BlogNetNews.com » North Carolina

Capital Beat: The Tuesday Morning Rundown

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:11:00 -0400

Good Tuesday morning. Gov. Bev Perdue still has 103 bills on her desk this morning according to the report on the ncleg.net page.

She has signed the tax credit for data centers but the one for film credits is still pending.

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Drafting Musings: August 9 is deadline for NC Bill signings

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:09:41 -0400

Governor Perdue has until midnight Monday, August 9 (30 days) to act on bills passed by the 2010 short session of the North Carolina General Assembly prior to its July 10 adjournment. This includes bills that had been presented prior to adjournment where the in-session 10 day limit applies but had not been [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: Unions as parasites

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 07:02:00 -0400

Looking for a good way to describe the impact of unchecked labor unions? A blurb in the latest National Review offers an apt metaphor: Lacking the evolutionary finesse that keeps most parasites from killing their host organisms, the... [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: Yea, Progressives!

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Norwegian Progressives, that is. Actually, these are the members of the Scandinavian country's Progress Party, as profiled in the latest National Review: The Progress party was founded in 1973, to advance the principles of classical liberalism. The party declares that its philosophy "starts with the... [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: National Review's Rob Long has fun with the Etheridge story

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 06:59:00 -0400

Regular readers of the dead-tree version of National Review know that Rob Long's regular humor column, "The Long View," often takes the form of fake memos involving Democrats. In the latest issue, Long "unearths" a memo to members of Congress from "Your Democratic National Committee Media Advisory... [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: New Carolina Journal Online features

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 06:49:00 -0400

The latest Carolina Journal Online exclusive features David Bass' review of the final ethics reform package that cleared the General Assembly. John Hood's Daily Journal... [...]

Right Angles: More Evidence of Changing Political Winds

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:33:11 -0400

I love politics because it is so volatile, which means it is fascinating to watch elected officials respond to changing political winds. Take the California Senate race. Based on a new poll, expect President Obama and and every liberal celebrity in California to start stumping and fundraising for Sen. Barbara [...]

Right Angles: NAACP demagoging sounds like N&O and Meeker

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:50:06 -0400

Number of comments: 1

Nobody plays the race card these days like the NAACP, which really doesn’t have much room to talk these days. But give them points for chutzpah, anyway:

The resolution, scheduled for a vote as early as Tuesday by delegates attending the annual NAACP convention in Kansas City, calls upon [...]

The Wild West: Short Session Is Over

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:24:53 -0400

This week, the Carolina Journal Online will be featuring major decisions made by the General Assembly in their recent short session. Throughout the ordeal, JLF staff worked hard and smart to get legislators the information they needed, whether they wanted it or not. As a result, some of the [...]

The Meck Deck: It’s Called A Hub For A Reason

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:08:57 -0400

Number of comments: 1

A big problem with American transportation policy is that many policymakers think they understand transportation when in fact they really don’t have a clue. Today’s case in point is Virginia Sen. John C. Watkins, who was recently named the first chairman of Virginia-North Carolina Interstate High-Speed Rail Compact. The compact [...]

The Wild West: Since Trees Don’t Often Write Their Congresscritters

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:03:03 -0400

A handful of Earth Firsters protested logging in national forests today by brandishing signs made out of, um, well, yeah, and chanting, drumming, and chaining.

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The Wild West: Because They Can

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:56:31 -0400

The Town of Maggie Valley is getting serious about levying a tax on restaurant food and beverages.

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BlueNC blogs: On A Pair Of Victories, Part Two, Or, DOMA Ruled Unconstitutionally Irrational

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:17:52 -0400

We are back, just a bit late, to wrap up the discussion we began about the pair of rulings issued in Boston by Federal District Judge Joseph Tauro this week that declare the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional.

In the first half of the conversation, we examined the ruling [...]

Piedmont Publius: Football’s right around the corner

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:11:10 -0400

I took the liberty of a little couch time yesterday and flipped between Spain’s 1-0 World Cup victory and the Phillies-Reds 1-0 pitchers’ duel.

Meanwhile, with training camp a mere two weeks away, methinks Meck Deck is getting fired up for football season.

What [...]

BlueNC blogs: The Week in Quotes 7/12

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:03:50 -0400

I’m running for U.S. Senate from the state of Wisconsin and if elected I will initiate a bill to outlaw homosexuality, abortion, and all forms of pornography.
—Wisconsin GOP Senate candidate Ernest J Pagels, Jr, for some reason considered a longshot.

