It was a short but busy week with Martin Luther King celebrations on Monday, a Senate election, a Supreme Court ruling, a Wake County School Board meeting and corruption charges from a grand jury in a State Elections Board hearing. NC Policy Watch covered it all.
In his Weekly Briefing “From Massachusetts to Wake County,” Rob Schofield argues that low turn out elections where only a small percentage of voters participate should not be seen as any type of mandate for policy change.
Chris Fitzsimon focused on education with two commentaries on the issue. His first “Race to the Right” exposes several attempts by conservatives to dismantle the North Carolina public education system. “Six weeks of …
Here’s a brief recap of the issues that the folks at NC Policy Watch have been following this week. Chris Fitzsimon reports on two committees, the Joint House and Senate Finance Committee and the Governor’s Budget Reform and Accountability Commission, that met Thursday in his column “The more things in Raleigh change, the more they stay the same.” Despite the challenges facing the state budget, it doesn’t look like we can expect any innovative reforms in this election year. Fitzsimon also reports on Governor Perdue’s road show in his column “Perdue reboots agenda.” Perdue is traveling across the state this week laying out her plans for the next three years. Rob Schofield highlights why immigration reform should be part …
Rob Schofield suggests ten New Year’s resolutions for progressivives in his Weekly Briefing commentary “Building momentum for change.” Chris Fitzsimon gives state lawmakers a wake up call in his column “Lawmakers can’t ride this one out.” The state budget will be in serious trouble when federal stimulus money and temporary tax increases run out later this year unless lawmakers make changes. In his latest commentary, “The wrong measuring stick,” Fitzsimon reminds readers that the Senate primary race is likely to be decided by big-money donors rather than voters. Not exactly what our forefathers of democracy had in mind. Chris Fitzsimon attends another Wake County School Board meeting and reports on the undemocratic actions of the new board members in his column “The clear MO of the Wake County Gang of Five.” In his weekly feature “Monday numbers,” Fitzsimon takes a unique look at the North Carolina Legislature. Progressive Voices commentator Adam Linker argues “It’s time to fix the state health plan.” Today, NC Policy Watch republished Rob Schofield’s Weekly Briefing “Several important accomplishments.” Originally written at the conclusion of the 2009 legislative session, this column is worth re-reading today as you reflect of this past year and think hopefully about the future. Schofield’s commentary is a good reminder that while our state was faced with many adversities, our legislative leaders successfully raised nearly a billion dollars in revenue essential to preserving our pubic health and public education systems and passed numerous bills benefiting both workers and consumers. 2010 marks a significant milestone in the Civil Rights Movement. It is the 50th anniversary of the Southern sit-in movement, the emergence of the National Civil Rights struggle, and the founding of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which took place here in Raleigh in April, 1960. This year also marks 30th year that the Raleigh Martin Luther King Committee has organized and promoted the annual King holiday celebration. The committee has planned several very special events for this golden anniversary celebration, which you, together with your family and friends, will want to attend. All programs are free and open to the public in cooperation from area businesses, corporations, churches and civic organizations. Here is the schedule of events: …
The holiday spirit inspired Chris Fitzsimon’s creative commentary ” ‘Twas the week before Christmas. ” Many North Carolina politicians are feeling the warmth from this jovial roasting, so take a break from shopping this weekend, read the column and chuckle along with them. In his column “A vital helping hand,” Chris Fitzsimon sites a new report by The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which found 39 million Americans have benefited from the government’s economic recovery act. More government help is needed in the form of jobs creation to keep struggling families out of poverty. The economy is adversely affecting many families but others struggle with a different type of hardship. Rob Schofield describes the challenges facing many people with developmental disabilities and mental illness in his Weekly Briefing “Fundamental questions.” Schofield makes the connection between a lawsuit filed this week by the nonprofit group Disabilities Rights North Carolina and the larger systemic problems within the state’s mental health/developmental disabilities/substance …
January 14, 2010
A busy week at NC Policy Watch
January 7, 2010
Resolutions, budgets and buying elections
January 5, 2010
Starting off a new year at NCPW
December 31, 2009
Reflecting on 2009 Legislative Session
December 30, 2009
Golden anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement
December 18, 2009
‘Tis the season
December 17, 2009
More North Carolinians need help
view full archive » subscribe to feed