Posts by Carter Wrenn
$600 Million for Toll Roads
Gas prices are rising again and gas tax revenues to the state are soaring but it appears some local officials – including Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker – are supporting toll roads in Wake County. The tolls would cost drivers $600 million to complete parts of the Triangle Parkway and I-540. So now in Wake County…
Read MoreThe Saga of the State’s Biggest Contract
Last year, after seeking bids the state took its $171 million Medicaid billing contract – its biggest contract – away from EDS and gave it to rival ACS (both of Texas). EDS sued and said among other things that the bids weren’t handled fairly and ACS couldn’t deliver what it promised. The state fought EDS…
Read MoreA Tsunami?
Republicans just held their bi-annual State Convention. I spoke to a friend who attended. He has been active in politics for years and he’s pretty glum about Republican chances in the election this fall. He’s looking at the national trends and remembering 1994, 1982, and 1974 when one party (Republicans in ’94 and Democrats in…
Read MoreIs Mayor Meeker a Shoo-In?
A few days ago one of Gary’s friends, who supports Mayor Meeker, took the time to write Talking About Politics about a blog I did criticizing the mayor’s runaway spending. (See Gary’s blog 06/05/06.) Gary’s friend didn’t exactly defend the mayor’s spending (except for his Lite-Rail boondoggle). Instead he said politically it didn’t matter because…
Read MoreHockey and Gifts to Legislators
The State House passed a ‘Reform’ bill to clean up government by limiting lobbyists’ gifts to legislators. How much good has it done? The newspapers report spotting five legislators attending the Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup finals. According to the News and Observer (6-10-06) Democrat Representative Jim Harrell – who voluntarily signed a list to put…
Read MoreA $9 Million Lunch?
The School Board wants to pass a billion dollar bond and raise taxes, the City Manager wants to raise taxes, county officials say the county may have to raise taxes. So it’s puzzling the County Commissioners just voted not to award the contract to run a new landfill in Holly Springs to the lowest bidder.…
Read MoreLambs to the Slaughter
When an issue is popular just try to get between a politician and the limelight and you take your life in your hands. But when politicians start appointing task forces and committees to promote issues look out – it’s a sure sign the issue is unpopular. Otherwise, the politicians would be leading the charge themselves,…
Read MoreAnother Profile in Courage from John Edwards
John Edwards, who has made a political career of standing up on issues – like poverty – that are virtually non-controversial has found one more. Edwards is for: Home. He is publishing a book Home: The Blueprints of our Lives, which features profiles of the homes of Bob Dole, John Glenn, Maya Lin, Jake Gyllenhall…
Read MoreThe Lottery’s Hot Air Balloon
Here’s a wise use of our education lottery money. The Executive Director of the State Lottery is going to climb into a hot air balloon and sail it over the Raleigh beltline with two banners flapping in the wind promoting ‘Powerball.’ The cost of this PR stunt is $6,200. In the meantime, while the lottery…
Read MoreThe Most Interesting Thing in State Politics…
…is the way the Senate Democrats are hammering House Speaker Jim Black. Marc Basnight, the Senate leader, is one of the all-time North Carolina political powerhouses, wheeler-dealers. He is also interesting. Because he has the ability to surprise. Basnight’s surprise this year is all the punches the Senate is throwing at House Speaker Black. First,…
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