Tag: health care

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…

McCrory signs bill blocking Medicaid expansion

March 6, 2013 at 5:34 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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Gov. Pat McCrory signed the bill this afternoon that prevented North Carolina from adding groups of low-income residents to Medicaid insurance, putting the state in with a handful of other states with Republican governors that have turned down the expansion.

The expansion could have given 500,000 low-income residents health insurance, and would have been largely paid for with federal dollars in the first three years. McCrory signed the bill into law in private, without press or media access to the signing.

The N.C. Justice Center’s Adam Linker offered his take here on McCrory’s decision, saying that, “(i)t will mean more people delay necessary health care treatments. It will mean a population that is sicker and dies sooner….”

McCrory’s press office released this written statement from there governor afterwards:

In my first eight weeks as governor I’ve had to make some difficult decisions.  My team conducted a thorough review of the Affordable Care Act and its impact on North Carolina.  Before considering Medicaid expansion, we must reform the current system to make sure people currently enrolled receive the services they need and more taxpayer dollars are not put at risk.

 

Report highlights that taxes and spending are not out of line in North Carolina

February 25, 2013 at 1:42 pmCategory:NC Budget and Tax Center

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A report released by the Program Evaluation Division within the NC General Assembly highlights that North Carolina ranks in the middle of the pack, or better, among states for various taxes and spending metrics. For FY2009-10, metrics for which North Carolina ranked in the top half of states include:

  • Per capita state expenditures (12th lowest among states);
  • Per capita state and local taxes (17th lowest among states);
  • State and local taxes as a percentage of personal income (23rd lowest among states); and
  • Per capita state taxes (24th lowest among states).

These rankings disprove the claim that state spending and taxes in North Carolina are out of line. Our state ranks in the middle of the pack or on the lower end among states. Read More…

Opponents of Medicaid bill to rally, deliver petitions at noon on Capitol grounds

February 15, 2013 at 9:52 amCategory:Uncategorized

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From the good folks at Action NC:

Community leaders challenge McCrory to veto anti-Medicaid expansion bill
Groups say Governor, General Assembly creating huge, irreversible problems for low-income North Carolinians.

Raleigh, NC – A group of community leaders, advocates and Medicaid recipients will gather on the grounds of the state Capitol Building today at noon to call on newly-elected Governor McCrory to push back against the overreaching General Assembly and veto the bill which blocks Medicaid expansion in North Carolina.

“Not only are the Governor and the General Assembly making life needlessly difficult for low-income North Carolinians, but are also rejecting $15 billion for our economy at large,” said Kevin Rogers, Policy and Public Affairs Director for Action NC. “There is absolutely no logical reason to oppose this expansion.” Read More…

Media conference Call Briefing: Exposing ALEC’s economic agenda in the states

February 12, 2013 at 1:58 pmCategory:NC Budget and Tax Center | Uncategorized

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Tomorrow at 1 pm the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) will host a media conference call on the economic policy agenda promoted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC recently faced scrutiny for its promotion of the controversial “stand your ground” gun policy and strict voter identification laws. However, the group’s economic and fiscal policy agenda is less well-reported. The conference call will feature a panel of experts who have examined ALEC’s economic and fiscal policies and will share their findings on how these policies threaten investments important to economic growth.

Members of the media who would like to register for the conference call, contact Phoebe Silag or Donté Donald in the Economic Policy Institute media relations department at news@epi.org or 202.775.8810 to RSVP and for call-in information.