Tag: Gov. Pat McCrory

Much as he’d like to hide, Guv must speak up on “social issues”

May 1, 2013 at 11:18 amCategory:Uncategorized

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McCrory11092012Governor McCrory made a fascinating (and troubling) statement in an interview with WUNC-TV’s Kelly McCullen the other day. When asked about the debate over gun control and why the state has failed to advance any new initiatives to strengthen it, the Governor said the following in response:

“I don’t know. And listen I’ve really tried to concentrate on the economy, the efficiency of government and education. And that’s where I’m focusing. I’m trying to…Tell you the truth, I’m trying to get off the liberal and conservative social issues and concentrate on the things that people are worried about most and that’s the economy.”

Uh, sorry to tell you this Governor McCrory, Read More…

New state Board of Elections can send important signals today

May 1, 2013 at 8:50 amCategory:Uncategorized

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videopoker2-08Will the new State Board of Elections be a genuine watchdog or a rubber stamp for political powers that be? Today’s initial meeting of the new group appointed by Governor McCrory should provide some interesting signals.

As Mark Binker reported earlier this week at WRAL.com:

“Aside from appointing new leaders, one of the first decisions facing the newly appointed board will be whether to proceed with an investigation into campaign donations from owners of electronic sweepstakes companies. Those companies are pushing for legislation that would legalize the gambling-like games.

Current board members have said they were ready to direct the staff to pursue an investigation of whether top leaders such as McCrory, House Speaker Thom Tillis, and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger received corporate contributions from a sweepstakes software provider. ”

Here is a link to a summary of the complaint filed by Democracy NC about the very troubling sweepstakes issue, which among other things, involves Gov. McCrory’s former employer (a law/lobbying firm) and bundled checks to the Governor’s campaign.

Stay tuned.

Fayetteville Observer: Investigate gambling industry donations

April 29, 2013 at 8:42 amCategory:Uncategorized

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In case you missed it, the Fayetteville Observer had this to say over the weekend about the issue of recent campaign contributions from corrupt gambling interests to Gov. McCrory, Senate President Pro Tem Berger, Speaker Tillis and others:

“It’s clear that campaign-finance reforms haven’t gone far enough. The laws may be better, but enforcement is weak.

The Board of Elections needs to conduct a full, unbiased and public investigation that follows the money wherever it goes.

And the General Assembly needs to follow up by giving state regulators the tools they need to spot illegal campaign contributions quickly.”

Read the entire editorial by clicking here.

Thoughtful NYT piece cites McCrory’s controversial statements on higher ed

April 22, 2013 at 10:40 amCategory:Uncategorized

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Frank Bruni of the New York Times had a thoughtful column about the future of American higher education over the weekend entitled “Questioning the Mission of College.” It is a balanced piece that explores the debate between those who want public higher education to be about preparing people for employment and those who say that it has to be about more than that.  

In it, Bruni cites Governor McCrory’s controversial — some would say anti-intellectual — comments from earlier this year as exemplifying the new, conservative, “jobs first” point of view. He then goes on:

“How practical versus idealistic should the approach to college be? I’m somewhat torn, and past columns have reflected that. I applaud proposals to give young people better information about how various fields of study match up with the job market and about projected returns on their investments in college. And for students who want college to be an instant pivot into a job with decent pay, a nudge toward certain disciplines makes excellent sense.

But college is about more than that, Read More…

Competing Medicaid op-eds: Specifics best platitudes

April 15, 2013 at 11:56 amCategory:Uncategorized

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Over the weekend, the Wilmington StarNews published a pair of competing op-eds on the subject of Gov. McCrory’s Medicaid privatization plan – one by Adam Linker of the N.C. Health Access Coalition and another by HHS Secretary Aldona Vos.  

Unfortunately, the two pieces serve as a kind of microcosm of the first few months of the McCrory administration’s public performance. Read More…