North Carolina – Democrats – Page 161

The Governor’s Next Press Conference

By Carter Wrenn | February 13, 2009 |

The governor’s been doing a lot of talking lately about cleaning up the probation mess and Senator Phil Berger’s just announced he’s taking her at her word and introducing a bill to help. First, Senator Berger wants the legislature to pass a law to make it legal for all “probation and law enforcement officers…

The Hagan Edge

By Gary Pearce | February 13, 2009 |

How key was North Carolina in the 2008 election? Well, it’s possible the stimulus package might not have passed the Senate if Kay Hagan hadn’t beaten Liddy Dole. The bill passed 61-58, with the help of three Republicans. Without Hagan, the vote might have been 60-59. Cut it that close, and President Obama might not…

Heath’s Errant Play

By Gary Pearce | February 12, 2009 |

As an NFL quarterback, Health Shuler had a reputation for making bad throws. As a politician, he may have just thrown himself out of the 2010 Senate race. Shuler voted against the stimulus bill in the House, one of a handful of Democrats to cross party lines on the vote. That’s not inconsistent with the…

Bev’s Bad Trip

By Gary Pearce | February 10, 2009 |

Most employers would look askance on a new employee who takes a week-long vacation after being on the job just over a month. So Governor Perdue is trying the good nature of North Carolina taxpayers this week. She has good arguments: She has been working hard. She’s off to a good start, most observers agree.…

Power Shifts

By Gary Pearce | February 5, 2009 |

We’re witnessing the biggest shift in political power in America in a generation: from the state capitals to Washington. The much-heralded “New Federalism” of the 70s, 80s and 90s is dead. The era of ex-Governors in the White House (Carter, Reagan and Clinton) is past. Today, all power flows to the Potomac. Witness: After taking…

Showing Up

By Gary Pearce | February 3, 2009 |

Woody Allen once said 80 percent of life is just showing up. Bev Perdue is proving that showing up is 90 percent of following Mike Easley. One Raleigh Democrat said last week she had seen Governor Perdue four times since her inauguration: at a Washington event, at a Lillian’s List meeting, at Bob Scott’s funeral…

More Advice for Republicans

By Carter Wrenn | January 28, 2009 |

Here’s another suggestion for Republicans in the General Assembly. Tuesday the News and Observer (which seems to have an absolutely nonpartisan passion for exposing corruption in state government) published another story about the foibles of the Paroles/Probation Department – the outfit that lost track of 15,000 paroles under Governor Easley. (Earlier the N&O reported criminals…

Lack of Stimulation

By Gary Pearce | January 28, 2009 |

Like President Obama, Governor Perdue began her administration with a series of executive orders showing she’s on the job and ready from day one. First came her “change orders.” This week her budget officer sent out an email touting her steps to save money. She has little choice. North Carolina, like most states, has to…

‘09 Legislature, ‘10 Elections

By Gary Pearce | January 27, 2009 |

For this year’s legislature, one thing looms larger than the budget crisis: Next year’s elections. That’s because the legislators elected in 2010 will draw up election districts for the next decade. So don’t expect anything too bold or radical from this session. The only tax increases on the table are the “sin taxes” floated by…

Bob Scott

By Gary Pearce | January 26, 2009 |

Bob Scott has his flaws, but he had guts. The Scott legacy will be tarnished by Meg Scott Phipp’s imprisonment – and by the IRS investigation of Scott supporters when he was governor. But Bob Scott deserves a lot of credit for modernizing North Carolina – sometimes in the face of tough opposition. Like proposing…