Democratic Policies, Tax Increases and Spending Hinder Recovery
Raleigh, N.C. – New numbers released today showed North Carolina’s unemployment rate grew in January from 10.9 percent to 11.1 percent. This even as total U.S. unemployment decreased from 10.0 percent to 9.7 percent. (“N.C.’s Unemployment Rate At 11.1 Percent In January,” Employment Security Commission of North Carolina, [...]
As the calendar advances toward springtime and the reconvening of the General Assembly in May for its short session moves closer, the voices of those who would have lawmakers increase taxes are becoming increasingly louder.
Doing so would effectively become a one-two punch in the face of North Carolina taxpayers. It could even impede the state’s [...]
As WBTV reports that gas prices are on the rise in North Carolina, there is still no word from Governor Perdue on Senator Berger’s proposal for offshore energy exploration that could bring jobs and new industry to our state.
Greensboro News & Record editors say that North Carolina must take a new approach to job creation as past policies have shut the door to new businesses moving to the state and we are quickly losing ground.
For the first time in modern history, at least one Republican is running for the state Senate in all 50 districts.
“We should have a Republican in all 50 (Senate) districts in the state. I think that is the first time that has ever happened,” said State Senate Republican leader Phil Berger.
Berger urges Perdue to act on offshore oil and gas exploration
Raleigh, N.C. – The Virginia State Senate passed a bill this week to direct future oil and gas royalties to funding sources in Virginia state government. (“Va. Senate backs bill to send offshore-drilling cash to transportation, environment,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 2/22/10) In response to this action by our neighbors, Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) sent a letter to Governor Bev Perdue urging her to take the necessary steps to ensure that North Carolina is not outpaced by Virginia when it comes to offshore oil and gas exploration and the new industry and jobs that could bring to our state.
Despite Governor Perdue’s attempts to portray herself as “tough on crime,” WFMY reports that 143 murderers and rapists once sentenced to life in prison could be paroled this year in North Carolina.
A new poll released by the Democratic-leaning polling firm, Public Policy Polling, shows that Republican candidates for the state legislature are maintaining an advantage on the generic ballot test this month.
North Carolina voters are continuing to lean slightly toward the GOP for this year’s elections, with the party leading 44-41 on the generic ballot for both Congress and the legislature this month.
Republican gains in North Carolina are likely this year…
From the Resurgent Republic Blog:
President Barack Obama’s low job approval among Independents has weakened the Democratic Party’s appeal to these critical swing voters. In a new CBS/Times survey, Independents are split on his job performance, 44 to 44 percent, but overwhelmingly disapprove of his handling on the economy, 56 to 37 percent, on health care, 60 to 31 percent, and the federal budget deficit, 58 to 27 percent.
As a result, Independents continue to further shift toward Republicans on key national priorities, according to a recent Pew survey. On the economy, Republicans turned an 11 point deficit in August into a 3 point lead today, 37 to 34 percent. Record federal deficits have caused more Independents to align with the Republican Party, 42 to 28 percent, a net 11 point positive swing toward Republicans.
Raleigh, N.C. – According to a report in the News & Observer yesterday, Democratic State Auditor Beth Wood owes more than $1,200 in delinquent property taxes on her Wake County townhouse. When reached for comment, Wood blamed debt accrued during the campaign as a reason why she had not paid her tax bill. She did not indicate whether she had plans to settle the debt with Wake County in the near future.
“Wood, 55, makes $123,000 a year as the auditor, a position that is seen as the state’s top financial watchdog. She said Tuesday that her personal finances are irrelevant to her work in state government.” (“State auditor is behind on her property taxes,” News & Observer, 2/17/10)
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:
“It is the tone-deaf reaction of Democratic elected officials like Beth Wood that have created problems in state government. These politicians believe that there is one set of rules for them and another for everyone else. Powerful Democrats have to obey the same rules as every other North Carolina citizen and it’s time they learn that. If the state auditor cannot pay her own taxes, how can we trust that she is looking out for how our tax dollars are being spent?”
Raleigh, N.C. – Repeating a situation that plagued the state’s taxpayers last year, officials with the North Carolina Department of Revenue have already announced that individuals filing their taxes can expect delays in receiving their refunds.
“Revenue Secretary Kenneth Lay told The Associated Press on Friday his agency is delaying refund checks for individuals and businesses. It’s all part of the state’s effort to manage cash while its tax collections remain anemic.” (“State says expect delays on tax refunds,” WRAL.com, 2/12/10)
Officials at the N.C. Department of Revenue have long known about slow tax collections and the effect on state fund balances. Yet, Governor Perdue and Secretary Lay have not taken effective steps so that taxpayers do not face unreasonable delays in receiving tax refunds from state government. Many of the taxpayers owed refunds are small businesses struggling to meet payrolls, and the delay in paying refunds may actually cause additional job losses in the private sector.
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:
News & Observer reports that former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand circumvented state law to ensure that millions of dollars would be wasted on medical care for the state’s prison inmates.
