About: Becki Gray

If you are keeping up with the different state budget proposals (and at $20+Billion in spending who isn’t?), you may find this chart comparing the Governor’s proposal and the Senate proposal of interest: The Senate begins debate on their plan right now and you can listen to the Senate chamber here.

House Bill 298, Affordable and Reliable Energy Act was the only bill heard in the House Public Utilities Committee today.  When a mandate for utility companies to derive 12 ½% of energy from renewable energy sources (solar, wind and biomass) passed in 2007, it seemed like a raw deal for taxpayers and rate payers.  SinceContinue Reading

Before sending copies of First in Freedom to legislators and other elected officials, we called the State Ethics Commission to double check that we were in compliance with the gift rules. (hey, that’s how we roll here – sticklers for the rules – so we always double check)  We were advised that the book fellContinue Reading

The House Insurance Committee heard House Bill 265, Automobile Insurance Regulatory Modernization this afternoon.  This bill would have done three important things: 1. Introduce new discount programs for good drivers 2. Take away the hidden fees good drivers pay to subsidize risky drivers 3. Introduce free market competition in car insurance rates at the sameContinue Reading

The State Auditor’s office just released an audit of the town of Princeville.  Beth Wood summarizes the findings: This investigation discovered that Princeville’s Mayor and a town employee used town credit cards for questionable expenditures. Additionally, Princeville’s Mayor, a commissioner, and the interim town manager received check reimbursements of $4,112 for travel expenses without adequateContinue Reading

The House Commerce and Job Development Subcommittee on Energy and Emerging Markets voted on House Bill 298, a bill to roll back the mandate on renewable energy sources that has increased the cost of electricity, killed jobs and hurt our economy. After a two hour meeting with public comment and committee discussion the bill passedContinue Reading

If you’re keeping up with House Bill 193, Expand Uses for Mecklenburg County/Charlotte Local Taxes which would expand the allowed uses for a local occupancy tax to include the Panthers Stadium and an amateur sports center (in addition to the Charlotte Convention Center).  See my twitter report @beckigray for play by play of the meeting. Continue Reading

Certificate of Need (CON) laws stifle competition and drive up costs for health care.  JLF has long advocated for eliminating monopoly protections for hospitals and other heath care facilities, as explained in our Agenda 2012.  As this editorial in today’s N&O points out: The CON was intended to keep hospitals from building unnecessary facilities andContinue Reading