The projected state budget gap has been revised downward for the second time in less than a week. Gov. Beverly Perdue, during her State of the State address Monday, said it was now at $2.4 billion. Just a week ago, state officials said they were looking at filling a $3.7 billion gap for the upcoming […]
Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue told the Republican-controlled General Assembly on Monday that the state’s budget problems will not stop her from fighting to protect teacher jobs, seeking to recruit more companies and reworking state government. “Hear me now: I will not back down from those priorities,” Perdue said in her second State of the State […]
Kleinschmidt, Thorp work to inform others
As the reality of upcoming budget cuts sets in, town officials are considering how the University’s economic troubles will affect Chapel Hill.
Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt and Chancellor Holden Thorp have been working together to gauge the impact the budget crisis could have on the town’s workforce and economic development.
Additionally, Kleinschmidt has […]
During the Republican response to the governor’s State of the State address, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger said the new GOP majorities at the legislature will make cut taxes and make government smaller.
“The state of our economy is grim,” Berger said. “And North Carolina faces serious challenges. These demand our undivided attention – and […]
Republican legislative leaders say they support an effort started under Democratic leadership that seeks to reduce the number of repeat criminal offenders in North Carolina, and in turn inmate beds. The “Justice Reinvestment” project started nearly a year ago and was billed as a bipartisan effort by Democrats who held the majority at the time. […]
Rep. Mike C. Stone led a closed-door committee meeting last week to give House Republicans the chance to hear from lobbyists and special interest on video gambling. Stone, a Sanford Republican, is himself connected to the video gambling industry: he owns a small grocery where customers can play a variety of sweepstakes games on four […]
This week the General Assembly put the finishing touches on SB13 Balanced Budget Act of 2011. The House gave final approval to the bill today which directs Governor Perdue to find $400 million in savings in this year’s budget and takes about $75 million from three economic development funds. The Governor objected to […]
The Senate has unanimously approved legislation outlawing herbal incense that simulates the effects of marijuana. The Senate voted 50-0 on Thursday to ban the synthetic compounds sold in gas stations, convenience stores and head shops under names including “Spice” and “K2.” The products mix herbs and spices that are then sprayed with a chemical compound […]
Some legislators want to make public access to government records, documents and meetings part of the state constitution. A bill introduced Thursday by Rep. Stephen LaRoque, R-Lenoir, would allow voters to decide whether to enshrine current open-records laws in the constitution. Voters could decide in November 2012 if the measure is approved by the General […]
House Republicans have approved and sent to Gov. Beverly Perdue’s desk a measure directing her to sweep $142 million from state accounts and giving her authority to cut another $400 million. However, the measure may not make it past the governor’s desk: she is signaling that she may veto it. Partisan debate on the bill […]
