Red Clay Citizen

Let the Spin Begin!

A budget hasn't yet been passed by the General Assembly, but two leading Senators have already gone into full spin mode to mislead the public on what will be a nearly $1 billion tax increase.

Check out these two quotes.  First, by Sen. Dan Clodfelter (D-Mecklenburg):

"Our goal all along has been to restructure the tax system," said Sen. Dan Clodfelter, a Charlotte Democrat. "If we spread the tax rate out, we can lower it for everybody."

Next, Sen. R.C. Soles (D-Columbus):

"The House would like to raise the sales tax as I understand it and a few other taxes, and the Senate is doing its best not to raise taxes," said Soles.   

Lower taxes for everyone?  Not raise taxes?  To quote tennis star John McEnroe "You cannot be serious?"

How in the world a $1 billion tax increase can be spun as either not raising taxes or lowering taxes is beyond me.  Even sadder than the legislators even attempting to say this with a straight face is that neither reporter bothered to challenge them on the statement.  The press is obviously going to let them frame the story that way.

But we've known all along that this was the Senate's plan, and is the big holdup now on why a budget hasn't been passed.  The Senate wants to raise taxes by $1 billion, but lower some rates (like the sales tax rate) so they can go back home next fall and stand before the voters and claim to have cut taxes.  The House seems not to care (or is not as politically astute as the Senate) and is willing to pass a straight tax increase without the political cover of reducing some rates.

Either way the truth cannot be hidden, taxes are going up, despite the best spin by some lawmakers.

Budget Crisis and Planes

Does anyone else find it ironic that while the NC legislature prepares to hit taxpayers with new taxes in excess of a billion dollars it continues to fund an air force in excess of 60 aircraft including a corporate jet for executive transport? And I am not including the National Guard in this number.   

NC Legislature cuts taxes!

Recognizing that cutting taxes encourages investment and creates jobs the North Carolina legislature lowered taxes... I can't go on and not laugh. The above is a headline you won't won't soon see about any of the taxes that would truly help the economy. It is true for a few politically connected industries. And therein lies the rub.

By voting for "targeted" tax cuts legislators are agreeing that lowering taxes encourages investment and JOBS. But when it comes to the rest of us, and that includes business that is not politically connected, it means higher taxes not lower taxes.

Since they obviously agree that lower taxes are good for some, why can't they see the foolishness of raising taxes for the rest. Of course it could be that legislators like an unemployment rate above 11%.

An annexation reform peek at the NC legislature "sausage factory"

An email from one of the leading activists fighting for annexation reform gives a glimpse into the "sausage factory" that is what passes for our NC General Assembly. I am on the email list as I think that annexation reform is long past due. There are a multitude of reasons for the delay - most of them for the convenience of the legislators.

One reason not explicitly spelled out below is that the main opponent of annexation reform is North Carolina League of Municipalities, a taxpayer funded lobbying group, that has a headquarters literally blocks away from the legislature. For them cancelled meetings mean a short walk back to the office. For hundreds of citizens who drive to Raleigh from across the state, not so simple.

As to using the "budget crunch" as an excuse - legislators have known since they convened that the new fiscal year starts on July 1. When elected official starts talking about how hard they work, and they are a big part of the reason it is so hard, I have very little sympathy.

StopNCAnnexation A Grassroots Effort to End forced Annexation Abuse in North Carolina
Fighting for reform statewide since 2003

June 24, 2009

So…..once again we were told that the House Judiciary II meeting to discuss annexation reform that was postponed to Wednesday is now postponed until Thursday.  We are being told that the cancellations are beyond the control of the legislators scheduling them. The legislators are up to their necks in budget meeting and discussions, and on and on….

Those of us paying any attention to the news or the legislature are very much aware of the budget discussions. How is that an excuse for scheduling meetings to discuss an issue that the legislators know FULL WELL is a highly controversial subject of extreme interest to thousands of people across this State during a week that THEY KNOW will be jam packed with the budget discussions?

But schedule they did. And many people took off work and/or drove for hours on multiple days believing the legislators would do what they told us they were going to do.  Only to be turned away empty handed at the last minute with barely a “Gee I’m sorry”.

Consider this: Tuesday evening there was a fundraiser party at the Democrat Headquarters and session was wrapped up so legislators could attend. http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/5375117/ 

Wednesday night a party was held at Second Empire at 5:00 for legislators to celebrate the passage of the smoking ban bill. A meeting of House Judiciary II after session would have caused some legislators to miss the party.

Now we are being notified that the J2 meeting is scheduled for 15 minutes after session tomorrow. Session starts at 1:00 pm and there are twelve bills on the agenda. But Rep. Glazier is saying that tomorrow could be canceled too and we should check with his office at noon to see if the meeting is still on.

