Where’s My NC Stimulus?

With all the talk about the Feds allowing me to have some of my money back so I can stimulate the economy got me thinking.  Why shouldn’t the state of NC step up and do its part?

How about letting me have that 1/4 cent "temporary" sales tax increase that was made permanent?  That would inject approximately $250 million into NC’s economy.  (Ironically, almost 2x the stimulus package Bush and Congress are talking about).

And don’t tell me NC needed the revenue due to a budget shortfall.  All told, the state collected more than $3.1 billion in total surplus revenue from FY2003-04 to FY2007-08. 

I wonder how NC’s economy would be faring if that $3.1 billion had been left in the capable hands of the NC citizenry to use as they saw fit.