NC Buzz

Sept 27, 2005

 

 

Poor President Bush can't win. After the two hurricanes, he was faulted for being under-prepared and over-prepared. The news media  have been having a field day with the disasters. In the past couple of days, however, there are reports that in fact rumors were started and exaggerations made, all to discredit the president and to make the newspersons look good. We'll hope that eventually the truth will come out.

 

Meanwhile, here in North Carolina, our Rep. Walter B. Jones has sent a letter to the FTC in an attempt to prevent price gouging at the gas stations. Gov. Easley has stated that he will not temporarily suspend the 27.1 cent/gal gas tax. He says the general fund cannot afford the cut, but we all know that that  money is supposed to go to highway maintenance.

 

The passage of the lottery was the big news at adjounment time. As expected, there was controversy and there is talk of a probable law suit to overturn the vote. The basis for the law suit is a legislative requirement stating that "bills involving money must be passed on separate days", so we'll probably hear more about that when they reconvene.

 

The first step in setting up the lottery is to appoint a commission of nine. That commission will hire a director. The latest breakdown I've seen gives:  50% to the prize, 8% to the director, 7% to retailers for handling tickets, and 1% for advertising. Of the 34% left, 5%  goes directly to the NC Rainy Day Fund, leaving 29%. Half of that goes to  the Pre-K fund, school construction, and scholarships, leaving about 15% for general education.

Lt. Gov. Perdue cast the tie-breaking vote, thereby insuring her some name recognition in her bid for the governorship. The question is whether it's a plus or a minus. It's probably a plus in the primary because the teacher's groups like the lottery. It may hurt her in the general election, however, because so-called "angry" citizens vote, and she has riled the church groups who are opposed to the lottery.

We mentioned months ago that Republican Rep. Sue Myrick of Charlotte could be her opponent in the governor's race. Myrick has not yet announced her intentions, but has been doing a lot of public appearances lately, and has taken on illegal immigration as her big issue.

 

In other news, there has been a shift in NC politics. It used to be divided into coastal plains, rolling Piedmont, and the mountains. Now it's 1) the 8 most populous counties, 7 of which went for Bush, but all of which went for Easley, accounting for 40% of the vote. 2) 27 exurban ring counties around the big cities, accounting for 35% of the vote, and 3) 65 counties made up of the country crowd which is the NE and the borders, accounting for 25% of the vote.

 

NC poverty rates, after rising annually for several years, have recently leveled off. Now 15% of the population are below the amount of $19,157/year for a family of four.

 

How do you feel about nuclear reactors in NC? Duke Power and Progress Energy plan to file applications for licences with the NRC for nuclear reactors. It has been 25 years since the last one was built. Big incentives include $1.5 billion in tax credits over an 8 year period, with additional money to offset delays in permits and construction. Do you think this is a good idea? Let your representative know.

 

FYI:   Several special interest groups got last-minute legislation pushed through before adjournment. 1) There  will be a sales tax cap on gas for stock car racers

                   2) Health insurance companies must use the same co-pay for chiropractors that they give to other doctors.

                   3) Every pre-K child entering school must have an eye exam in addition to their doctor's check-up, meaning parents have to go to two doctors.   And by the way, Speaker Jim Black is an optomitrist.

 

ac

 

Sources: Carolina Journal Weekly Report, NRCC newsletter, NCGOP, Sun-Journal, NC Spincycle, New York Post, Viewpoints Radio