http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms NC Policy Watch with Fitzsimon & Schofield Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:30:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 en http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/24/business-subsidies-expansion-with-no-new-accountability/ http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/24/business-subsidies-expansion-with-no-new-accountability/#comments Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:35:35 +0000 Elaine Mejia http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/24/business-subsidies-expansion-with-no-new-accountability/ During the mad rush that was the last few weeks of the recently adjourned legislative session, one bill was passed easily and quietly that should have drawn dissent and jeers. Lawmakers quietly and overwhelmingly continued their policy of aggressive pursuing large corporations by offering them tens of millions of dollars to expand in or relocate to North Carolina. More specifically, in the last few days of the legislative session lawmakers significantly expanded the Job Development Investment Grant Program, or JDIG.]]> http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/24/business-subsidies-expansion-with-no-new-accountability/feed/ http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/21/the-new-budget-accepting-small-gains-ensuring-long-term-pain/ http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/21/the-new-budget-accepting-small-gains-ensuring-long-term-pain/#comments Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:41:27 +0000 Elaine Mejia http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/21/the-new-budget-accepting-small-gains-ensuring-long-term-pain/ It's official. The state budget bill has been signed by the governor. All things considered, the budget adopted this year is a reasonable plan for North Carolina. There was very little new money available to budget-writers because tax revenue growth, along with the economy, has slowed to a crawl.]]> http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/21/the-new-budget-accepting-small-gains-ensuring-long-term-pain/feed/ http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/08/voters-should-have-their-say-on-new-debt/ http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/08/voters-should-have-their-say-on-new-debt/#comments Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:52:58 +0000 Elaine Mejia http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/08/voters-should-have-their-say-on-new-debt/ The state budget just passed by the General Assembly and presumably to be signed by the Governor in short order commits every North Carolinian to an additional $100 in debt. Specifically, the final budget agreement includes $857 million in new debt, more than the Governor, House, or Senate had proposed. Divide that amount by the number of people that reside in the Old North State and that comes to an additional $100 per person, not including interest.]]> http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/08/voters-should-have-their-say-on-new-debt/feed/ http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/08/comprehensive-sex-education-makes-for-healthier-kids/ http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/08/comprehensive-sex-education-makes-for-healthier-kids/#comments Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:01:19 +0000 Paige Johnson http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/08/comprehensive-sex-education-makes-for-healthier-kids/ Kissing babies makes for a great photo op when politicians are on the campaign trail. Most legislators claim to care about children. But what happens when young people are beyond the age of a photo op, when their behavior is less than cherubic or when their needs run counter to a legislator’s personal beliefs? ]]> http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/08/comprehensive-sex-education-makes-for-healthier-kids/feed/ http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/07/campaign-finance-reform-should-help-transform-democracy-not-just-limit-spending/ http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/07/campaign-finance-reform-should-help-transform-democracy-not-just-limit-spending/#comments Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:05:17 +0000 Chase Foster http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/07/campaign-finance-reform-should-help-transform-democracy-not-just-limit-spending/ Long before the recent decision by Senator Barack Obama to forego participation in public financing, there has been a growing consensus that our current system of Presidential public financing is in need of repair. ]]> http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/07/07/campaign-finance-reform-should-help-transform-democracy-not-just-limit-spending/feed/