Campaign reports reveal that Berger raised $502,278 and had $476,812 cash on hand as of December 31, 2011. The combined total for the 19 Democrats in the North Carolina Senate was $370,913, with $466,199 cash on hand. Senate Republicans have $2 million cash on hand combined, an advantage of over 4 to 1.

As the Republican Senate leader, Berger is responsible [...]]]> Raleigh, N.C. – Reports filed this week with the North Carolina State Board of Elections show that Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) raised more campaign funds and has more cash on hand than the 19 State Senate Democrats combined.

Campaign reports reveal that Berger raised $502,278 and had $476,812 cash on hand as of December 31, 2011. The combined total for the 19 Democrats in the North Carolina Senate was $370,913, with $466,199 cash on hand. Senate Republicans have $2 million cash on hand combined, an advantage of over 4 to 1.

As the Republican Senate leader, Berger is responsible for raising funds to support Republican challengers statewide. With well over half a million dollars in his campaign account, including funds raised since December 31, Berger is well-positioned to support Republicans in all corners of the state.

“These fundraising results show that North Carolinians are energized by the job Phil Berger and Senate Republicans are doing: cutting spending to balance the state budget, lowering taxes on individuals and businesses, and reforming our education system to prepare students for college and the jobs of tomorrow,” said political director Nathan Babcock. “Democrats already have a daunting task recruiting State Senate candidates in this environment, where voters demand smaller government and lower taxes. I’m sure they’re anemic fundraising numbers don’t help their cause.”

In June, the Senate voted on an amendment to the bipartisan state budget that would have raised taxes by more than $750 million – the same as Perdue’s latest tax increase proposal. It failed, 47-3.

“The fact that so many in Gov. Perdue’s own party aren’t sold on her plan just reinforces what a bad idea this is,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham). “It’s another reason the governor should publicly defend raising taxes in this [...]]]> Nearly 85 percent of the state senators in Gov. Perdue’s party voted against her plan to raise taxes on all North Carolinians last year.

In June, the Senate voted on an amendment to the bipartisan state budget that would have raised taxes by more than $750 million – the same as Perdue’s latest tax increase proposal. It failed, 47-3.

“The fact that so many in Gov. Perdue’s own party aren’t sold on her plan just reinforces what a bad idea this is,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham). “It’s another reason the governor should publicly defend raising taxes in this economy. I hope she will reconsider a debate, and let the people of North Carolina hear an honest, open discussion.”

Berger called on Perdue Tuesday to publicly debate her plan, since the sales tax has dominated North Carolina politics for the past two years. The governor refused.

This is the second time in less than a year that Gov. Perdue has proposed raising taxes by more than $750 million. When she raised the sales tax two years ago, Gov. Perdue promised it was a temporary increase that would end in 2011. But she pushed last summer to raise it again, and vetoed the General Assembly’s budget because it didn’t include tax increases.

Links: Senate vote on the budget amendment to raise the sales tax:

http://bit.ly/m7hpij

http://bit.ly/y0D2QQ

“I strongly believe Gov. Perdue’s proposal to raise taxes on struggling North Carolina citizens and businesses will kill jobs and halt economic recovery,” Berger said. “This has been the most hotly-contested policy battle of the past two years, and I think North Carolinians would benefit greatly from an open and frank debate between leaders of the legislative and executive branches of government.”

The governor’s office has consistently exaggerated cuts to public education in the [...]]]> Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) on Tuesday challenged Gov. Bev Perdue to a public debate over her plan to raise taxes by more than $750 million.

“I strongly believe Gov. Perdue’s proposal to raise taxes on struggling North Carolina citizens and businesses will kill jobs and halt economic recovery,” Berger said. “This has been the most hotly-contested policy battle of the past two years, and I think North Carolinians would benefit greatly from an open and frank debate between leaders of the legislative and executive branches of government.”

The governor’s office has consistently exaggerated cuts to public education in the bipartisan state budget, which spent nearly the same amount on education as the budget Gov. Perdue proposed last year. Meanwhile, Gov. Perdue vetoed education reforms in the General Assembly’s budget that will boost graduation rates and produce better results in public classrooms.

If Gov. Perdue agrees to a debate, Berger’s staff will work with the governor’s staff to determine the schedule, format and other details.

Below is a statement from Berger’s press secretary, Ray Martin:

“Gov. Perdue has spent the past week engaging in ‘cheap stunts’ and ‘campaign theatrics’ to justify raising taxes.  Sen. Berger proposed a substantive, open dialogue on one of the most important issues facing our state, and Gov. Perdue refused because she knows her plan to raise taxes on all North Carolinians is indefensible.”

The DOJ approved the State Senate, State House and Congressional maps in November – the first time in 30 years all three plans were pre-cleared in the initial 60-day review period.

“These fair, legal and competitive maps once again withstood legal and political scrutiny,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham). “Today’s decision ensures our primary elections will continue as scheduled, and it lifts a cloud of uncertainty [...]]]> A three-judge panel on Friday unanimously refused to delay North Carolina’s May primaries following challenges to the new redistricting plans passed by the General Assembly and approved by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The DOJ approved the State Senate, State House and Congressional maps in November – the first time in 30 years all three plans were pre-cleared in the initial 60-day review period.

