Shame on the Raleigh News & Observer. A headline story on October 30th declared, “South’s schools swell with poor kids” and later stated, “49 percent of ... Keep Reading
Overrated Economic Diversity
This article was originally published in the Raleigh News and Observer on September 28, 2007. Misplaced confidence. That’s the best way to describe the Wake County school ... Keep Reading
Education Recap: Spending Increases and Program Expansions Mark Legislative Session
As might be expected, education remained a top priority for lawmakers during the 2007 long session. What is perhaps more surprising is that even as education spending increased by ... Keep Reading
Stem Cell Research in North Carolina … What’s Really Going On?
Should North Carolina expand state funding of stem cell research? Sufferers of Parkinson’s disease, juvenile diabetes and other chronic diseases hope the state does so, just ... Keep Reading
Do We Really Need Another School Bond? Rethinking the Conventional Wisdom
One of the most important − and most expensive − responsibilities of state government is to plan and maintain the capital needs of state agencies. Although specific ... Keep Reading
The Senate Budget Plan, COPs and UNC: A Failing Grade
As Senate and House lawmakers meet to negotiate and pass a new state budget, one area likely to receive additional scrutiny is the Senate budget plan to fund $1.1 billion in new ... Keep Reading
HB 91: One-Stop Voting
Earlier this afternoon, the Senate passed an amended version of HB 91, the One-Stop Voting Act, which passed the House in March 2007. Offered by Senator Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), ... Keep Reading
Too Much of a Bad Thing? Questions About $1.22 Billion in New Debt
As the Senate and the House begin the process of reconciling what are two vastly different approaches to spending and taxation, it is a good time to review what is, perhaps, the ... Keep Reading
COPs and Robbers: Certificates of Participation Replace Bond Referendums
In light of the rapid expansion of long-term state debt and changes in how capital projects are being financed in North Carolina, it is imperative that legislators restore public ... Keep Reading
Middle-class Welfare: The House Budget and Education
Remember this number: $10.7 billion. This figure represents how much North Carolina expects to spend on education in the $20.1 billion state budget currently under consideration in ... Keep Reading
