On the Budget: Joe Sam Queen

Rep. Joe Sam Queen
Waynesville Democrat
Third Term

What two things would you cut in the state budget? 1) He suggested cutting the Program Evaluation Division, a new entity within legislative services that evaluates state services. One of its reports had suggested cuts in agricultural research stations in Western North Carolina, an idea that Queen disagreed with.

"(The Program Evaluation Division) has about 10 staffers and that's one I could lop right off. I've found it to be already tainted."

2) ABC bonuses to teachers. "We need to revamp our ABC bonus program to focus on our high performing teachers." He said the way the program is structured, low performing teachers in highly rated schools are getting bonuses, while high performing teachers in low-rated schools are not.

Are there any taxes you would be in favor of increasing? "I would be in favor of increasing our cigarette tax to the national average. Cigarettes are the No. 1 cause of rising health care costs." He said the revenues should in part go toward spending that ultimately saves money, such as preventive health care programs and improved probation services that would keep more people out of prison.

— Dan Kane