NC Policy Watch's the Progessive Pulse
McCrory announces process for reforming Medicaid
Legislative leaders and Gov. Pat McCrory gave a general outline Friday of how they plan on changing the state’s $13 billion Medicaid program, a program that affects 1.5 million North Carolinians and accounts for one of the state’s biggest expenditures.… Read More...
McCrory, Tillis, Berger: Privatizing Medicaid is unpopular, but we need money to fund our tax cuts for rich people
Given the extraordinarily negative public reception to Governor Pat McCrory’s idea to privatize the NC Medicaid program and the way it fell flat in its first presentation at the NC General Assembly, you might be forgiven in thinking that this … Read More...
The trial balloon that would not float
The stories we have featured this week from states across the country that have experimented with tax cut proposals hold a common lesson for North Carolina: Tax cut proposals are unpopular when it comes to the details and mathematically difficult … Read More...
N+O: DHHS Secretary needs to learn about Medicaid before she takes her “show on the road”
In a scathing editorial this morning, the News and Observer called Pat McCrory’s DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos to account for her ignorance on basic decisions about Medicaid, a program she seeks to radically change through privatization. Referring to Wos’ … Read More...
Seats going fast for next Tuesday’s Crucial Conversation on the courts
As the recent controversial actions of the North Carolina General Assembly make abundantly clear, the future of the courts in this country has rarely been more important. Please join us for a special NC Policy Watch Crucial Conversation luncheon:
Why courts matter … Read More...
Glazier on HB 730: ‘At some point we ought to follow the law’ (video)
Freshman Rep. Jacqueline Schaffer used a parliamentary maneuver to end debate in the House Thursday on her bill which would place further limits on abortion.
House Bill 730 – the Insurance & Health Care Conscience Protection Act - would prohibit … Read More...
The tax debate in one compelling picture
The following picture from the good folks at Together NC tells provides the main information you need to know about the right’s move to shift North Carolina’s tax code away from income taxes and toward sales taxes:
What’s it like to wake up from a Tea Party binge?
From the annals of ”we have seen the future,” Mother Jones schools us on what’s happened in Florida under two years of Tea Party control:
In just one year, Scott and his conservative allies slashed state spending by $4
… Read More...The link between the IRS scandal and redistricting in North Carolina
No, the above headline is not a typo or even a logical stretch. There is actually a close relationship between the two subjects. Here’s why:
Although all the facts have yet to come to light, the recent scandal in Washington related to the … Read More...
‘Modest’ or ‘Bold,’ Nebraska Tax Cuts Could Not Be Sold
This is an additional contribution to the blog series that presents voices from other states that have unsuccessfully pursued comprehensive tax reform. (See Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3)
Commentary provided by Renee Fry, Executive Director of … Read More...
Statement from Budget and Tax Center on Announcement of House Tax Cut Plan
The House tax plan will put at risk funding for educating our kids, maintaining our natural resources, and keeping our communities safe, all in order to provide the wealthiest North Carolinians with tax cuts.
The centerpiece of the plan is … Read More...
Blowhard lobbyist for corporations and the rich in town to promote tax increases on average North Carolinians
How low have things sunk in the Raleigh policy debate? This low: A front group for corporations and greedy billionaires is bringing a has-been Washington lobbyist to town to promote higher taxes on poor and middle class North Carolinians and some are calling it a “tax reform” event.… Read More...
Kinnaird: We are turning our beautiful beaches into New Jersey (video)
The NC Senate approved legislation Wednesday that lifts a cap on terminal groins, allowing for these small jetties to be built at all the inlets along North Carolina’s coast.
Supporters say the hardened structures are effective at controlling erosion. … Read More...
DHHS Officials Deny Their Own Medicaid Privatization Plans at Public Hearing
According to my colleague Adam Linker, at this afternoon’s public hearing with DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos on Governor McCrory’s plan to privatize the NC Medicaid program, there was more disinformation given out by McCrory’s appointees. McCrory’s Medicaid Director Carol Steckel … Read More...
Disparate treatment of working families compared to wealthy in proposed tax plans
Lawmakers are considering various tax plans that would either convert North Carolina’s personal income tax to a flat rate or phase it out altogether, while making the state more reliant on the sales tax. The result would be a tax … Read More...
Civil liberties experts issue scathing assessment of so-called “conscience protection” bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2013
ACLU: ‘Conscious Protection’ Bill Is Opposite of Religious Liberty
H.B. 730 Would Allow Public Hospital Employees to Refuse Abortion Care & Private Employers to Refuse Contraception Coverage for Women Because of Religious Beliefs
RALEIGH … Read More...
North Carolina Women Don 1960s Garb To Protest ‘Vintage’ Bill That Threatens Birth Control Access
Read the entire great cross post from Think Progress by Tara Culp-Ressler. The bill making birth control much harder to get has passed committee is on its way to the House floor today.
Anti-Sharia law bill headed for a House vote
According to WRAL, the bill to block the application of foreign law in North Carolina courts, H695, is headed to the House floor with compromised language, following a contentious fight in the Judiciary Committee this morning.
The bill … Read More...
Louisiana Governor “parks” unpopular tax plan
This is the third of a three-part blog series presenting voices from other states that have unsuccessfully pursued versions of comprehensive tax “reform”. (See Part 1 and Part 2)
Commentary provided by Jan Moller, Director of the Louisiana Budget … Read More...
Two chances to weigh in on Medicaid privatization
Got questions or comments about the McCrory Administration’s plan to privatize much of the state’s Medicaid system?
Health and Human Services Secretary Aldona Wos and Medicaid Director Carol Steckel will hold two public hearings today and again on Thursday to … Read More...