We will talk a little bit about what has transpired [...]

BlueNC blogs: Short session not short on limiting freedom

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:13:19 -0400

The annual assault on civil liberties, property rights and economic freedom is over in North Carolina, at least for this year. The General Assembly has adjourned. Hopefully some participants in the attack will become casualties in November.

Probably not enough to make a difference. Even if Republicans win control of [...]

Public Policy Polling: And the choices are...

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:12:00 -0400

Update 10:40 PM- As always I reserve the right to 'disqualify' a state if someone is cheating on its behalf. The same IP address in Delaware has cast 80 votes for the state in the last half hour or so. I don't know how to prevent people from gaming the' [...]

News 14 Carolina: Patrol leaders hit the road, critics pounce on Perdue

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:54:03 -0400

State Republican Party Chairman Tom Fetzer is using the Highway Patrol's recent headaches to pound away at Governor Bev Perdue. Fetzer used the term, "Bev in blunderland," to describe changes the Governor made last week - which did not include a change in Patrol leadership. [...]

Right Angles: Durham Mariachi City Council

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:53:04 -0400

OK, I was in Europe for the last part of June so I missed the culmination of the Durham City Council’s wrongheaded jihad against Arizona. While I was gone the council voted 6-1 to suspend city-funded travel to Arizona because of that state’s new immigration law, the only voice [...]

Charlotte Business News - Local Charlotte News | Charlotte Business Journal: SPX, Goodrich, Nucor among Charlotte stocks that lose ground

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:41:34 -0400

Manufacturers SPX Corp., Goodrich Corp. took hits Monday on a generally flat day on Wall Street. (SPW) (GR) (NUE) (BAC) (DUK) (WFC) (FDO) (PNY) (LOW) (TRK) (LNCE) [...]

BlueNC blogs: Wise commentary about modern racism

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:34:08 -0400

Every single one of these facts in this diary is shameful, but the aggregated collection is a massive insult to what our country is supposed to stand for. If I were a black person today, I feel quite certain that I would be a domestic terrorist, destined to trade [...]

Carolina Politics Online: Reeves Would Double State Budget

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:58:17 -0400

Green Party gubernatorial candidate Morgan Bruce Reeves says his solution to move South Carolina forward is to double state spending. Yes, seriously.

“I’m a teamwork man. I’m not some kind of wild guy,” Reeves, 51 and owner of an Irmo land-clearing firm, says of his political philosophy. “I’m the only one [...]

Public Policy Polling: Who is Rand Paul's Opponent: Jack Conway or the National Media?

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:36:00 -0400

The national media’s obsession with Rand Paul has been a blessing for his opponent Jack Conway.

38% of Kentucky voters are less likely to vote for Paul because of the coverage. 29% are more likely and 33% report that the national media had made no difference in their opinion. [...]

Under the Dome blog: Etheridge touts tax credits, new hires

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:24:14 -0400

Democratic Congressman Bob Etheridge was at Parkdale Mills in Sanford Monday to highlight the company's use of new tax credits to hire new employees.

Etheridge had championed a hiring tax credit similar to the one that passed into law, reports Rob Christensen.

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Public Policy Polling: The Impact of Outgoing Governors

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:20:00 -0400

A lot of Governor's offices seem likely to change hands this fall and a big reason for that is the current occupants of them are pretty unpopular. When voters don't like the outgoing Governor they're not likely to choose a replacement of the same party and that dynamic is affecting [...]

Under the Dome blog: Virginia senator will chair new two-state oversight board for fast trains

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:18:31 -0400

Determined to dodge extra chores that could get in the way of their re-election priorities this year, two North Carolina politicians deftly engineered the election of a Virginia legislator today as the first chairman of the Virginia-North Carolina Interstate High-Speed Rail Compact.

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The Progressive Pulse: Duct tape and the iPhone4

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:04:58 -0400

Consumer Reports isn’t too excited about that antenna problem. The video is hilarious.

Share and Enjoy: [...]

Under the Dome blog: Burr has $6.3 million at the ready

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:01:55 -0400

Republican Sen. Richard Burr has $6.3 million on hand for his re-election effort, according to a new campaign report.

