A LITTLE OFF THE TOP: Gov. Beverly Perdue's haircut of the state budget turned out to be a light trim, not a buzzcut. Using an accounting trick, tax hikes on cigarettes and beer and $1.7 billion in federal stimulus money, she put forth a $21 billion budget. Legislative Republicans howled, while Democrats argued over the tricks and taxes.
LET THE SUN SHINE IN: It was Sunshine Week in North Carolina. Perdue and Attorney General Roy Cooper backed a bill to disclose deaths in mental hospitals, others promoted legislative TV. Legislators continue to balk at releasing e-mails. And an analysis by the Associated Press found that the state third best at putting records online.
COURTING JUDGES: U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan is looking for some help with federal judges. After years of partisan fighting, the Greensboro Democrat has made it a top goal to get a Tar Heel on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. This week she announced she would put together a panel of experts to vet potential candidates.
IN OTHER NEWS: A national liberal group aired a local TV ad to pressure U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge to vote for President Obama's budget. ... A plan to fix the State Health Plan got caught up in concerns it would hurt independent pharmacists. ... State Sen. Steve Goss backed down on a bill to criminalize blog libel, fittingly telling a local blogger first. ... Meantime, Sen. Paul Stam sought to let towns avoid buying classified ads to publicize town meetings.
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Re: Dome Memo: Budgets and judges
I'm not seeing any major changes in state budget that hasn't been attempted before except for the stimulus monies from the feds and the public exposure of budget for everyone to review. By the way,the federal stimulus money will be a debt our children and grand-children will have to repay through taxes for years.
Why doesn't Gov Perdue and the legislators of NC really dive into the state budget, look at wasted positions with excessive salaries. Look at DPI, the elected DPI Superintendent for NC by citizens of NC drawing 143k with no job. Look at the CEO appointed by Gov Perdue into DPI drawing who knows what kind of salary. How many other positions fall into appointment category by the governor?
The NC Education Lottery. These funds should be left alone. This is similiar to borrowing from the State Employee Retirement System and not repaying that fund. It doesn't hurt now, but who can predict when those missing funds will be an issue. The classroom is where the money needs to be put! This includes infrastructure, supplies and equipment for the classroom, good teacher salaries and enough teachers to reduce classroom population.Let's not balance a budget at the expense of our children. This generation and the next are future tax payers!
Longivity pay from state employees- why not look at those state employees working in the 50-56 classification range who really need and depend on the longivity pay each year??
Then look at those employees with more than 30 years in the state system. What is wrong with a mandatory retirement after 30 years in the state system. What is wrong with state employees paying a premium co-pay for state health insurance after retirement till age 65, when Medicare(?) kicks in. This copay could be based on several things.
It is obvious that the open public budget cut proposals have been clouded once again by political arenas of "who did or owes who a favor", the lobbyist working diligently and different service organizations courting the general assembly.
A second issue, The American Legion proposal (FY09-3-FC) for changing the Division of Veterans Affairs to a Department of Veterans Affairs in North Carolina is an expense we can not afford. Look at the administrative needs up front for the Raleigh headquarters. With our current economy woes in NC, this request is simply a bad move at this time. There are still counties out there that do not have County Veterans Service Officer hired to help the veterans of their counties. Additionally, there are military service organizations out there assisting veterans with claims along with County Veterans Service Officer and Post Service Officers.