Maybe there are no parties Thursday night.\I can’t in good faith recommend to anyone that they try to go to Raleigh tomorrow and end up going there for nothing. I will go to the General Assembly tomorrow and report on the amendment decisions. If you want to respond to the way the people have been treated with these meetings, or check to make sure the meeting isn’t canceled, please call Rep Glazier’s office tomorrow:

From: Rep. Rick Glazier [mailto:[email protected]] 919-733-5601
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 7:31 PM
To:
Subject:RE: Why Was JII POSTPONED

 No sir--we are in the middle of having to get a budget for the state done by July 1--that is the top priority of all of us and the meetings to do so are practically now around the clock--I have been here from 7am until midnight most days for the last 3 weeks we have been in session and so have many colleagues.  You will notice many committee meetings moved and cancelled or simply not taking place at all.  I have attempted in good faith to get this bill scheduled for 3 days and due to many folks budget and finance commitments, including my own and the other 3 co-chairs, who are either chairs as well of House Finance or a subcommittee of House Appropriations, we have had to cancel.  I intend to give this bill the time it deserved to be meaningfully heard--otherwise I simply could have forced a vote up or down on the PCS without allowing time to file and read amendments.  I am at the same time trying to get the bill out of our committee so it has some chance of passage before the end of session.  I have to consider the schedule of 16 legislators on the committee--I simply have no control over the budget process timetable and all the guests who may want to watch the proceedings.  That is another reason why I agreed to schedule the meeting in room 544 so people could listen to the proceedings who could not make it to Raleigh. I am committed to hearing the bill tomorrow unless there is significant budget movement and we are back in appropriations and finance meetings into the late afternoon and evening. I do not expect that, but as I have made clear, that schedule is not in my control and the budget is the overriding issue for right now.   I hope this answers your question on the scheduling.  Rick Glazier

(And there was that party to go to...) And more…

Thanks D***--I really am very sorry about the scheduling.  We and staff are pretty exhausted with the end of session schedule and the budget realities.  In candor, I will have no idea where we are until late in the morning tomorrow.  There was an offer from the House to the Senate on a finance package an hour ago and so now we wait for a response.  If there is movement in the morning, then we could see a wholesale schedule change for everyone tomorrow.  That should become clear by noon, but much before that is like reading the tea leaves.  Please ask anyone who is traveling tomorrow from your coalition to check in with our office around noon to see if the meeting has been cancelled.  I remain optimistic we can hear the bill after session tomorrow and that is my full intent absent a complete change in the tenor of the negotiations to date on the finance package.  Take care.  Rick

Does that explanation make it all okay? Does it make you feel sorry for the legislators?

Overreaction on Sanford

I really can't understand the complete media and public overreaction regarding the whereabouts of SC Gov. Mark Sanford.

Former North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley was AWOL for 8 years and nobody seemed to notice and/or care.

Bullying Bill on NC House Floor Tonight

The misleadingly named "School Violence Prevention Act"  SB 526 sponsored by Senator Julia Boseman (D-New Hanover) is on the NC House calendar for a vote during tonight's House session.

This bill would introduce into North Carolina law for the first time descriptions of sexual orientation.  A similar bill was used in Iowa to destroy the concept of traditional marriage.

Were this bill truly about protecting children from bullies at school then it would have some sort of penalty for the bully, right?  Sadly, it has none. Shouldn't a bill named "The School Violence Prevention Act" prevent school violence? 

A bipartisan group filed a clean bullying bill, HB 776 without the sexual orientation categories.  That bill had 62 sponsors from both parties and yet was never heard by any House committee. 

Do the math.  The NC House has 120 members; 62 would be a MAJORITY.  The game played by the legislative leadership is one using a stacked deck where the votes really only matter when they win.

Bullying in schools is wrong. So is deception in lawmaking.

Easley Grand Jury Transcript

Bobleesays.com has a hilarious take on the latest in the NCSU/Easley scandal. All good humor has an element of truth in it and BobLee is very good at humor. Below is part of his column from yesterday.

    The much maligned, embattled, cussed, discussed and golden parachuted former NCSU Chancellor Jim “I forgot” Oblinger appeared before a federal grand jury on Wednesday.  According to his lawyer, Press Millen, the embattled former Chancellor “answered all their questions”.  Press failed to note that “not answering” was never an option. (NOTE:  "Press" is a LOT better spokesman name than "Ace")

    The grand jury’s questions were not released to the media, but yours truly managed to get a copy of the transcript thru back channels.

Q:  Embattled Former Chancellor Oblinger, can we call you Embattled Former Chancellor Oblinger? …. Or do you prefer Sergeant Schultz?
A:  At this point I don’t really care.  “I know nuuuuthink”.