He has raised $9.5 million during this re-election cycle, including $1.9 million for the quarter that ended June 30, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

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The Meck Deck: Panthers Are NFL’s Youngest Team

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:01:27 -0400

Number of comments: 10

If you exclude kickers, punters, and long snappers, as they head into training camp. Yes, even younger that the Bucs. And no, that isn’t a statistic that’s typically associated with a playoff team.

Update: OK futbol fans. Better?

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EdCone.com: Fading

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:54:37 -0400

...he wasn’t the Dean Smith I had covered dating to my days in college, someone who remembered everything, had an answer for anything and who was always the smartest guy in the room but never felt the need to prove... [...]

Public Policy Polling: NC Opinion on Runoffs

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:36:00 -0400

North Carolina voters support continuing to have runoff elections, but they think the candidates requesting them should be forced to cover their costs.

41% of voters in the state support continuing to pick party nominees in a runoff when no candidate gets at least 40% of the vote in [...]

Under the Dome blog: Cape Lookout Lighthouse back in business this week

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:35:10 -0400

The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is scheduled to re-open to the public Thursday after a two-year closure.

The 163-foot lighthouse at Cape Lookout National Seashore had been closed since 2008 because of structural troubles. It received nearly $500,000 last year from the federal government for rehabilitation work, reports Barbara Barrett.

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Charlotte Business News - Local Charlotte News | Charlotte Business Journal: N.C. gets $20.3M from feds for rail

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:19:10 -0400

North Carolina has received $20.3 million in federal funds as a first step in a plan to establish a high-speed rail link between Charlotte and Raleigh. [...]

The Progressive Pulse: NC PIRG’s very cool bumper sticker

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:10:08 -0400

Who says progressives aren’t still capable of cool and creative grassroots messaging? The smart folks at NC PIRG clearly are. To see proof, visit their website today to get your own “Don’t drill off the outer banks” bumper sticker (pictured at right). Very timely and creative. [...]

Civitas Review Online: U.S. Rep. Walter Jones (NC-3) Votes for Wall Street’s Bad Bill

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:57:30 -0400

The Truth or Dare blog points out that U.S. Rep. Walter Jones (NC-3) was one of only three Republicans who voted for the “Wall Street Reform” legislation last week, a bill that even 18 Democrats chose not to support.

The bill, listing just a few aspects of what [...]

The Progressive Pulse: Burr camp raises almost $2 million in 2nd quarter

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:46:49 -0400

The committee to re-elect Senator Richard Burr announced Monday the campaign has raised more than $1.9 million in the second quarter. With less than four months until the November election, the campaign now has $6.3 million of cash-on-hand.

Mark Braden, Deputy Campaign Manager, released the following [...]

Under the Dome blog: Fetzer calls for changes at Highway Patrol

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:41:14 -0400

State GOP Chairman Tom Fetzer this morning called for a change in the law to allow an outsider to become commander of the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

"The Highway patrol needs a new command," Fetzer said at a news conference. "In order to cure the environment of cronyism and corruption it [...]

Scrutiny Hooligans: RIP Harvey Pekar

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:32:12 -0400

Lots more Harvey Pekar YouTube vids here. [...]

The Progressive Pulse: Senate feels heat to help long-term jobless

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:12:19 -0400

Number of comments: 9

It’s back to work for Congress this week, with Democrats hoping they can make some progress on extending unemployment benefits.

Just before the July 4th recess, the House passed a bill to extend unemployment benefits through November. But the bill has been a much tougher sell among [...]

Right Angles: Out of sight, out of mind? Hardly

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:52:53 -0400

Number of comments: 1

The house at 610 N. Buchanan Blvd. in Durham was demolished today. Surely this is much to the relief of administrators at Duke University, the owners of the infamous address. The site was a constant reminder of the craven response by Duke’s leaders and 88 members of its professoriate in [...]

EdCone.com: Old favorite

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:51:25 -0400

I hope my office neighbors are enjoying this album, because I sure like it. Still. [...]

Thunder Pig: Macon County Commissioners 07-12-2010 Meeting Agenda and Coverage

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:41:00 -0400

The Macon County Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6pm in the Commissioners Boardroom on the 3rd floor of the Macon County Courthouse. I'll be there, tweeting the meeting, uploading photos and recording video. I've got a cheap camcorder for recording people at the podium [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: Most people have by now forgotten about Haiti

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:27:00 -0400

But not Sheldon Richman, whose column today makes the extremely important point that Haiti is so desperately poor because the government permits little freedom. Haitians won't make progress through foreign aid; in fact, that's just going to delay the free market reforms that are needed.... [...]

