Your Soapbox Archive

North Carolina’s lobbying laws are among the weakest in the nation. We at least have a right to know how much lobbyist are spending wining and dining the people elected to represent us.

Cut services to the aged, blind, and disabled to pay for tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy?

(04-13-05) Wednesday morning, advocates for people in North Carolina who need human services were treated to what has become an annual spectacle at the legislative building, the release of a spending proposal that would make devastating cuts to human services programs.

(04-06-05) The House passed a lottery bill Wednesday afternoon in a 61-59 vote. The 90 minute debate was relatively low-key and provided few surprises. Lottery supporters talked about the money the lottery will provide for school construction, college scholarships, and early childhood programs.

(04-05-05)The House leadership’s shopping spree for pro-lottery votes may end one way or another Wednesday afternoon if House Speaker Jim Black follows through with his plan to bring the issue to the House floor for a vote after a Wednesday morning meeting of the House lottery charade committee.

(03-28-05) If you are paying attention at all these days, a theme is emerging from much of the coverage of the issues facing North Carolina.

(03-23-05) While discretionary funds, the upcoming lottery vote, and the battle over land between the Governor and the Speaker of the House have been dominating the headlines about the General Assembly, the budget process continues in sparsely attended subcommittee meetings held twice a day in the Legislative Office Building.

(03-11-05) State lawmakers are now setting up the procedure they will use to elect the 16 members of the UNC Board of Governors in the next few weeks. The Senate debate was about the guaranteed slots for people of color, women, each political party.