Local mom’s personal story illustrates the dangers of parental notice laws

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May 8, 2013 at 2:44 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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In response to a controversial NC House bill that would impose new and unprecedented restrictions on the ability of teens to obtain health care services, Chapel Hill freelance writer Jennifer Ferris shared the following extremely personal, but powerful story with NC Policy Watch today. Thanks, Jennifer. 

A mom remembers    

Talking about teenagers and sexual health is not comfortable. And even less comfortable is the story I’m about to tell you. It’s one I’ve held tight to my chest these past 20 years, and I don’t savor breaking the “in case of emergency” glass I’ve placed it behind.

Deep sigh. Here goes.

The year was 1993. I was 16, an Honor Roll student and employee of the month at my job. I was also in a great deal of pain. Read More…

Join us for an important discussion of “why courts matter”

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May 8, 2013 at 9:10 amCategory:Uncategorized

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NC Policy Watch and the North Carolina Justice Center are proud to announce a very special Crucial Conversation luncheon:  

Judge WynnWhy courts matter (and why North Carolinians should be paying a lot more attention to them)
Featuring the Honorable James A. Wynn, Jr., Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

When: Tuesday May 21, 2013 at 12 noon – (Box lunches will be available at 11:45 a.m.)

Where: Center for Community Leadership Training Room at the Junior League of Raleigh Building, 711 Hillsborough St. at the corner of Hillsborough and St. Mary’s Streets).

Cost: $10 – includes a box lunch (lunches will be available at 11:45).
Space is limited – pre-registration required.

Click here to register. Read More…

BTC statement: Berger tax plan will harm working families

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May 7, 2013 at 3:08 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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STATEMENT FROM THE N.C. BUDGET & TAX CENTER:

Senate tax proposal shifts burden from the rich to the poor

RALEIGH (May 7, 2013) — The Senate leadership has released a proposal that will harm working families and the broader economy.

By cutting income taxes and expanding the sales tax to more goods and services, the Senate leadership has pursued a shift in tax burden from the rich to the poor, not tax reform. The result is a plan that not only requires low-and middle-income families to pay more while the highest income families pay less, but also reduces the state’s ability to invest in a foundation for economic growth by cutting state revenues by $1 billion each year. That is equivalent to the entire community college system OR the combined budgets of the DHHS Divisions of Aging, Child Development, and Child Health and the Judicial Branch and NC Biotechnology Center.

 

Berger’s Louisiana tax plan

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May 7, 2013 at 2:21 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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Bobby JindalMaybe it’s no coincidence that Senator Phil Berger’s new plan to cut taxes at the top, reduce public services and raise taxes on the working poor appears to have a lot in common with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s failed tax plan. It turns out the new and schnazzy website Berger unveiled today was produced by a conservative Louisiana ad firm – Innovative Advertising LLC.

As you can see by clicking here, the website domain www.nctaxcut.com is registered to: Read More…

Greed standard trumps LEED standard at the General Assembly

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May 7, 2013 at 12:33 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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Ready to cry “uncle” yet? The folks running the North Carolina General Assembly hope so.  As Chris Fitzsimon will discuss this afternoon in today’s Fitzsimon File, the reactionary legislation is coming so thick and fast these days at the General Assembly that it’s simply hard to keep up – much less speak out or have input.

It’s no wonder more and more good people are simply speaking with their feet and bodies.

Yet another classic (and likely to be under-reported) example of extreme and destructive legislation simply getting lost in the shuffle on Jones Street is this measure – which would  prevent North Carolina from seeking LEED certification for public buildings. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) the best known and most respected “green” building rating system.  

The measure, which will be heard this afternoon in the House Agriculture Committee at 1:00 pm in 643 LOB, Read More…