John Hood of the John Locke Foundation penned a piece today saying that asking for the resignations of Crime Control & Public Safety Secretary Reuben Young and Correction Secretary Alvin Keller is the only way for Governor Bev Perdue to seperate herself from the Easley administration.
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:
“More than one year into her term, Governor Perdue continues to offer the people of North Carolina exactly what she said – empty words. We have heard her empty words about creating jobs, improving education, and ending corruption in state government. It’s pretty obvious that this Governor is willing to ‘wish’ for change and talk about changing things but is unwilling to take effective action.”
Republicans buoyant as candidate filing opens
By Jim Morrill
Charlotte Observer
Rarely have N.C. Republicans seen so much interest in running for office.
Dozens of prospective candidates have come to orientation sessions put on by House Republicans. Interest in congressional and local races also is high.
“You’re going to see a huge number of candidates file on the Republican side because they smell blood in the water,” says political analyst John Davis of Raleigh. …
Raleigh, N.C. – Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) responded to the ongoing controversy involving proposed revision of the U.S. History curriculum in North Carolina high school classrooms by sending letters to Governor Bev Perdue and State Superintendent June Atkinson asking them to oppose the ill-advised changes. Under the new curriculum, North Carolina U.S. History classes required of every public high school student would omit history from the country’s founding until 1877, leaving out the context, history, and background of seminal moments and events, including: how the country came into existence, the writing and ratification of the Constitution, and North Carolina’s critical role in the life of the young nation from colonial times through the Civil War.
Senator Berger writes in part:
“From the time North Carolina opened its first public school, our classrooms have been a place for students to learn about and celebrate our country’s founding and North Carolina’s unique place in our constitutional Republic. Ignoring key parts of our history and heritage fails to provide the sound, basic education that all students need and deserve.
“North Carolina’s public schools have been a key to providing opportunity for our young people. The proposed curriculum changes will shortchange our students and North Carolina’s future.”
Editorial
February 2, 2010
Gov. Bev Perdue entered office with a full plate of neglected issues that needed to be addressed, a plate that immediately became much more complicated by budget woes brought on by a free-falling economy.
One area of state government crying out for improvements that fell under the governor’s attention was the probation system.
SBOE Should Conduct Investigation
Raleigh, N.C. – Late on Friday afternoon as North Carolina braced for a major winter storm with Governor Perdue still out of the state vacationing at a mystery location, Governor Perdue’s campaign for the third time disclosed illegal flights that she previously failed to properly report. This time, the campaign reported eight additional flights valued at $4,534. This brings the grand total of improper flights to 31 totaling a value of $25,000. “The committee already had disclosed 17 other flights from Perdue’s successful 2008 campaign for governor in August, followed by six more in December.” (“Perdue’s campaign finds 31 undisclosed flights,” Greensboro News & Record, 1/29/10)
Former Governor Mike Easley was previously fined $100,000 by the State Board of Elections for taking improper flights and failing to disclose them in campaign finance reports. Governor Perdue has not yet been subjected to a fine or disciplinary action from the state board for similar actions.
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:
“This marks the third time Governor Perdue has been forced to admit that she received illegal flights during the 2008 campaign. This is ridiculous. The State Board of Elections should conduct a thorough investigation of her campaign finance reports.”
Charlotte Observer editors say “last week’s ‘jobs governor’ is this week’s vacation governor.”
Gov. Bev Perdue has run off and we don’t blame her a bit. Who wouldn’t want to get away from a growing list of problems – including a worsening state unemployment rate of 11.2 percent, worst in three decades, a projected $250 million hole in Medicaid funding and some festering ethical problems that don’t seem to improve.
Perdue is on a week’s vacation, the News & Observer’s Sarah Ovaska reports, but Perdue wouldn’t say where she was going. All Perdue would say is that she’s “going on a vacation to a nice warm place.” …
Kinston Free Press editors say that Governor Perdue is failing to live up to her self-imposed nickname because she is pursuing the wrong policies and her ideas are failing to create jobs for North Carolinians.
Raleigh, N.C. – Last week, Lanny Wilson, a fundraiser for former Governor Mike Easley and Governor Bev Perdue, resigned from the DOT Board. He has not resigned from his position on the state’s Turnpike Authority Board, a position he was appointed to by Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, a Democrat from Dare County. According to news reports, Wilson was the “Wilmington Financier” referred to in the federal indictment of Ruffin Poole and appears to be engaged in the trading of money for favors from state officials, including appointments to various state boards. (Section 12, United States vs. Charles Ruffin Poole, Grand Jury Indictment; “Indictment of Easley aide portrays Lanny Wilson as a major player,” Wilmington StarNews, 1/21/10)
When Wilson resigned from the DOT Board, Perdue “accepted the resignation and thanked Wilson for his service.” (“Key fundraiser resigns from transportation board,” News & Observer, 1/21/10)
In demanding Governor Perdue remove Wilson from the Turnpike Authority, Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:
Raleigh, N.C. — Unemployment numbers released by the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina today put the unemployment rate at 11.2 percent in the month of December, the highest rate in the current recession. According to seasonally adjusted numbers, 31,338 more workers lost their jobs in December. Overall, since January of last year, 191,258 more people have lost their jobs in North Carolina. (“N.C. unemployment rate up in Dec.,” Greensboro News & Record, 1/22/10)
Last year, Governor Perdue and legislative Democrats raised taxes by $990 million despite Republican objections that raising taxes in the middle of a recession would paralyze job creation. North Carolina now has the eighth-highest unemployment rate in the nation.
