Republicans pitch $590m in cuts

Please enlighten us as to why you focus on those specific programs.

I have my ideas why you targeted that, but I want to see what you come up with.

That's pretty much what she did. A friend of mine who works high in one department said that each department was told they had 95% of last year's salary budget. Up to them to determine how to spend it.

First, let me commend Berger and Stam for coming out of the usual dodge and specifying what they would cut, in numbers sufficient to have some meaning to the overall budget gap.

Second, it's clear that they're both lawyers and not teachers. With even my limited teaching experience, I can tell them that denying the educational benefit of smaller class sizes will get them laughed out of any gathering of teachers (and most gatherings of parents). And contrary to their assertion, there is ample research proof of the effectiveness of smaller class sizes in boosting student learning.

So let's recap: Democratic leaders want to fund education. Republican leaders want to cut education so as to cut taxes. It's about as straightforward as I've ever seen it--and an absolutely fair summary of the difference between Democratic and Republican state leadership today. Thank you, gentlemen!

How much of our tax dollars will we save if we cut out the position held by Mary Lazo-Chadderton, Special Assistant for Hispanic/Latino Affairs & Constituency Services, working for President Pro Tempore? What about the grants going to Latino groups like El Pueblo and LaRaza, I am told is over a million dollars a year? What about tightening down on tax money going to illegal aliens in the form of educating their children, K-12, free medical care, etc? That amounts to over $1.1 billion in state dollars alone, not counting local and federal dollars.

Well for one thing the state needs to get out of subsidizing business period. It's atrocious that a company can basically "bargain" it's tax rates when locating somewhere. If all 50 states would adopt this attitude then it would end this massive "race to the bottom" of every locality willing to subsidize businesses that leave at the next better offer leaving locals with the tax burden and infrastructure payments. Think about this? Do you get to negotiate your property and income taxes when YOU move somewhere based on YOUR potential economic impact?? Also we need to look at athletics in education Why is so much money spent on this? And why are tax payers forced to subsidize privately funded sports businesses (NFL, NBA, NHL, etc)through college athletics, and paying for stadium construction? There is plenty of money out there. As Americans we just need to make certain things a priority and insist our government treat everybody equally and quit picking favorites.

how about a tax increase for the wealthiest North Carolinians and corporations?

Come On Republicans, Didn't Governor Arnold in California end up agreeing to increased revenues?

'''''end the state's $80 million appropriation to the Golden LEAF Foundation.''''''

Why does the state give money to Golden Leaf? I thought Golden Leaf had all that tobacco money and they were in existence to give that money back to the citizens of North Carolina.

"""Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger of Eden and House Republican Leader Paul Stam of Apex said the biggest savings — $300 million a year — would come from increasing class sizes in public schools by two students. That would bring the average class size to 23, they said."""

I do not know if these are realistic figures but saving $300 million just by increasing class sizes by 2 students is phenominal. This sounds almost as good as hitting the lottery.

If we increase class sizes by 4 students would it save $600 million?

for all state workers making over $25,000 a year.

That way they wouldn't have to lay any of them off.

They are right about class sizes; in fact, a report from the State Board of Education found no statistical evidence that smaller class sizes raised student achievement.

I have news for you. I am a professor in the UNC system and I don't make anywhere near 125 thousand dollars, a lot closer to 50 thousand actually. I don't know anybody who makes 125000 dollars at my university except for the football coaches and top administrators.

bendal said
Ok, that's half a billion dollars in cuts; where do the Republicans think the remaining $2.5 BILLION dollars will come from to balance the budget?

First of All! The republican leadship hasn't the foggest idea where to cut besides being a puppet of the National Republicans leadership which does not exsist nor trusted by the American voters anymore.

If one wants to balance the budget of North Carolina and it's 3.6 billion grap, One should start by reducing all salaries of Government employees by 50% which should be the State Colleges Profs and the educational leadership of those Universities.

Wow! That means Profs will be making only 50 thousand a year instead of 125 thousand a year!

Perdue's Two should be the name of the combined program.

I thought they were also for furloughing workers?

Ok, that's half a billion dollars in cuts; where do the Republicans think the remaining $2.5 BILLION dollars will come from to balance the budget?