NC Policy Watch's the Progessive Pulse

Research has long shown that the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for working families significantly encourages work—especially among single mothers—and reduces child poverty more than any other existing policy tool. Although the EITC is largely a temporary support, new research… Read More...

The virtual charter school company that launched an unsuccessful bid to open up an online-based school in North Carolina has been having a rough time in other states.

Cyber (also called online or virtual) schools allow students to take their … Read More...

Confused about the state of tax “reform” in the 2013 General Assembly? Check out these two very useful and user-friendly tools from the N.C. Budget and Tax Center:

This one-page chart gives you the facts you need on all of … Read More...

In a letter released this week, the U.S. Department of Justice affirmed that Wisconsin must ensure that students with disabilities who seek to attend or are currently enrolled in private schools through the state’s taxpayer-funded voucher program “do not … Read More...

One small smidgen of good news from state government these days can be found in the final approval given earlier this month by Gov. McCrory to a new state law that should reduce drug and alcohol overdose deaths.

The law actually went into effect April 9, but … Read More...

One of the nation’s most influential and widely respected pollsters has new and encouraging data for Senator Kay Hagan and all those who support background checks for gun purchasers. In a poll released yesterday, Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling … Read More...

…that high-interest loan companies in North Carolina “haven’t had a rate increase in 30 years”  tell him/her that this statement is, in a word, baloney (and feel free to use a stronger word).

#1: Inflation for lenders is accounted for through … Read More...

When Governor McCrory and the NC General Assembly rejected accepting federal money to expand Medicaid health coverage to families of four making under $29,000 a year, many people thought this decision just affected low income workers.  Wrong.  It affects NC … Read More...

John Coleman has waited five years for records he sought via a Freedom of Information Request submitted to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

And that, said the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today, is long enough. In an opinion by Judge … Read More...

As members heard a legislative update during this month’s meeting of the State Board of Education, new chairman Bill Cobey took a moment to express his concerns about SB 337, which would create a new charter school oversight board.… Read More...

A federal judge denied former state lawmaker Stephen LaRoque’s requests this week to dismiss charges related to $300,000 that federal prosecutors believe he stole from two federally-funded non-profits.

The orders issued Monday and Wednesday by Senior United States District Court … Read More...

It’s beginning to look more and more like this will be a spring and summer of protest and direct action against the ongoing corporate takeover of state government. This week featured multiple demonstrations and 20 arrests of peaceful demonstrators in Raleigh.

Now, organizers … Read More...

Another day on Jones Street, another day of rolling back the 20th Century. Here are just some of the regressive proposals on tap for today along with the names they ought ot be known by:

The Predatory Lending Protection and … Read More...

As the full House convenes today at 1pm to consider a bill that would reduce the number of children in our state eligible for pre-kindergarten, maybe this excellent infographic from Education News will give lawmakers something to think about … Read More...

Members of the Senate Finance Committee advanced legislation Wednesday to rollback the state’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard.

Under that landmark legislation passed in 2007, North Carolina electric utilities were required to generate 3% of their energy needs through renewable resources, … Read More...

With chants of “student power!” and “hey, hey, ho, ho, Art Pope has got to go!” 250+ college students and supporters descended on Raleigh this afternoon for a May Day demonstration against the right-wing takeover of North Carolina state government. 

Backed by … Read More...

From the good folks at Planned Parenthood of Central NC:

NC GOP Legislators Resume Attacks on Women’s Health

HB 716 Represents Another Attack on Women’s Health and Health Care Providers

RALEIGH— Today the NC General Assembly resumed their efforts to … Read More...

You might recall that about a month ago, citizens were threatened with arrest as they silently protested SB 337, a bill to create a new charter school board that would remove oversight of public charter schools from the State … Read More...

Governor McCrory made a fascinating (and troubling) statement in an interview with WUNC-TV’s Kelly McCullen the other day. When asked about the debate over gun control and why the state has failed to advance any new initiatives to strengthen it, the … Read More...

Raleigh Democrat Deborah Ross is leaving the legislature for a job with the Triangle Transit.

Ross, a Wake Democrat and attorney, is in her sixth term in the state House of Representatives and had spoken out against many of … Read More...