danny," Cotham said.

Dome is sure that Larry and Danny appreciate the legislative concern.

Shuler: Not running for Senate

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:08:54 -0400

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler has shot down a Senate bid again.

Speaking at a groundbreaking in Asheville, the Waynesville Democrat said he would not run against U.S. Sen. Richard Burr in 2010, according to the Hendersonville Times-News:

"I am not running for Senate," the second-term Democrat said after a ground-breaking ceremony for a new building at the Bent Creek Experimental Forest Station in Asheville. "I am not running for Senate. I am not running for Senate. I have said that a thousand times, and I don't know why they keep coming up (with the idea). Of course they keep coming up and running polls."

Shuler previously pondered — then rejected — a run for Senate, but some Democrats had floated his name again after Attorney General Roy Cooper declined to run.

Others who have said no to a run on the Democratic side: U.S. Reps. Bob Etheridge and Brad Miller, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, state Sen. Malcolm Graham, state Reps. Tricia Cotham and Grier Martin and Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker.

Tricia Cotham

bniolet — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:26:59 -0400

Cotham: House could tax rich

bniolet — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:18:06 -0400

State House Democrats could consider raising taxes on North Carolina’s wealthiest taxpayers as they struggle with a record budget shortfall, a Charlotte lawmaker said Friday morning.

Democratic Rep. Tricia Cotham made the statement in a conference call on the budget with more than 50 constituents, elected officials and others, Jim Morrill of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Cotham said Democrats, who control the House, are considering a package of income and excise tax hikes to offset a shortfall that now stands at $4.6 billion.

"We are not talking about taxing the working class," she said. "We’re looking at 3 to 5 percent of North Carolina’s richest income earners."

To those making more than $250,000 a year, she said, "You’re going to have to pay more – and I think you should."

Cotham offered a bleak assessment of proposed cuts. For example, she described what she called "absolutely devastating" cuts in education spending that could amount to $1.8 billion and "set back education at least a decade."

More after the jump.

Graham not interested in Senate bid

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:24:58 -0400

Scratch another name off the Democratic list.

State Sen. Malcolm Graham of Charlotte shot down rumors this morning that he was considering a run for U.S. Senate in 2010.

"No way," he said.

He had previously told the Fayetteville Observer he was taking "a casual look" at running against U.S. Sen. Richard Burr.

Others who have said no to a run on the Democratic side: U.S. Reps. Bob Etheridge and Brad Miller, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, Attorney General Roy Cooper, state Reps. Tricia Cotham and Grier Martin and Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker.

Cotham: Not running for Senate

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:33:18 -0400

Rep. Tricia Cotham shot down a rumor that she's considering a Senate run.

The Charlotte Democrat, the second-youngest state legislator, was rumored to be considering a campaign for the nomination in 2010.

She said she's been asked, but she's not interested.

"I've had quite a few people ask me over the past couple of weeks to consider it," she told Dome. "I just kept saying I'm very flattered but right now my only priority is the legislature."

Cotham said she may consider higher office in the future but she's happy serving in the state House for now.

"I enjoy what I'm doing," she said.

House delays graduation project

bkrueger — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:45:40 -0400

The state House voted overwhelmingly today to lift the state requirement for seniors graduating in 2010 to compete special projects to get their diplomas.

The 115-3 vote for House Bill 223 to delay the requirement until the class of 2011 graduates rubber stamps a decision the State Board of Education made last month, reports Lynn Bonner.

Local school districts can still choose to require the projects for 2010.

Senior projects drew praise from some legislators, but even a few supporters said the projects are easier for students who have extensive support.

Rep. Tricia Cotham, a former teacher and school administrator in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, said many good things come from projects, but they create "a system of haves and have-nots."

The bill now goes to the Senate.