“These fair, legal and competitive maps once again withstood legal and political scrutiny,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham). “Today’s decision ensures our primary elections will continue as scheduled, and it lifts a cloud of uncertainty from the elections process. This is an important victory for the voters of North Carolina.”

“Obviously, Gov. Perdue’s attempt to nip this economic recovery in the bud is dead on arrival at the General Assembly,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham). “The Democratic primary for governor apparently has devolved into a fight over who can raise the most taxes, spend the most money, and grow the biggest government. Gov. Perdue’s latest tax-hike [...]]]> Gov. Beverly Perdue today proposed a $750 million tax hike – her first of the new year. It ups the ante on probable primary opponent Rep. Bill Faison, who proposed a mere $700 million in new taxes a few short months ago.

“Obviously, Gov. Perdue’s attempt to nip this economic recovery in the bud is dead on arrival at the General Assembly,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham). “The Democratic primary for governor apparently has devolved into a fight over who can raise the most taxes, spend the most money, and grow the biggest government. Gov. Perdue’s latest tax-hike stunt proves she can’t fix this mess she made.”

The governor’s proposal comes just a few weeks after her own education agency released a report showing more than 4,000 state-funded education positions were added over the past year.

The report imparts that Berger raised $252,988 in the second half of the year.

As the Republican leader, Berger heads the North Carolina Republican Senate Caucus’s fundraising effort, with contributions supporting Republican incumbents and challengers across the state. With nearly half a million dollars in his campaign account, Berger and North Carolina Senate Republicans begin 2012 in a strong position.

“In November 2010, the voters overwhelmingly supported Phil Berger’s vision for North [...]]]> Raleigh, N.C. – Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) on Tuesday announced that his year-end campaign finance report shows that he raised $494,740 in 2011, with $476,813 cash on hand.

The report imparts that Berger raised $252,988 in the second half of the year.

As the Republican leader, Berger heads the North Carolina Republican Senate Caucus’s fundraising effort, with contributions supporting Republican incumbents and challengers across the state. With nearly half a million dollars in his campaign account, Berger and North Carolina Senate Republicans begin 2012 in a strong position.

“In November 2010, the voters overwhelmingly supported Phil Berger’s vision for North Carolina: a state government that lives within its means, reduces the tax burden on individuals, families, and small businesses, and empowers the private sector to create jobs,” said Political Director Nathan Babcock. “Senator Berger’s fundraising success proves that North Carolinians applaud his leadership and his record of balancing the state budget, cutting taxes and government spending, and reducing harmful regulations.”

Below is a statement from Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham):

“Gov. Perdue’s self-serving and irresponsible veto made it abundantly clear: her real agenda is to stop the death penalty in North Carolina. The Senate [...]]]> The North Carolina Senate on Wednesday voted to override Gov. Beverly Perdue’s veto of reforms to the Racial Justice Act that ensure death row inmates are never eligible for parole.  The Racial Justice Act has served as a backdoor ban on the death penalty in North Carolina.   Nearly all death row inmates, regardless of race, are appealing their sentences using arbitrary research irrelevant to their cases.

Below is a statement from Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham):

“Gov. Perdue’s self-serving and irresponsible veto made it abundantly clear: her real agenda is to stop the death penalty in North Carolina. The Senate today refused to let the governor end capital punishment and deny justice to murder victims and their families.”

Below is a statement from Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham):

“As much as Gov. Perdue claims to support the death penalty, she knows the Racial Justice Act and her veto are back-door bans on capital punishment. This is the same double-speak we’ve heard all year from a politician focused more on pandering to the left wing of her party than governing responsibly. Gov. Perdue has a moral duty [...]]]>
Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) responded Wednesday to Gov. Beverly Perdue’s veto of reforms to the Racial Justice Act that ensure death row inmates are never eligible for parole.

Below is a statement from Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham):

“As much as Gov. Perdue claims to support the death penalty, she knows the Racial Justice Act and her veto are back-door bans on capital punishment. This is the same double-speak we’ve heard all year from a politician focused more on pandering to the left wing of her party than governing responsibly. Gov. Perdue has a moral duty to uphold public safety for the people of North Carolina and preserve justice for the families of victims murdered in the most heinous crimes – and she has failed. The Senate will override her veto to ensure hardened criminals cannot be released.”

Background:

Successful Racial Justice Act appeals are supposed to reduce the defendant’s sentence to life in prison without parole. But according to the General Assembly’s nonpartisan legal staff and nearly every district attorney in North Carolina, someone who committed first degree murder before Oct. 1, 1994 – before the life without parole sentence was legal – could be eligible for release after 20 years in prison based on the Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Connor. Those who committed first degree murder between Oct. 1, 1994 and Dec. 1, 1998 could be eligible for release after 25 years. The court ruled it unconstitutional to increase a sentence to life without parole.

And as many predicted, the law has been severely abused. Nearly every death row inmate has filed a Racial Justice Act appeal, including criminals who are the same race as their victims and most members of their juries.

SB 9 does not keep convicted criminals from appealing their sentence on the grounds of racial bias – it simply clarifies that state courts must use the standards set by the U.S. Supreme Court, ensuring murders cannot manipulate statistics or use arbitrary data to avoid justice.