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Budget, Taxation & Economy
An Alternative Budget: Response to the governor’s proposed budget for the upcoming biennium
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Corporate Tax Incentives: What’s the harm?
Two New Departments? A closer look at the state’s IT and veterans programs and the governor’s proposal for a new department for each
Latest Articles
Elections & Public Integrity
Do Cooper & Stein have a point on the changes to the State Highway Patrol?
The first lawsuit on Senate Bill 382 was filed Thursday evening, just one day after the State House voted to override the Governor’s veto of the bill. This is unlikely…
Research Brief
Elections & Public Integrity
Protection of Disabled Voters in Disaster Response Bill Should Be Made Permanent
North Carolina has seen a flurry of election reforms over the past several years, including several changes to election law and administration in a bill for which the General Assembly…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Income Tax Cap Amendment: Lost Opportunity
Not deterred, less than a month before the end of the House Republicans’ supermajority, the Senate introduced and passed Senate Bill 920, which aimed exclusively to reduce the income tax…
Elections & Public Integrity
The Civitas Partisan Index Was Highly Reliable Again in 2024
NOTE: Lawsuits may affect the outcome of some races. If there are any changes, we will update this post. With the 2024 (almost) behind us, it is time to assess…
Research Brief
Agriculture
ESG Investments: A Disaster for Agriculture
In recent years, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing has become a buzzword in financial and policy circles. While proponents claim that ESG frameworks promote “environmentally sustainable” practices and long-term…
Research Brief
Education
The Legislature’s Veto Override on HB 10 Is Good for Families, Students, and North Carolina
Toward the end of last month the lawmakers in the North Carolina House of Representatives and Senate overrode Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of House Bill (HB) 10. Among other things,…
Research Brief
Energy
Costly Emissions-Reduction Mandates Make Us Worse Off
In 2019, in the name of “fighting climate change,” Gov. Roy Cooper put forth his “Clean Energy Plan,” seeking to commit the state to a “70% reduction in power sector…
Research Brief
Elections & Public Integrity
The General Assembly Should Have Shorter, More Regular Sessions
This is the second of a four-part series covering our findings in “Reforming North Carolina’s General Assembly.” Part One covered legislative pay, Part Three will deal with legislative leadership term…
Research Brief
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Increasing Legislator Pay: Making It Affordable for the Average Citizen to Represent the State
This is Part One of a four-part series covering our findings in “Reforming North Carolina’s General Assembly.” Part Two will cover session limits, Part Three will deal with legislative leadership term…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
ReBuild NC Debacle: Millions Wasted, and Thousands Still Without Homes
After six years and millions of taxpayer dollars wasted, Governor Roy Cooper discharged the director of the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR), also known as ReBuild NC.…
Research Brief
Education
It’s Time to Give NC Test Scores a Good, Long Look, Part Two
A previous brief identified some troubling trends in the most recent North Carolina student test scores. A deeper dive into the data reveals test scores by race. For years, education…
Liberty
Fingers Crossed
I wouldn’t go so far as to say Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is something to give thanks for. Only time will tell. Still, judging by their recent…