NC Policy Watch's the Progessive Pulse

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...

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...

It’s gotten to the point where scarcely a day goes by at the North Carolina General Assembly in which the honorables don’t work to repeal some basic environmental protection law or rule. Yesterday the good people at the Sierra Club were forced to … Read More...

Members of a Senate committee advanced legislation Tuesday that would prohibit local governments and community colleges from regulating outdoor smoking in any manner that is more restrictive than State law.

Senator Buck Newton, the sponsor of Senate Bill 703… Read More...

Education is perhaps the most promising public investment for promoting long-term economic prosperity. That’s why providing low-income children access to preschool and providing a high-quality education to all students in North Carolina’s public schools is vital to our state’s future.… Read More...

There’s a common perception in the General Assembly these days that storefront consumer finance shops are not as bad a payday lenders. Indeed, this has been a common explanation offered by members of the Senate as they advanced legislation in recent weeks that will jack … Read More...

After considerable debate, members of the House Education Committee passed HB 735, “Student Organizations/Rights & Recognition,” (previously titled “Protect Religious Student Groups”) on a roll call vote, 30-20. The bill is a companion to Sen. Dan Soucek’s SB 719, … Read More...

Making good on predictions issued earlier this year, House of Raeford Farms has given notice to the state Department of Commerce under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (aka the “WARN Act”) that it will be closing its slaughter plant and … Read More...

The Greenville Daily Reflector is the latest paper to offer the Senate leadership’s tax reform proposal less than glowing remarks. The editorial board writes in Tuesday’s paper:

‘Last week, N.C. Senate President Phil Berger formally announced his proposal for comprehensive

This is the second of a three-part blog series presenting voices from other states that have unsuccessfully pursued versions of comprehensive tax “reform.” (See Part 1)

Commentary provided by Annie McKay, Executive Director of Kansas Center for Economic Growth … Read More...

K12, Inc. bumped into another stumbling block in its attempt to break into North Carolina’s public education market, with a state legislator saying he will forgo legislation to put an online charter school’s application back in front of the State … Read More...

Diane Ravitch, the nation’s leading spokesperson for preserving public education has some scathing words for the latest developments in North Carolina’s education wars. The post is entitled “North Carolina: Public Schools and Students Endangered by Radical Agenda” and … Read More...

The three-judge panel handling the redistricting case has ordered two days of hearings in June to consider specific factual issues before deciding the parties’ respective requests for judgment in their favor.

The judges have asked for testimony and additional evidence … Read More...

More deceptively titled and poorly understood legislation that was advanced without a fair or properly noticed hearing will be on the floor of the North Carolina House tonight.

I know, I know; that just sounds like a typical day at the Legislative Building, but in this case, … Read More...

Over the weekend NC Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin asked for a retraction and apology from NC DHHS Secretary Wos for her claim that Goodwin was responsible for rejecting federal money for expanding Medicaid in NC.  If the Secretary is in any … Read More...

With Grover Norquist scheduled to tout tax reform and the Taxpayer Bill of Rights across North Carolina this week, the Fayetteville Observer weighs in on the proposed TABOR legislation:

‘If neither population growth nor the rate of inflation tells

Don’t forget to RSVP for next Tuesday’s N.C. Policy Watch Crucial Conversation, “Why courts matter (and why North Carolinians should be paying a lot more attention to them)” - featuring the Honorable James A. Wynn, Jr., Judge of the United States … Read More...

Aldona Wos, Secretary for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, put the blame Friday on the state forgoing Medicaid expansion on Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, who instead advocated to expand healthcare coverage.

N.C. Health News’ Rose Hoban attended … Read More...

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has dismissed a challenge to a lower court ruling in a Medicaid class-action suit against North Carolina, finding that the defendant, a Medicaid managed care plan, could not maintain its appeal without the state’s … Read More...

An article in today’s News & Observer by John Frank focuses on the vague tax plan presented by Senator Phil Berger earlier this week. Preliminary projections by the Fiscal Research Division indicate that the majority of taxpayers would see a tax … Read More...