NC Buzz - October

October 26, 2005

 

On the national level, Senator Elizabeth Dole is sponsoring CARFA, which is the Commission on Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies. It would be bipartisan. The members would evaluate the cost-effectiveness of federal agencies' programs, and submit recommendations for realigning or eliminating those programs they found to be inefficient, wasteful, or fraudulent. They would then submit their recommendations to Congress where each would be voted up or down. We hope Sen. Dole is successful because it seems like a worthwhile plan, unless this commission becomes inefficient, wasteful, or fraudulent.

 

Congressman Robin Hayes, from NC 8th Dist, has introduced legislation that would cut the salaries of Congress by 5%. This is in response to spending concerns due to hurricane rebuilding, etc.. According to Hayes, revenues have been coming in better than expected over the past year, and the federal deficit is $100 billion less than was projected one year ago. This statement was published in the Wall Street Journal on Oct. 15, but somehow it failed to make headlines in our  newspapers or TV reports. Instead, we read that the national consumer economic confidence index dropped 15% in Sept., and N.C. consumer confidence fell to the lowest point since 1982. The price of gasoline is listed as the major reason, and it does affect consumers. However, gas prices are going down, and one hopeful NC economist is predicting an increase in Christmas sales of 4% or 5% over last year.

On a related note, Republicans in the NC Legislature asked for a gas tax reduction, but the Democrats turned it down.

 

The National Federation of Republican Women has endorsed the nomination of Harriet Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court. The announcement cited other endorsements from former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, and S.C. Senator Lindsey Graham. Hearings begin Nov. 7th, and, in light of much conservative disappointment, they will be interesting to watch.

 

Reports from the National Taxpayers Union show that for every hour the 108th Congress was in session, the House and the Senate each voted to raise federal spending by roughly $200 million. No member of Congress had a net voting record that would have reduced overall federal spending.

 

Here in North Carolina: 

Our state  is the largest user of federal migrant worker programs. Migrant workers now comprise more than 10% of the total agricultural workforce, 90% of whom plant and harvest the tobacco crop.

 

On another topic, those who have been waiting and hoping for a state lottery are now pointing out that the NC payoff will be 50%, while lotteries in surrounding states pay 56% to 59%. So, does that mean these people will continue to cross the border to buy their tickets??

 

Several months ago we learned that the number of DUI convictions here locally were much lower than those in other parts of the state. Some local attorneys and judges were accused of being lenient to the point of looking the other way. Now, due in part to the excellent investigative reporting in the Charlotte Observer, DUI convictions have risen from 63% to 71% statewide, and  hopefully have made a difference in our own area.

 

There have been complaints about reckless drivers on our highways not being ticketed, but the Highway Patrol tells  us they don't have enough troopers to protect the  highways when they are expected to direct traffic at all the football games.

 

NC will become the 4th largest garbage importer in the USA if five proposed landfills are built. We have cheap rural land available, we're centrally located on the East coast, and we don't have a surcharge on garbage. The landfills would bring money to some of the state's poorest counties, but also could, and should, cause concerns about contamination.

 

FYI:  NC is a tobacco state, but consider these statistics. Every day 66 NC kids try their first cigarette. That means more than 24,000 new smokers each year. A lot of them are young girls who have heard that smoking will keep their weight down. Surely there is a better way!

 

 

Sources: Carolina Journal, NC Republican Party Newsletter, Sen. Elizabeth Dole Newsletter, National Taxpayers Union, Spincycle, New Bern Sun Journal, USA Today