NC Policy Watch's the Progessive Pulse
Education sharks continue to circle
The Wall Street sharks who want to buy up our public education system do not appear inclined to go away quietly. After being rebuffed by state education officials and failing thus far to get what they want in the courts, K-12, Inc. … Read More...
NC Community Health Centers will play bigger role in NC health exchange
Today the federal Department of Health and Human Services announced $150 million in grants to community health centers around the nation aimed at making the centers a major player in enrolling people under the Affordable Care Act.
This is a … Read More...
House committee OKs failed idea that would dismantle North Carolina’s key investments
Earlier this morning, members of the House Committee on Government approved the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) bill, which is a constitutional measure that would impose a crippling and arbitrary formula to determine how much we spend on … Read More...
What will Ann McCrory tell her hubbie about the NC House over dinner tonight?
Probably something like: “Don’t you ever send me over there again!” Or maybe, “There are some seriously troubled souls in that place!”
As you’re probably already aware, the North Carolina House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill this afternoon championed … Read More...
Georgia’s failed tax reform effort holds a warning for North Carolina
This is the first of a four-part blog series that presents voices from other states that have unsuccessfully pursued versions of comprehensive tax “reform.”
Commentary provided by Alan Essig, Executive Director of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute in Atlanta, … Read More...
“A God of second chances”
Our friends over at the NC Council of Churches have posted on their blog a conversation between our own Nicole Dozier and Council of Churches Volunteer Program Associate Sandy Irving about the legislature’s decision to block Medicaid expansion.
Here is … Read More...
Behind closed doors in the marriage equality cases
Scotusblog’s Lyle Denniston has this enlightening look at what’s likely going on inside the U.S. Supreme Court as the justices consider their positions on the two marriage equality cases argued there six weeks ago.
On whether public opinion and state … Read More...
Will Phil Berger even release the details of his tax plan?
Three days after the release of a website/commercial describing the general outlines of a state tax “reform” plan by North Carolina Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, it’s becoming increasingly evident that the initiative is well on its way to political oblivion.
Not only … Read More...
Why courts matter: Supreme Court may redefine the fight against racial discrimination
Richard Wolf reminds us in this piece in USA Today that, as the U.S. Supreme Court winds down this term, two cases that could redefine how we address racial discrimination in this country are pending for decision: Fisher v. University … Read More...
More questions in the redistricting case
After two full days of hearings in February, and a request in early April for additional argument from counsel regarding evidence, the three-judge panel hearing the redistricting case called the attorneys together for a conference late today to discuss … Read More...
Eliminating estate tax provides tax cut to North Carolina’s wealthiest individuals
Comprehensive tax reform remains vague and “short on details” as the 2013 legislative session is beyond its halfway point. Nevertheless, stand-alone bills continue to make their way through the legislative process that would provide tax cuts to the state’s wealthiest … Read More...
Local mom’s personal story illustrates the dangers of parental notice laws
In response to a controversial NC House bill that would impose new and unprecedented restrictions on the ability of teens to obtain health care services, Chapel Hill freelance writer Jennifer Ferris shared the following extremely personal, but powerful story with NC … Read More...
Gov: Today is Golf Day in NC
Can we just agree that Governor McCrory proclaiming today as NC “Golf Day” at the same time his allies in the state legislature are rolling out a tax plan that gives millionaires a huge tax cut while increasing taxes on … Read More...
Marriage equality supporters mark one-year anniversary of Amendment One (video)
Today marks the one-year anniversary of Amendment One’s passage in North Carolina.
Stuart Campbell with Equality North Carolina joins us on News & Views with Chris Fitzsimon to discuss how opinions on marriage equality have changed nationally since the constitutional … Read More...
Another key justification for tax cuts bites the dust: NC economy is already competitive with neighboring states
Throughout the ongoing tax reform debate, we’ve been hearing the same tired claims that North Carolina’s economy is failing to compete with our neighboring states. And during yesterday’s preview of the Senate tax reform plan, we heard it again as … Read More...
The history lesson we all need
States’ rights. Gun rights. Equal rights. We toss them around, selectively, as givens in our country, grounded in our constitution. Yet we’re not quite sure how those rights came about and how they can peacefully co-exist.
Last night PBS aired … Read More...
Earned Income Tax Credit is worth saving according to the Tax Foundation
Elizabeth Malm, an economist with the conservative Tax Foundation, yesterday voiced support for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) at a debate about tax reform in North Carolina, highlighting how out-of-touch North Carolina’s leadership is when it comes to … Read More...
Join us for an important discussion of “why courts matter”
NC Policy Watch and the North Carolina Justice Center are proud to announce a very special Crucial Conversation luncheon:
Why courts matter (and why North Carolinians should be paying a lot more attention to them)
Featuring the Honorable James A. Wynn, … Read More...
ACLU-NC: Abortion restriction bill “Undermines Women” (video)
The North Carolina House approved legislation Tuesday that would fine doctors for performing an abortion where sex-selection is a “significant factor” in a woman’s decision. Under House Bill 716, a doctor could be fined at least $10,000 for performing … Read More...
Together NC statement on Senate tax plan: Red flags raised by the Senate’s tax reform plan
The North Carolina Senate’s tax reform plan released today is long on promises and short on details. It is unclear how fair the purported “Tax Fairness Plan” will prove to be. Several red flags are raised by this plan, which … Read More...
