For the week of
March 16, 2012
- carolinajournal.com
Reaction of the Week
RALEIGH — The employment report released Tuesday
by the N.C. Department of Commerce indicates that predictions by Gov.
Bev Perdue and Democrats of massive public sector job losses as a result
of Republican budget proposals were overblown, reports Carolina Journal.
For the past 10 months, the state’s Democrats have maintained that
Republican budget proposals would lead to massive layoffs in public
education. Perdue predicted 30,000 government jobs would disappear, as
many as 18,000 of them in local public education. Democratic legislative
leaders, the North Carolina Association of Educators, and left-leaning
interest groups mirrored those concerns.
Year-to-year raw, unadjusted numbers by Commerce and the federal Bureau
of Labor Statistics show a slight drop in government education
employment over the past year — but not nearly the levels projected by
Perdue, other Democrats, and liberal activists.
Overall government employment — federal, state, and local — dropped by
2,100 jobs over the past year in unadjusted terms, from 708,100 in
January 2011 to 706,000 in January of this year.
News Features
CJ: Charter waiting lists mount
RALEIGH — Waiting lists for North Carolina charter school seats have
exploded into the tens of thousands statewide, and education officials
are uncertain whether the bulging queues will recede even as more
charter schools are approved this year. CJ: Official grilled over preschooler’s rejected lunch
RALEIGH — State lawmakers questioned a N.C.
Department of Health and Human Services official at a hearing Tuesday to
determine why a Hoke County preschooler’s homemade turkey sandwich was replaced with chicken nuggets. CJ: WakeMed, Rex tussle over definition of ‘private’
RALEIGH — WakeMed officials claim Rex is a public hospital and uses
state tax dollars to compete “unfairly.” Rex officials say WakeMed isn’t
any more private than Rex, as the county still appoints a majority of
its board members. CJ: Rep. Bradley revives raw milk debate
RALEIGH — While the demand for unpasteurized,
“raw” milk is growing around the country, North Carolina remains one of
20 states where selling it is illegal. State Rep. Glen Bradley,
R-Franklin, wants to change that. Raleigh lawmakers can change votes after count
RALEIGH — North Carolina’s legislature is one of a handful nationwide
that give members a second chance at recording their votes on bills. But
lawmakers and government reform groups say they rarely see members
abusing the privilege and that existing rules keep members from making
switches designed to mask their original votes on thorny issues.
Upcoming Events
Monday, March 19, 2012 at 12:00 pm Noon
A meeting of the Shaftesbury Society
with our special guest Professor Anthony J. Papalas
"The Fall of Greece, Keynesian Economics, and the European Union."
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Capital Quotes
“We are one of only a handful of states that have an unemployment rate above 10 percent. It’s not a group you normally want to hang out with.”
— Mark Vitner, senior economist for Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, talking to the Raleigh News & Observer about the North Carolina economy.
“Everybody wants to drive the bus.”
— Burley Mitchell, former chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court, describing to the Associated Press the tension between the legislative and executive branches over formulating government policy in North Carolina.
“We’re not going to be hurt by the EPA.”
— Tom Mather, a spokesman for the Division of Air Quality, as quoted by the Wilmington Star-News, explaining that the state did not expect adverse consequences from the federal government if it were to exempt cars less than three years old from emission inspection requirements.
“It’s a world market now; it’s not a national market.”
— Kent Messick, section chief for field services with the state’s Agronomic Services Division, talking to the Raleigh News & Observer about the demand for agricultural products grown in North Carolina.
On The Air This Week…
This week on C J Radio…
JLF’s John Hood discusses the surprising N.C. governor’s race and the competition for lieutenant governor; President Dee Stewart shares the goals of the Raleigh-based group Americans For a Balanced Budget; legislative economist Barry Boardman and N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis react to the latest state revenue estimates; Duke professor Charles Clotfelter discusses his recent book on big-time college sports; Carolina Journal’s David Bass discusses candidate filings for N.C. Council of State and legislative races.
This week on NC Spin…
Join moderator Tom Campbell
for another week of political discussion and debate on the most
intelligent television talk show in the state. Topics this week: Video sweepstakes winning in court; ferry tolls implemented but not charged; and the marriage amendment debate starting to heating up. This week’s panelists: John Hood, president of the John Locke Foundation; Chris Fitzsimon of NC Policy Watch; former legislator Connie Wilson; and former Attorney General and Secretary of State Rufus Edminsten.
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