CFED Reports NC Tax-based Subsidies are Increasing

May 9th, 2008

North Carolina needs further accountability on economic development spending

A new report examining North Carolina’s economic development spending says that while state spending is rising sharply, tax breaks are growing to represent nearly all of the state’s economic development stimulus. The report, released today by the national nonprofit Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) was previewed yesterday in testimony before the North Carolina Joint Select Committee on Economic Development Incentives by authors Bill Schweke and Frank DiSilvestro.

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Mon, May 12th, 2008
The 2008 Short Session: Prospects for the Progressive Agenda

Wed, May 14th, 2008
A Special Hearing on Capital Punishment: Perspectives at the Death House Door

Thu, May 29th, 2008
Lunch ‘n’ Learn: Growing your nonprofit through effective marketing

Special Features

Editorial Cartoon

Our low business taxes

Fear and immigration

The year to address health care

UNC’s special influence

Time to protect kids at school

Tuesday’s sure winners

The baffling politicians

The gloom and doomers

The unholy alliance

The tax freedom day ruse

Dr.Andy Taylor on the run up to the May 6th primary

Local Option Taxes on the Ballot

Mike Darrow on Cover the Uninsured Week

The latest Elon poll on issues and attitudes in advance of NC’s Primary

Chase Foster with NC Voters for Clean Elections

Progressive Author Jim Hightower on what’s at stake in this year’s election

The wrongful conviction and release of Glen Edward Chapman

The Effectiveness Ranking of NC Legislators

The 3rd Annual NC Black Summit

The NAACP reflects on the 40th anniversary of the assassination of MLK Jr

Who Runs K-12 Education? A Legislative Proposal to Revisit the Controversy.

The Joint Education Oversight Committee adopted its report to the 2008 short session today. The report includes seven legislative proposals for the short session, one of which is certain to fuel future controversy if passed. The controversy generator is the proposal to shine a critical light on education bureacracy in this state by establishing a special legislative [...]

Old South, New South

OLD SOUTH: Easley: I so don't care about this election, but I'ma get involved now. Don't worry, little lady, daddy's home. Perdue: Thank heavens for these big strong arms. Don't know what Ah'd do without a man to hold on to. Easley: You're just so darn cute. Me: Gag. NEW SOUTH: Smith: Ya beat me fair and square, Pat, now I'ma [...]

The Secretary of Elevators speaks

The Secretary of Elevators has spoken out again on the ongoing scandal in the state's poultry packing industry that was so painstakingly detailed in a February Charlotte Observer series. Here she is in today's Charlotte O in response to the Governor's welcome call for new money, staff and authority to protect workers: State Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said [...]

Okay, the election is over. What’s next?

Things can move fast in North Carolina politics. Yesterday the primary, next Tuesday the start of the 2008 legislative session. Indeed, it appears the Guv may release his proposed budget as early as next Monday. Meanwhile, the latest numbers from the legislature's Fiscal Research Division seem to indicate that the budget will be very tight. To [...]

If You Choose Not To Decide, You Still Have Made A Choice

That's what my years of listening to Rush have taught me. (I know. Rush? Yes, I've even seen them live. Whitesnake too. You can take the girl out of the Navy town, but you can't take the Navy town out of the girl.) Apparently John and Elizabeth Edwards aren't Rush fans. They've shared the [...]