Daily Archives: May 25, 2012

Tax Equity Before Annexation

Written on May 25, 2012 at 1:26 pm, by

Speaker Pro Tempore Dale Folwell offered some insightful comments during yesterday’s House debate on annexation reform.  (It passed 70-44)  For cities to remain viable they may need to consider who and what they tax.  In Winston Salem, 13% of land within the city limits is not taxed, in Charlotte, 12% pays no city taxes andContinue Reading

New at CJO: Annexation reform moving through General Assembly

Written on May 25, 2012 at 11:46 am, by

Sara Burrows reports for Carolina Journal Online about the latest annexation reform bills moving through the state Legislative Building.

Latest dispatches from the campaign trail, May 25, 2012

Written on May 25, 2012 at 9:19 am, by

• Former GOP Gov. Jim Martin endorsed Robert Pittinger in the July 17 runoff against Jim Pendergraph for the 9th U.S. Congressional District nomination.   • North Carolina-based Tea Party groups plan to roll out the welcome mat for delegates attending the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.   • North Carolina Democrats G.K. Butterfield (1stContinue Reading

Barone discusses the downside of the liberal cocoon

Written on May 25, 2012 at 9:07 am, by

Michael Barone‘s latest column explores the negative impact that results when left-of-center thinkers insulate themselves from conservative arguments. Liberals can protect themselves better against assaults from outside their cocoon. They can stay out of megachurches and make sure their remote controls never click on Fox News. They can stay off the AM radio dial soContinue Reading

Big Bird needs a job—in the private market

Written on May 25, 2012 at 9:01 am, by

Here is a NCPA summary of a Cato Institute paper about public broadcasting. Assailed from all sides with allegations of bias, charges of political influence and threats to defund their operations, public broadcasters have responded with everything from outright denial to personnel changes.  Yet government-funded media companies are inherently problematic and impossible to reconcile withContinue Reading

National Review editor examines Biden’s campaign role

Written on May 25, 2012 at 8:57 am, by

Rich Lowry‘s latest column for National Review Online explains why Vice President Joe Biden plays such a valuable role for the Obama re-election team … and for Americans generally. Joe Biden is performing a public service, God love him. Out on the stump, he renders the case for President Barack Obama’s reelection in all itsContinue Reading

It was 35 years ago today …

Written on May 25, 2012 at 8:49 am, by

… that Luke, Leia, Han, R2-D2, Obi-Wan, and Darth entered our lives. In honor of the anniversary, let’s revisit a nearly 10-year-old column from John Hood contrasting the politics of Star Wars and Star Trek. In Star Wars, evil characters have been seduced by the dark side of the Force. They have given into temptation,Continue Reading

More evidence for the need to end the CON law?

Written on May 25, 2012 at 8:38 am, by

This News & Observer article about the fight over new Wake County hospital beds might prompt you to ask, “What the heck is going on here?” If so, perhaps you’ll be more likely to accept Roy Cordato’s nearly seven-year-old prescription for North Carolina state government: Scrap the state’s Certificate of Need law.