NC Policy Watch's the Progessive Pulse

The State Board of Elections could decide next week whether to open a formal investigation into possible illegal behavior related to campaign contributions connected with the sweepstakes gaming industry.

The watchdog group Democracy North Carolina got the board’s attention with … Read More...

A bill filed yesterday by U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) would permit voters lacking a state-required photo or other ID to vote nonetheless in federal elections, so long as they submit a sworn statement attesting to their identity and their … Read More...

Workers Memorial Day honors victims of workplace accidents

WHAT: Workers Memorial Day

WHERE: North Carolina Department of Labor, 4 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh

WHEN: Friday, April 26, 12:00 p.m.

Workplace fatalities are all too common in North Carolina. … Read More...

The cursive bill just passed its third reading in the Senate and it’s on its way to passage.

Is Zaner-Bloser, the firm linked to the bill, is now feeling a little less worried about the possibility of  ”a world without handwriting?”… Read More...

I’m not sure who is in charge of Gov. Pat McCrory’s twitter feed but apparently they are impressed with themselves. Here’s a tweet they sent out:

The problem is that the administration did not get an … Read More...

Court documents filed this week indicate that former state Rep. Stephen LaRoque will defend himself against charges he stole from his federally-funded non-profits by saying he deserved the money.

“Mr. LaRoque was entitled to the funds he is charged with … Read More...

Senate Bill 10, which would eliminate dozens of boards and commissions, is out of conference committee and on the House calendar today.

As originally filed, the bill eliminated 12 special superior court judgeship positions. But the House balked, pulling that … Read More...

How can it possibly be that on the same day the NC House votes overwhelmingly to institute roadblocks to voting a House committee approves a bill to expand gun rights? I mean it, how can that be? The Second Amendment … Read More...

I was really struck this morning by the power of the two photos illustrating the story on the NC House’s passage of a voter ID law that we know will make it harder for many people to vote.  The N+O … Read More...

Last week, I wrote about a radio program suspended from airing on a Sanford community college radio station because of state Rep. Mike Stone’s complaints.

Stone, a Sanford Republicans serving his second term, had his office contact the president of … Read More...

North Carolina lawmakers may be moving to put more stock than ever in high-stakes, standardized testing, but around the country, the momentum is growing to de-emphasize the tests.

As reported yesterday at the website Common Dreams, hundreds of Chicago … Read More...

North Carolina moved one step closer on Wednesday to requiring a voter ID at the polls, with the state House passing the Voter Information Verification Act.

Republican Representative David Lewis said the bill was needed to ensure “open and … Read More...

We keep hearing how North Carolina’s unemployment rate keeps lagging behind the national average. And although this trend is certainly real—the Tarheel State’s unemployment remains mired above 9 percent while the national average is below 8 percent—the latest issue of Prosperity Watch … Read More...

A North Carolina House Judiciary Committee held its first hearing on the “RECLAIM NC” Act today, an Arizona-style immigration bill sponsored by Rep. Harry Warren and 13 others (including a key member of Speaker Thom Tillis’ leadership team, Rep. Ruth … Read More...

Earlier this week I noted McCrory’s Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Aldona Wos had issued an email signature policy for employees that was longer than the bill put together touting the Governor’s plan privatizing health care for the … Read More...

Perhaps having heard the buzz this morning about the link between the Back to Basics bill and the for-profit handwriting instruction company Zaner Bloser, Sen. Allran decided to move the cursive writing legislation through the Senate Education Committee this … Read More...

As you can see below, the good people at Action NC are speaking up and out against the General Assembly’s plan to make applicants for Work First assistance to take drug tests before they can obtain the pittance in benefits … Read More...

Legislation seems to be popping up around the country that would mandate cursive writing instruction in elementary schools. Indiana, Idaho, and South Carolina all have bills moving through their legislatures that call for the instruction of cursive, and some folks … Read More...

Wednesday is Latino Legislative Day at the General Assembly, and immigrants rights groups will be in Raleigh discussing comprehensive immigration reform with state lawmakers.

Their lobbying day also coincides with the first committee hearing for a sweeping piece of legislation … Read More...

It looks like state legislators may be taking their cue from North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services Aldona Wos on an important issue: public access to government information.

A few weeks back, as you will recall,  Wos solemnly informed reporters … Read More...