Report: North Carolina ranks 45th in protecting kids from tobacco

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December 10, 2013 at 2:11 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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From the good folks at the NC Alliance for Health:

Raleigh – Fifteen years after the 1998 state tobacco settlement, North Carolina ranks 45th in the nation in funding programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit, according to a national report released by a coalition of public health organizations.

North Carolina currently spends $1.2 million a year on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, which is 1.1 percent of the $106.8 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Read More…

Christian Action League boss claims to know God’s position on the Bonner Bridge

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December 10, 2013 at 1:17 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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Mark CreechAs explained in some detail in this morning’s Weekly Briefing, the McCrory administration has been playing some serious hardball with respect the Bonner Bridge controversy. Today, however, we learned of another critic of the North Carolina environmental advocacy community with even more and powerful political tools at his/her disposal: God.

According to the Rev. Mark Creech,  the Executive Director of North Carolina’s Christian Action League (that’s him on the left – Creech, not God), those who side with environmental groups in favor of a longer and more sustainable bridge to replace the existing Bonner Bridge are acting counter to the Divine Plan. Creech said the following in an article that he authored and that was recently published in, among other places, the Christian Post:

“Most people in North Carolina and the nation have been deeply impacted by a cultural Christian worldview, even though they may not know or acknowledge it. The Book of Genesis teaches that mankind is to ‘[b]e fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion…over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen. 1:28). Read More…

Consumers Union expert demystifies the Affordable Care Act

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December 10, 2013 at 11:56 amCategory:Uncategorized

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Lynn QuincyIn case you missed the excellent explanation of the Affordable Care Act by Lynn Quincy of Consumers Union at this morning’s NC Policy Watch Crucial Conversation breakfast in Raleigh, don’t fret — we’ll have a video of the event posted shortly. In the mean time, click here to view a PDF version of Lynn’s slides — which also include several helpful web links to sites maintained by the folks at Consumers Union/Consumer reports.

End of filibuster begins to bear fruit

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December 10, 2013 at 11:03 amCategory:Uncategorized

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has its newest justice. Patricia Millett was confirmed by the Senate this morning on a bipartisan vote of 56-38. The vote was made possible as a result of the Senate’s long-overdue decision to alter its rules so that Senators can no longer filibuster judicial nominees (except to the Supreme Court) and other presidential nominees to lead various agencies.

The rule change should lead to a similar vote — perhaps as early as later today — on the long-stalled nomination of Congressman Mel Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Monday’s “fight back against the darkness” lunch links

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December 9, 2013 at 12:41 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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mandelaIt’s a dreary day in the state capital (and, presumably, throughout most of the Old North State), so here are a few stories to help inspire you to fight back against the darkness:

In addition to lots of information about the rapidly improving health of the Affordable Care Act, the good people at the Kaiser Family Foundation have a nice tribute to the late, great Nelson Mandela today on the front page of the organization’s website that explains the interesting connections between the Foundation and Mandela.

Also, in case you missed it, Think Progress ran a story last week that listed the “Six Things Nelson Mandela Believed That Most People Won’t Talk About” – including his strong opposition to the U.S. war in Iraq and his belief that freedom from poverty ought to be a fundamental human right.

Meanwhile, there will be a North Carolina tribute to Mandela this coming Saturday at First Baptist Church in Raleigh. Click here for more information.

And speaking of fighting back, Read More…