Public Policy Polling: Republicans and the McCain Vote

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:23:00 -0400

With Republican voter excitement and anger at high levels across the country you would expect everyone who voted for John McCain even in the Democratic year of 2008 to be strongly committed to supporting the GOP this year. And for the most part that's true- in 18 of 24 Senate [...]

Charlotte Business News - Local Charlotte News | Charlotte Business Journal: Charlotte-area gasoline prices dip

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:12:25 -0400

The average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline in the metro Charlotte area has dipped to $2.613 from $2.628 a week ago, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report. [...]

EdCone.com: Working blue

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:06:21 -0400

If you're worried about which laid-off employee is going to show up with a semi-automatic and shoot up the office, be wary of the non-swearers. From a research paper defining the value of workplace vulgarity, quoted in this slideshow. Profanity...' [...]

Thunder Pig: No-Go Zones for Americans in Arizona Discussed Today on the Andrea Shea King Show

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:56:00 -0400

You know that ‘off limits’ area in Arizona called Buenos Aires Wildlife preserve? It has essentially been closed to Americans and surrendered to the Mexican drug cartels. That is the exact area where Chris Burgard filmed his movie BORDER, and watched columns of heavily armed men escorting people [...]

The Progressive Pulse: Big banking business follows nonprofit, government lead on health

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:44:33 -0400

Earlier this month, Bank of America garnered a headline in the Charlotte Observer for a “new way” the bank was paying for health benefits. To its credit, BofA was adopting a policy where people at the bank making over $100,000 in salary would pay a little more for benefits [...]

Under the Dome blog: State spending down to 1996-97 levels

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:36:13 -0400

When the legislature left town over the weekend, it did so after enacting a budget with the lowest level of spending in 14 years, according to a new report.

State spending per capita is now at the lowest level since fiscal year 1996-97, dropping $311 over the past three years - [...]

Charlotte Business News - Local Charlotte News | Charlotte Business Journal: Mountain Real Estate closes deal

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:34:50 -0400

Mountain Real Estate Capital has bought a portfolio of 135 residential projects in the Atlanta market from Synovus Bank. The assets had a prior basis of about $110 million, and comprise 1,300 acres and 1,500 home sites. [...]

EdCone.com: Shielded

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:18:31 -0400

Laura Leslie: "The state's shield law protects reporters from exactly this sort of interference. That shield law does NOT make exceptions for public broadcasting entities." Previously: Boot-heel meets doormat. [...]

Charlotte Blogs: Wednesday July 14, 2010 | Bruce Feiler & The Council of Dads

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:16:03 -0400

When New York Times Bestselling author Bruce Feiler was diagnosed with cancer a couple of years ago, he worried about how his death would affect his children. So he quickly assembled six men from different phases of his life and asked for their help at providing fatherly guidance if needed- [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: Postponing the Inevitable

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:08:00 -0400

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JLF > The Locker Room: JLF economist urges real sales tax reform

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:46:00 -0400

State lawmakers have been talking about reforming North Carolina's sales tax, but Roy Cordato says the focus on extending the tax to more services misses the mark. He explains the elements of real sales tax reform here and in the video clip below. [...]

EdCone.com: Defining decadence downward

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:39:56 -0400

Mullahs vs Mullets, the historical perspective. [...]

Under the Dome blog: Lawmakers skip town, turn toward elections

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:37:23 -0400

After adjournment: As election season looms, Democratic lawmakers will talk about saving teacher jobs during the session, while Republicans will talk about all the important things that didn't get done. (N&O)

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Charlotte Business News - Local Charlotte News | Charlotte Business Journal: Jones Lang LaSalle strikes mall deal with General Growth Properties

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:35:16 -0400

Carolina Place mall owner General Growth Properties Inc. has reached a deal for a strategic alliance that puts Jones Lang LaSalle in charge of management and leasing of 18 U.S. malls that General Growth doesn’t own. (GGP) (JLL) [...]

BlueNC blogs: NC's champion tax-dodger might be a Republican

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:30:06 -0400

But there's no "might" about the money he owes:

The former Mebane town councilman owes the state of North Carolina $2.2 million in unpaid taxes. He tops a list of tax delinquents who owe the state $841 million - a 67 percent jump from a year ago.

Two weeks after the [...]