Don’t look now, but the $20 billion state budget under “debate” in the General Assembly continues to raid the Highway Trust Fund in order to pay for a General Fund spending spree.
The Senate budget is getting attention for the $1.2 billion in new debt it would issue while allowing the “temporary taxes” to finally expire. Ignore that. That’s boilerplate for the headline writers, not the core meat of the budget.
The important thing is that this budget goes spending crazy and will guarantee future state tax hikes. Yet somehow the budget manages to cut road spending by $6.5 million while shifting some $172 million out of the Highway Fund and into the General Fund.
What do they spend money on? Try more “economic incentive” goodie bags for corporations, including $2 million to make good on felon Jim Black’s handshake deal with Johnson & Wales. And an expanded Medicaid program that will reach 225 percent of the federal poverty level. In other words, socialized medicine for the working class of North Carolina.
Hooray!
Now who the hell voted for that?
