Fitzsimon File

Governor Mike Easley delivered his third State of the State speech Monday night and it was basically an updated version of the ones he delivered in 2001 and 2003, heavy on education, a passionate pitch for the lottery, and a few lines thrown in make sure folks know he is not a big spender.

That’s not all bad of course. Give Easley credit for his genuine passion for public schools and his goal of trying to make sure every child in North Carolina gets a quality education. Easley touted the two big education initiatives of his first term, the reduction of class size in the early grades and the creation of a voluntary pre-k program for at-risk kids, More at Four.

This year, he wants lawmakers to expand his Learn to Earn program to let high school students earn a two-year college degree with an extra year of high school. Easley also said that he wanted to fully fund the state’s low-wealth school formula over the next two years.

The stories the speech are sure to focus on his proposal to raise the state cigarette tax, though Easley didn’t mention how much of an increase he will recommend, and his renewed push for the lottery.

Easley didn’t mention his decision about two temporary tax increases passed in 2001, but it is widely expected that he will recommend ending the income tax increase on the state’s richest taxpayers while leaving a half-cent sales tax increase in place. Those proposals will come Wednesday when Easley releases his budget recommendations.

Add the lottery to the mix and most of the revenue Easley wants to raise would come disproportionately from folks at the bottom of the economic ladder, while the state wealthiest taxpayers get a break.

Easley’s speech is notable for what it did not include, no mention of the human service programs that have borne the brunt of the state’s recent budget problems. No mention of the long waiting lists, both for the day care subsidy that single mothers need to find a job, and for basic health services that seniors and the disabled need so they can stay out of institutions.

No mention of the HIV/AIDS epidemic or the shortage of school nurses, or the affordable housing crisis, or the 1.4 million people in the state with no health care. No position on keeping drivers licenses available to undocumented workers so they drive to work safely, no mention of granting in-state tuition to the children of the workers who build our houses, clean our hotel rooms, and harvest our vegetables.

And while no one expects Easley to include everything in a half-hour speech, it is disappointing that he never broadens his push for investment much beyond public schools and helping children the year before they enter kindergarten.

Easley talked again Monday night about “One North Carolina” and at one point said that “just as we will be judged individually by how we treat the least of our brethren, so shall we be measured as a state.”

Our brethren need help at school. No argument there. But they also need help with affordable housing, mental health services, day care subsidies, and medicine for HIV/AIDS, and more. Those are investments that will create jobs and improve lives.

They were not part of Easley’s speech Monday night. If that means they are not part of the budget he will present Wednesday morning, he ought to make some revisions first thing Tuesday morning.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 22nd, 2005 at 6:24 am and is filed under Fitzsimon File. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.