Joseph Coletti

Senate leadership and Gov. Cooper have taken notably different approaches to disaster relief funds that redound to the Senate’s benefit. First, Gov. Cooper earmarked $100 million reserve from availability for disaster relief, all of it and more already pledged “to meet immediate cash flow needs,” and promises to use some…

State Treasurer Dale Folwell is on his way to cutting $100 million in state pension management fees. He has cut six managers and renegotiated fees producing $25 million in savings so far. Savings like this are important, but amount to a rounding error in the $90-billion state pension fund. As state pension…

The Insider recently reported on a Fiscal Research Division analysis showing the Senate’s “Billion Dollar Middle Class Tax Cut” would lead to $600 million shortfalls in three of the next five years. Fiscal staff started from the assumption that state government would do all the same things…

Live BlogThere are two problems with Rob Christensen’s fruitless search for truth. Christen claims the budget cuts Medicaid spending and related jobs Perdue said the budget bill would result in $2 billion in cuts to Medicaid, the federal-state funded insurance program for the poor and the disabled; $750…

Live Blog North Carolina ranks 18th in overall freedom for its citizens in a new Mercatus Center publication. Some highlights from my perspective North Carolina has the best asset-forfeiture laws in the land. It could improve them by putting the burden of proof on the government. spirits…

Live Blog The Tea Party's success has shown federalism, fiscal discipline, and small government to be enduring ideas that wide swathes of people support in North Carolina. Progressives, bureaucrats, and state legislators have co-opted this language and are in the process of twisting it into Wonderland…

A common question on the budget has been where the Senate got the $252 million to pay for new spending without raising the sales tax. The following table explains it in gory details. The budget sets aside less for future downturns, diverts money from other funds at the same rate…

Live Blog If you go by the Legislative Building today, you might see MomsRising members selling lemonade to”raise money for the state budget.” They promise “All proceeds will go to the General Fund for the State of North Carolina to invest in children.” It's an admirable goal,…