Q:  OK, Schultz it will be.  Sgt Schultz, what were the three funniest nicknames you and your staff had for McQueen Campbell?
A:   Howdy Doody obviously.  William H. Macy was my wife’s choice.  "Mikey’s little butt boy" was always Larry’s favorite.  He wanted us to call him "The Red Baron" but none of us could without giggling.  Tom Stafford was the only one who called him Mr Campbell; but what would you expect from that nutty squirrel.

Q:  In his several years on your campus, did TA McLendon EVER set foot in a classroom building for any purpose not directly related to personal urination?
A:  Yes.  On November 12, 2003 he went into “that round building” to get out of the rain.

Q:  Are you certain of that date? 
A:  Yes, I had a crackerjack memory until Dan Gerlach and McQueen started e-mailing me 10x / day.

Q:  Excuse me Schultz.  Would you repeat that last part?
A:  No.  I only have to answer each question once.

Q:  Can you tell the grand jury exactly what “a Provost” does?
A:  No sir.  I cannot.

Q:  Can anyone?
A:  Not anyone I’ve ever met in 30+ years in this silly business.  I asked Kindly Ol’ Bill Friday once and he gave me a really dirty look.

Q:  Who booked your speakers before all this mess?
A:  A student intern named Muriel.

Q:  What did she receive as payment for doing the job?
A:  Ben McCauley.

Q:   In retrospect, what would you do differently today.
A:   Hire Mary as Womens Basketball Coach at $230,000.

Q:  Why did you guys concoct this stoopid scheme in the first place?
A:   To redirect public outrage away from Lee Fowler.

Q:  What can you tell us that Curliss and Carrington don’t already know?
A:  For the past two years it’s been Mikey & Mary in those Mr & Ms Wuff suits.

Q:  Yikes!  Anything else?
A:  They both do it “commando-style”.

   Sgt Schultz, you are excused but please don’t leave Wake County unless it’s to flee to a Central American country without an extradition treaty or golden parachutes.

What $2.2 Million Buys You

Apparently, it's enough to buy you a Governor who will go out and stump for job approval killing tax increases to protect your special interest group.

If you'll recall, the national teachers' union (NEA) spent $2.2 million (Download NEA 2008) in 2008 helping Bev Perdue get elected Governor.

It is reported that Governor Perdue had a rally today with the NC teachers' union (NCAE) at the Capitol pledging to fight for higher taxes to support education.

In particular, Perdue said revenue should be raised so that the state would not have to lay off teachers or increase the number of children in classrooms.

Brave move by someone who's approval numbers are in the tank.  But apparently she knows where her bread is buttered.

Explaining Perdue's Plummeting Approval Rating

Last week we released a poll showing Gov. Bev Perdue's approval rating dropping.  Yesterday, PPP released their poll showing her approval rating down in the low 30s.

One need look no further than this from Under the Dome to explain the reason her numbers are tanking:

Gov. Beverly Perdue told legislative leaders Tuesday that she wants the state budget that begins July 1 to include $1.5 billion in new taxes.

Our polling has consistently shown new taxes to be very unpopular and the more the Governor ties herself to unpopular tax hikes, the lower her approval ratings will fall.  We're in the field now with our June poll so we'll have some fresh numbers on this for you next week.

The Honeymoon is Over

Chris Hayes wrote a few days ago proclaiming "the honeymoon for Democrats not named Barack Obama appears to be over." Once the state governments fall back to normal approval ratings, as has now happened, the federal government cannot be far to follow. How long then does Obama have left to enjoy his massive public support?

There has, since the beginning of Obama's term, been a degree of discontent with his administration's economic policies. McCain's use of the word "socialist" during the campaign became very useful for articulating the discomfort many people felt with the bailouts and ramped up government involvement in the private sector. The discontent has certainly not been local, but it hasn't been mainstream either. The economic and ideological opposition is necessary and good, but calling Obama socialist won't make the socialists withdraw their support: ideological battles are only won in the long run.

Most of the opposition has therefore come from those who never supported him in the first place. So far the outrage over bailouts and nationalization has not been enough to shake the support for the federal administration garnered by an aesthetic infatuation with "hope and change."

But not anymore. The News & Observer reports that Obama was actually booed for his stance on medical malpractice caps by a group of doctors, a profession enjoying public support around the same as teachers and firefighters (link regards Britain in particular, but the sentiment is widespread). Even better, doctors are not an ideological group, so their complaints can't be simply dismissed by opposing ideologues.

Considering the importance of health care to his platform, this could prove to be a major bump in the road for his plans. But even more significantly, it stands as a portent that the opposition has entered the non-ideological mainstream. The honeymoon is over. Welcome to the real presidency, Mr. Obama.