This is admittedly a straw-man attack.
Beverly Perdue announced budget adjustments today. She proposed “cutting” expenditures by $957 million –
But much of the $957 million in spending cuts would be used [to expand] other programs, teach additional children in the public schools and in higher education, help pay small businesses create jobs, and pay for salaries and benefits.
The state would also benefit [sic.] from an additional $578 million in expected federal stimulus funds.
Perdue is asking for $86 million for corporate welfare and assistance for small businesses assistance. In other words, successful businessmen who run a tight ship and scrimp and save can now help their profligate competition stay afloat and possibly help novices laterally enter the market on an equal footing. That, as they say, strengthens the economy.
$35 million will go toward reducing Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse. The naïve among us might ask why these practices were not curtailed upon their discovery.
The last item of interest sounds like it was inspired by something somebody saw on America’s Funniest Home Videos.
Perdue asked fellow Democratic leaders in the House and Senate to give an extra $39 million to the public schools to buy hand-held devices designed to help teachers in grades K-3 and 5th grade to assess student performance.
The devices, which cost about $300 each, are designed to expand Perdue’s “Ready Set Go!” program meant to ensure that every child graduate from high school with the skills to succeed in a career or attend a community college, university or technical training.
