Carolina Journal Weekly Report

For the week of March 23, 2012 - carolinajournal.com

Reaction of the Week

RALEIGH — North Carolina sheriffs worry that President Obama’s proposed 2013 budget would defund an effective initiative to combat illegal immigration while expanding another program some critics blast as more like amnesty than enforcement, reports Carolina Journal.

“Any time there’s an effort to take away an enforcement tool … that’s an issue of concern,” said Eddie Caldwell, executive vice president and general counsel of the North Carolina Sheriffs Association. He said sheriffs have not been provided details of the proposed cuts.

The 287(g) program trains and deputizes local law officers to assist in immigration enforcement. The Secure Communities program is a computerized fingerprint system operated exclusively by federal agents who decide which cases to process.

Obama’s budget slashes 287(g) 25 percent, from $68.3 million to $51.3 million, with 24 positions eliminated. Jurisdictions using 287(g) task forces, which go into the field, and have low criminal identification and arrest numbers, would be defunded. The other model puts local 287(g) officers in jails to process arrestees.

The Obama budget would block future requests to establish 287(g) programs.

In North Carolina, Alamance, Cabarrus, Gaston, Henderson, Mecklenburg, and Wake counties have the jail enforcement model of 287(g).

CJ: Teacher brought to tears during ‘nugget’ investigation
RALEIGH — After public outcry over the suspension and resignation of the preschool teacher involved in the nationally reported “chicken nugget” incident, and pressure from a state lawmaker to reinstate her, the Hoke County Board of Education released her personnel file and other documents.

CJ: New law would centralize teacher retirement account management
RALEIGH – Changes could be coming soon for voluntary supplemental retirement plans that are set up for teachers and employees of school boards across North Carolina. Those supporting the changes say they would expand retirement plan options and reduce fees for teachers, while opponents say they would limit teachers’ choices by squeezing out smaller companies that offer options across the state.

CJ: Ellmers draws a trio of GOP challengers
RALEIGH — Why did freshman U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers draw three Republican primary challengers? That question probably occurred to more than one politico after the filing deadline for North Carolina’s May 8 primary closed three weeks ago.

CJ: Spencer balks at subsidizing Salisbury city-owned broadband
GREENSBORO — A controversy is brewing in Rowan County between the City of Salisbury and the Town of Spencer over funding for Salisbury’s municipal broadband system.

Air Toxics Program changes get Perdue's backing
RALEIGH — Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue generally supports a Republican-backed legislative proposal to exempt industrial plants from state pollution rules if they already must comply with federal restrictions involving certain chemicals, a top environmental regulator said Thursday.

Monday, March 26, 2012 at 12:00 pm Noon
A meeting of the Shaftesbury Society
with our special guest Thomas Thibeault
Liberty’s Dogfaces

Thursday, April 05, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.
A Luncheon Forum
with our special guests John O. McGinnis and William (Bill) Marshall
"Why Originalism Reaches Better Results than the Living Constitution"

Capital Quotes

“I think the takeaway should be that it can be done safely.”
— Trina Ozer, a policy analyst for the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources, talking to the Associated Press abut a new state study on fracking.

“Gov. Perdue continues to have no new education solutions.”
— Jordan Shaw, a  spokesman House Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg, as quoted by the Durham Herald-Sun, responding to Gov. Bev Perdue’s renewed call for a 3/4 cent increase in the state sales tax to fund education.

“If I end up across the line, it is going to shut this business down.”
— Victor Boulware, owner of the Lake Wylie Minimart, talking to the Associated Press about the impact on his store of a new survey of the North Carolina/South Carolina border. Boulware’s store was thought to sit in South Carolina, which has lower gasoline taxes and allows firework sales, but the new survey has it in North Carolina.

“Continuing to pay folks with all the changes to the programs that Congress had made took priority.”
— Larry Parker, a spokesman for the Division of Employment Security, explaining to the Raleigh News & Observer why the agency overpaid nearly $700,000 in federal unemployment benefits.

This week on C J Radio…
JLF’s Fergus Hodgson discusses poverty and why freedom lifts people into better circumstances; journalist and biologist Matt Ridley explains why life is getting better around the globe; legislators debate power of cities and towns to control zoning outside their municipal limits; Victor Guzman of the N.C. chapter of the Republican Hispanic National Assembly discusses the Latino vote; CJ’s David Bass analyzes North Carolina’s congressional 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: Whether North Carolina will we be a player in the presidential primary; healthcare reform goes to court; and why the governor and DENR are now more supportive of fracking for natural gas. This week’s panelists: John Hood and Becki Gray from the John Locke Foundation; Chris Fitzsimon of NC Policy Watch; and political consultant Brad Crone.