A version of this article first appeared in the Charlotte Observer. Rumors about a special transportation session for the Legislature are bubbling in Raleigh. Attending ... Keep Reading
Archives for August 2007
Transportation Needs Neglected by Legislature
This year’s $20.7 billion budget largely neglected core infrastructure needs, choosing instead to expand state funding on many programs that will benefit special interests. ... Keep Reading
$205 Million Wasted by the State on Pork Barrel Projects
The Civitas Institute has identified $205.4 million in new “pork barrel” spending in the FY2007-2009 expansion budget. In addition, the budget contains $155 million in ... Keep Reading
Voting/Election Law Wrap Up
During the 2007 long session, legislators considered several bills pertaining to voter registration and identification laws, taxpayer-financed campaigns, and the assignment of ... Keep Reading
2007 Legislative Recap: Justice & Public Safety
The 2007 session saw dozens of bills introduced on criminal justice issues, but very few became law. Proposed legislation ranged from tougher penalties for sex offenders to the ... Keep Reading
A Green Budget and More
The 2007-2008 General Assembly Session resulted in the passage of a budget, as well as a number of other bills, that increased funding for a number of environmental initiatives ... Keep Reading
Important Bills Still in Play for Next Session
Important Bills Still in Play for Next Session While we reflect on the legislation that passed during this year’s long session, it is important to keep an eye on bills that ... Keep Reading
Education Recap: Spending Increases and Program Expansions Mark Legislative Session
As might be expected, education remained a top priority for lawmakers during the 2007 long session. What is perhaps more surprising is that even as education spending increased by ... Keep Reading
Fee Increases and Tax Changes
One of the main sticking points during this year’s contentious and drawn out budget process was the debate over whether the “temporary” sales and income tax rates ... Keep Reading
Illegal Immigration: Legislation that Passed and What Could Have Been
With the U.S. Congress, as well as the Bush administration, having failed to pass an immigration reform bill in 2007, many states took it upon themselves to pass legislation ... Keep Reading