Tag: Legislature

The never-ending veto session

May 29, 2012 at 7:43 amCategory:Uncategorized

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Craig Jarvis of Raleigh’s News & Observer has an interesting (and infuriating) story this morning about the ongoing and downright ridiculous approach pursued by legislative leaders with respect to veto override votes.

It’s been so long since the 2011 session and even the January midnight madness session, that it’s easy to forget that these people are still claiming the authority to override vetoes issued by the Governor last summer — if and when they ever muster the votes.

This is, of course, outrageous. It’s Tom Delay/Scott Walker politics at its worst. Read More…

Cap on gas tax would further strain NC transportation budget

May 23, 2012 at 4:30 pmCategory:NC Budget and Tax Center | Uncategorized

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An efficient, safe, and convenient transportation system is integral to the health of North Carolina’s economy and North Carolinians’ quality of life. The state’s vast transportation system is struggling to serve this need because it faces serious challenges. The system is under considerable pressure due to aging infrastructure, increasing congestion, and strained revenue sources that are failing to keep pace with rising construction and maintenance costs.

Despite these problems, Governor Perdue’s FY2012-13 budget proposal places a cap on North Carolina’s gas tax, which is currently 38.9 cents per gallon and accounts for more than half of state revenues dedicated for transportation projects. The legislature is poised to follow suit. The Budget and Tax Center released a report earlier today on the pitfalls of capping the gas tax. Read More…

The Fracking Truth

May 23, 2012 at 9:30 amCategory:Uncategorized

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Earlier this year the US Energy Information Administration downsized projections of available natural gas in US shale deposits by 40% – so it was just a matter of time before the wild projections for North Carolina would be scaled back too. Read More…

Gee, thanks Senator!

May 21, 2012 at 10:35 amCategory:Uncategorized

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The Commerce Committee of the North Carolina Senate just sent out its offical notice for a meeting that will convene tomorrow morning at 11:00 at the General Assembly. Mind you. this is a committee that has not met in months and that currently has 36 bills assigned to it. Sounds like a meeting that the chairman, Senator Harry Brown might have been thinking about for a while and in which there might be a fair bit of public interest.

Here is what the “notice” said:  Read More…

Don’t forget tomorrow’s “Pots and Spoons” Protest

May 15, 2012 at 3:07 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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If you’re anywhere near Raleigh tomorrow, please consider taking just a few minutes out of your day to participate in a brief but important protest being organized by and on behalf of people excluded from the state lawmaking process during the last 16 months.  

A coalition of progressive groups is calling on protesters to gather across from the Legislative Building at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday for a “Pots and Spoons protest” modeled on the “cacerolazo” protests that frequently occur in Spanish-speaking countries. It should be a lot of fun.

Also, in an ironic and not surprising development for a group that wouldn’t recognize irony if it was standing right in front of them, the troubled souls at Americans for the Prosperous have announced that they will be on hand to tout their big dollar, Art Pope financed ad campaign in defense of the conservative General Assembly and to distribute earplugs. What better symbol for the the closed-minded people running the General Assembly?

Click here for more information.