U.S. Senator Kay Hagan is taking a stand in North Carolina’s marriage equality debate, urging voters to oppose the proposed constitutional amendment that would ban civil unions and define marriage as only between one man and one woman.

On Wednesday, Hagan released a statement criticizing the far-reaching and negative consequences of the ballot initiative, noting the May 8th amendment will harm the state’s ability to recruit businesses.

The Greensboro Democrat goes on to say the discriminatory amendment “harms our state’s resolve to make all people and all families great.”

You can read Senator Hagan’s full statement below:

 ”In today’s hyperpartisan political environment, I view any attempt to alter our state constitution with a critical eye. Amendment One has far-reaching negative consequences for our families, our children and our communities. North Carolina is one of the most business-friendly states in the nation, and this amendment would harm our state’s ability to recruit the innovators and businesses that are driving our economic recovery. Jobs are my number one priority, and we cannot afford to take our eye off the ball and give businesses a reason to grow and expand elsewhere. The people I hear from everyday - the families that make up the fabric of the Old North State – tell me they are sick and tired of watching their jobs and their livelihoods fall victim to divisive partisan posturing. In North Carolina we say our state is “Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great.” Amendment One harms our state’s resolve to make all people and all families great, and as a proud daughter of North Carolina, I urge all North Carolinians to join me in opposing it.” – Senator Kay R. Hagan

A new statewide poll finds three out of four North Carolina voters believe that the state should continue to dedicate some of the money it receives from the tobacco settlement to fund the state’s tobacco prevention and control program.

The findings released Wednesday by the North Carolina Alliance for Health also indicated that despite budget concerns, nearly half of those surveyed (49%) believe it is very important that the money go to programs to prevent kids from smoking, and to provide help for smokers who want to quit.

Amy Barkley, an advocacy director with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, says legislators who abolished funding for the Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF) last year would be wise to review the findings. Voters by a more than a three-to-one margin, said they are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports funding tobacco prevention programs.

Currently, 16.7 percent of North Carolina high school students smoke, and 11,100 additional kids become regular smokers every year.

Click below to hear Barkley discuss the need to continue funding the HWTF:

Gov. Bev Perdue has identified $9.3 million that will allow 2,000 additional at-risk 4-year-olds to attend NC Pre-K this year.

Wednesday’s announcement comes seven months after Superior Court Judge Howard Manning directed the state to provide quality pre-kindergarten services to any eligible four year old that applies.

The Republican-leadership of the General Assembly had earlier rejected the Governor’s plan to spend more on Pre-K, saying the state could not afford the extra spending.

The additional funding for the 2,000 new slots will reportedly come from child care subsidy funds on a one-time basis.

Here’s more from the statement released by the governor’s press office this morning:

“NC Pre-K is a nationally recognized, academic program that helps prepare children to succeed in kindergarten, throughout school and in life,” Gov. Perdue said. “This additional investment in our children will pay big dividends for all North Carolina because these children will be less likely to fall behind and drop out later in life.”

“All children in North Carolina, regardless of where they live, deserve a chance at a successful future and we know that NC Pre-K changes lives,” Gov. Perdue said. “We have one shot to give these children the benefit of Pre-K. They can’t wait, and we can’t either.”

You can read the full release here.

Unmoved by a steady stream of emotional appeals, the Wake County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution Monday to support the anti-gay constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot May 8th.  The amendment would ban civil unions and define marriage as only between one man and one woman.

Almost two dozen Wake County citizens urged the seven commissioners not to embrace discrimination by passing the resolution put forth by Chairman Paul Coble.

The final 4-3 vote came down along party lines – with Republicans Joe Bryan,Tony Gurley, and Phil Matthews joining Coble in support of the amendment. Democrats Betty Lou Ward, Erv Portman, and James West opposed the resolution.

The cities of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill all passed resolutions against the amendment last year.

Click below to hear a portion of Monday’s public hearing. You can read the resolution that was passed here.

Wake County Commissioners will wade into the debate over marriage equality at its meeting this afternoon.

Chairman Paul Coble requested the board vote on a resolution supporting voter participation in the May 8th Constitutional Amendment, that defines marriage as only between one man and one woman.

The proposed resolution before the commissioners not only supports voter participation, it also endorses the amendment:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Wake County Board of Commissioners endorses the Marriage Amendment to the North Carolina Constitution which states that the only domestic legal union that is valid or recognized in North Carolina is marriage between one man and one woman; and BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED that the Wake County Board of Commissioners encourages voter participation on this important issue to be voted upon on May 8, 2012.

Back in December, Raleigh City Council went on record passing a resolution opposing the proposed anti-gay marriage  amendment.

Click here to view the proposed resolution. You can watch the meeting at 2:00pm here.

Rep. Ray Rapp traveled more than 250 miles from Mars Hill to Raleigh this week to take part in Thursday’s 10-minute special session.

While House Speaker Thom Tillis kept to his word that no votes were taken, Rapp said many Democrats were not comfortable that would be the case, especially after January’s “midnight madness” veto override.

The House Minority Whip, who appears on News and Views this Sunday, says if lawmakers are going to be in Raleigh, they should focus on how to repair some of the damage done to public education in the last budget cycle.

The Madison County Democrat says the $35 million in need-based financial aid cut from the budget is having a negative impact on college students struggling to stay in school. And Rep. Rapp calls it “unconscionable” that the Republican-led legislature has done nothing to address a judge’s order that said North Carolina cannot limit enrollment in its pre-kindergarten program.

To hear a preview of Rep. Rapp’s weekend radio interview with Chris Fitzsimon, click below:

You can add another name to the growing list of women not seeking re-election to the state legislature.

Rep. Maggie Jeffus made it official on Wednesday, saying that she would not challenge Rep. Pricey Harrison in the newly redrawn House District where the two were ‘double-bunked.’

Jeffus, a 10-term House member, told the Greensboro News & Record that the numerous special sessions and committee meetings outside of the regular legislative session made the job increasingly demanding:

“The General Assembly is no longer a part-time legislature but a full-time legislature, and that leaves little time for family. I would like to spend more time with my grandchildren, and my husband and I would like to travel and spend more time at the coast,” Jeffus said Wednesday.

With Jeffus’ departure, ten women – both Democrat and Republican – will be exiting the political landscape after this year.

For those keeping score, on the Democrat’s side: Rep. Patsy Keever (Buncombe), Rep. Alice Bordsen (Alamance), Rep. Diane Parfitt (Cumberland), Sen. Linda Garrou (Forsyth), Rep. Edith Warren (Pitt) , and Rep. Jennifer Weiss (Wake) have announced they will not seek re-election.

On the Republican side: Rep. Carolyn Justice (New Hanover), Senator Jean Preston(Carteret), and Rep. Shirley Randleman (Wilkes) have announced they will not seek pursue another term in office.

A new report by the Program Evaluation Division of the General Assembly suggests the state could save almost $2 million annually by adopting public–private partnerships and restructuring the site-level management at North Carolina’s historic sites, as well as its zoo and aquariums.

The presentation was made Tuesday to the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee.

Among their recommendations for the Department of Cultural Resources: Read More…