Posts by Carter Wrenn
Ethics Reform – House Style – Chapter 2
Here’s the State House version of Ethics Reform: Members can take secretly ‘gifts’ of up to $500 from people seeking favorable legislation. They can take bigger gifts if they report them. Hard to believe? Democrat Representative Verla Insko, who voted against the secret gifts said “she didn’t like the thought of being able to keep…
Read MoreStrange Logic II
I asked a retired friend, who occasionally serves as a substitute teacher, why the School Board was determined to push for a tax increase when three independent polls show it losing overwhelmingly. He told me an interesting story about the dress code in the Wake County Schools. He said students ignore the dress code and…
Read MoreThe Taxes Just Keep on Coming
Wake County Manager David Cooke wants to increase property taxes three cents. The way the politicians describe this type of tax increase, they say it’s “only” a $45 increase on a $150,000 home. Let’s look a little closer. On top of Mr. Cooke’s three-cent tax hike, the Wake County Board of Education wants a 3.9…
Read MoreStrange Logic
WRAL-TV and The News and Observer have taken a poll on the Wake County School Bonds. They found voters: Favored a $625 million bond with no tax increase 64% to 28% Opposed a $998 million bond with a tax increase 59% to 27% Opposed a $1.15 billion bond with a bigger tax increase 57% to…
Read MoreSneaky
Governor Easley’s sneaky streak breaks out every now and then. To hear the Governor tell it he’s going to do two things with the State’s $2 billion surplus: increase some needed spending and cut taxes. What’s sneaky – and what he’s not talking about much – is that his tax cut is only a fraction…
Read MoreThe Most Unpopular Man in North Carolina
Few would argue (with the exception of the members of the House Democratic Caucus) with the proposition that Jim Black, after a year of ‘pay to play’ scandals, is now the most unpopular man in North Carolina. A series of hearings, investigations, and exposes has left the heretofore sure-footed House Leader battered and bruised. But…
Read MoreThe Battle of the Sexes
Scientists at the University of Chicago and the University of California have reached a startling conclusion. A woman can tell a man’s testosterone level, whether he’s a one night stand or a potential husband, and how much he likes infants by simply looking at his photograph. After the scientist showed a battery of young women…
Read MorePay to Play
Democrats in the State House Committee say they want to ban political contributions from lobbyists to legislators. That’s fine. But don’t be deceived. They are not trying to end ‘pay to play.’ In fact, what they are doing will hardly slow Marc Basnight or Jim Black down at all. The House Democrats are being clever.…
Read MoreResponse – Whose Money Talks Loudest?
There’s a difference in Art Pope spending ‘his millions’ and how the Black/Basnight Political Machines continue to hold an iron-grip on the North Carolina Legislature. Pope is spending his own money. What he is doing does not cost taxpayers a cent. He’s not trying to get a state contract or a bill passed to help…
Read MoreMore Pay to Play
How deeply is ‘pay to play’ ingrained in the culture of the Democratic Party?Let’s take a look at the upcoming Democrat race for Governor in 2008. Three candidates are already raising war chests and State Treasurer Richard Moore leads the pack. The News and Observer reports Moore has raised over 42% of his money from…
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