Sorry, the Charlotte Observer political directive for the coming year — Agenda 2006 — is about as stale and unsatisfying as a week-old Krispy Kreme. Today the paper manages to once again editorialize around the carcass of Speaker Jim Black’s political influence as if it does not exist.
Want to rebuild Charlotte’s influence in the state capital? Then the first order of business should be to pitch Black over the side, or at least take a strong stand against the current culture of cronyism in Raleigh, and work toward an effective state government that does something besides send loot east of I-95.
Yeah, sending Pat McCrory to Raleigh to lobby for the funding the city deserves would get him out of our hair for a few days. But we are well past that point. Let’s see McCrory hold a press conference announcing his decision to withhold any and all funds due the state until such time as the General Assembly and the governor redress the current funding imbalance. Vow to go to jail if need be. Double-down, Mr. Mayor. No more talk. Direct action.
Instead we get the Observer’s tired prescription for more taxing authority for localities. The desire for more taxes — hotel-motel, car rental, and — the Holy Grail! — impact fees — is the real, craven reason no one in Uptown dares say a peep about Speaker Black.
A better alternative to the tax thing would be to press Raleigh to assume the portion of Medicaid that the counties around the state now pay. Health care is not county-level deal. Yet Mecklenburg County spends about $30 million a year on that line-item. Remove that burden and suddenly all kinds of possibilities open up.
But no more begging and no more of yesterday’s “new” ideas.
