August NC buzz

There is always a lot going on in North Carolina. The votes for the new state budget were definitely along party lines. The Republicans were unanimous in voting against it in both the Senate and the House. It stands at $17.2 billion, 8% more than last year, with $700 million in tax increases. Illegal immigrants will get in-state tuition benefits despite the Senate's earlier unanimous stand against it. According to a poll, NC voters are 80% against using tax dollars to benefit law breakers.

 

Have you heard the radio ads sponsored by the NC Assoc. of Educators to promote the lottery? Apparently the pro-lottery folks only need one senator to change his or her mind in order to tie the vote. Then Lt.Gov. Perdue will break the tie and the lottery will be in.

The ads make it sound as if it will be pie in the sky, with billions of dollars pouring into scholarship and school construction funds. Remember, as I told you several months ago, out of each $1.00 ticket purchased, .50 goes to the winner, .18 goes for administrative costs, and .32 is supposed to go to the state. But won't they have to spend millions in promotion costs? We'll have to see just how many dollars actually reach the students.

 

And while the indecision goes on, our legislators are back home, and many are still accepting their per diem expense check of $104, seven days a week. In the Senate, actually 78% (or 39 of 50) did turn it down. But in the House, only 25.8% turned it down, meaning 89 members out of 120 are still getting paid The truth is that the longer the session, the more money they make. One of the "esteemed colleagues", as they like to refer to one another, insisted he was having to answer e-mail at home and therefore was working.

 

You may recall me telling you awhile ago that state employees receive free health benefits for life after only 5 years of employment. It seems that other states are so incredulous that the NC state employees themselves are suggesting perhaps the plan should be reconsidered, in light of increasing taxes. Optional plans call for changing the 5 years to 10, or even 20, making it a benefit for career employees. Under new plans, employees would be able to pay a percentage of the premium after 5 years, until they reached the required number of years. Thank goodness rational voices are being heard, but think of how many current employees would be "grandfathered" in!

 

In the wake of problems during recent elections, what are your thoughts about voting machines? Some say all machines should provide a paper trail, but the upgrade could cost about $70 million.

 

I'm wondering how many of you have heard of the dilemma at the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh. An unidentified donor has offered a gift of several sculptures by Auguste Rodin, the 19th Century French sculptor of "The Thinker" fame.They are valued at $25 million. The deal is that  the museum must provide a permanent appropriate structure to house them, at an estimated cost of $65 million for 90,000 sq. feet. Wake County and the City of Raleigh have pledged $15 million, so the state must come up with $50 million. The concensus among those asked is that it is a wonderful gift and shouldn't be turned down, especially since the Rodin exhibit set attendance records when it opened. It has been pointed out that one item in the current budget provides $400,000 for a teapot museum. You may wish to weigh in on this topic with your representative.

 

And lastly, FYI, NC is listed as 8th among states showing the fastest housing growth, up 9.5% since 2000. Areas most affected are Raleigh and the coast. Union County has the largest growth with a 25% increase.

 

 

Sources: NCGOP, The Sun-Journal, NC SpinCycle, USA Today