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:
“We do not need any more proof that the policies of Governor Perdue’s jobless administration and her Democratic allies in the General Assembly are leading North Carolina in the wrong direction. Higher taxes and greater burdens on families and businesses are killing opportunity and job creation for our state. We must immediately change direction, provide relief to taxpayers, and leave room for small businesses and entrepreneurs to create the jobs our people desperately need.”
Raleigh, N.C. – Ruffin Poole, close aide to former Governor Mike Easley and a man referred to as Easley’s “go to guy,” was indicted on 51 counts of corruption today. The indictment was the first to result from a lengthy, ongoing federal probe into alleged corruption within the Easley administration.
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:
Raleigh, N.C. — Lanny Wilson, Southeastern North Carolina’s representative on the N.C. Board of Transportation, resigned from the board today. Wilson acknowledged that his ongoing presence on the board had become an “unnecessary distraction” to the work of the Department of Transportation.
After Wilson testified before the State Board of Elections in October, Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) called on Governor Perdue to ask Wilson to recuse himself from consideration of matters before the Board of Transportation during the course of the state and federal investigations into former Governor Mike Easley’s administration and campaigns. (“Perdue Should Ask DOT Board Member to Resign,” Press Release, 10/29/09) Governor Perdue took no action on the matter.
Senator Berger made the following statement:
“I am glad that Lanny Wilson has chosen to do the right thing by resigning to avoid any further distraction to DOT and the board in doing the job of preparing North Carolina’s infrastructure for the future. However, Governor Perdue should have stepped in long ago to ensure that any hint of corruption was blotted out from the DOT board. We need more than words from the Governor on ending political corruption.”
Republican fortunes are rising so quickly that even Democratic pollster Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling is forced to admit that the GOP has a solid opportunity to retake the N.C. Senate this year.
“Republicans lead 45-42 on the generic legislative ballot this month, providing continuing evidence that their chances of gaining control of the General Assembly are the best they’ve been in a long time.”
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:
“The people of North Carolina must be protected from a choice between being forced to purchase a government-chosen health care plan and facing criminal penalties. We are glad to take Speaker Hackney up on his offer to hear the Health Care Protection Act in committee during the interim and continue to hope that we can work with Democrats to ensure that North Carolinians maintain the freedom to choose their own health care.”
“Republicans will not stand idly by and watch as citizens’ rights to make their own health care decisions are taken from them by the federal government.” Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger
Raleigh, N.C. — The Republican leaders of the State Senate and House were joined by the Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party today promising to fight the federal take-over of healthcare and protect an individual’s right to make decisions about their own health coverage. The Republican leadership promised a legislative initiative called the Health Care Protection Act (HCPA).
5th Vulnerable Senate Democrat chooses to retire rather than face voters in tough political climate
Raleigh, NC – Less than a month after stating he was planning to seek reelection, State Senator Charlie Albertson (D-Duplin), changed his mind and announced that he will retire from the N.C. Senate after 22 years in the legislature. His change of heart comes as the national political environment has grown increasingly toxic for Democrats. Democrats in the State Senate are facing problems similar to their national counterparts, several of whom have decided to retire or switch parties, rather than face a political headwind in the coming elections. Albertson’s retirement follows previous retirement announcements by Democratic Senators R.C. Soles, Tony Rand, Julia Boseman, and David Hoyle that hold competitive seats. The high number of retirements and open seats creates a serious challenge to North Carolina Democrat’s efforts to keep control of the State Senate in 2010.
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) issued the following statement:
“Rather than face voters that are fed up with their record of out of control state spending and job-destroying tax increases, Democratic State Senators are choosing to retire. And each retirement makes a Republican take over the State Senate more certain. North Carolinians are ready for the fiscally responsible policies and resulting job growth Republican leadership in the State Legislature will bring to North Carolina.”
Sen. Charlie Albertson (D-Duplin), another member of the N.C. Senate’s old guard and key ally of President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, has decided to retire rather than face a tough re-election battle in 2010 in a difficult environment for Democrats.
From Under the Dome: State Sen. Charlie Albertson will not run for re-election.
His decision creates another seat left open by a departing veteran Democrat.
Albertson, 78, will have spent 22 years in the legislature when his term ends. He was elected to two House terms before winning election to the Senate.
Veteran Senate Democrats, including David Hoyle of Gaston County and R.C. Soles of Tabor City, have said they will not seek re-election. Former senators Tony Rand and David Weinstein resigned mid-term and moved on to jobs in Gov. Beverly Perdue’s administration. …
