Inserted inside the 1,073 page stimulus bill is a RAT. Byron York in an article in the DC Examiner explains the Orwellian provision that creates the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board — or RAT Board.
Instead of creating transparency this provision will actually muzzle EVERY Inspector General in every federal agency and department. Congress needs to repeal this provision immediately!
Meanwhile in NC Brian Balfour posts on efforts on transparency related to the stimulus bill. Now if NC would only move on the effort to be transparent on the rest of government.
The Governor's office today posted this website to show where NC's share of the federal stimulus money is going.
In a press release announcing the site, Purdue had this to say:
“I want the people of North Carolina to understand exactly how the money will
be used to put North Carolina back to work.”
And this…
The federal recovery package provides approximately $6.1 billion in direct aid
to North Carolina to create jobs, and to rebuild and expand the state's critical
infrastructure.
But a quick look at the summary of spending should send your BS-ometer into overdrive. Leaving aside the much-discussed fact that government can not create jobs, let's see just how little money actually goes to "critical infrastructure."
Totaling the transportation and water & sewer sections amounts to $975.5 million. Adding in the $551 million reportedly designated for school construction from the education category brings the total to $1.52 billion. Out of $6.1 billion. That makes a whopping 25 percent going to "expand the state's critical infrastructure."
With all the transparency they are providing, you'd think they'd be a little more honest about where the money is going. Moreover, many of the items are quite vague at this point, I look forward to seeing more detailed information about some of the spending. I also encourage all interested readers to frequently check the site and follow the money trail. I suspect that the more details we uncover, Obama's and Purdue's rhetoric about jobs and infrastructure will look ever more ridiculous.
We asked this month about a proposal going around the General Assembly to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot changing the length of terms from two years to four years.
As expected, voters like having frequent opportunities to change their legislators. Well, I guess opportunity is all relative since the legislators get to decide which voters they want to represent.
Despite over half the General Assembly being unopposed for re-election, many still think the process of actually having to campaign for their job is too arduous of a task to do every four years. Fortunately, the voters disagree.
“Currently, members of the North Carolina General Assembly are
elected every two years. There has been a bill introduced to change
the term so they are elected every four years. Do you think North
Carolina legislators should be elected every two years or every four
years?”
2 years- 59%
4 years- 33%
Not sure- 8%
Full release here.
To all the fine readers, bloggers etc out there. Sharpen your pencils and list ways you think the state could save money.
I will start with a short list of suggestions that while small, would over time add up to a savings:
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Sell ALL of the Dept of Commerces Airplanes (2 planes 1 Helo) - Ongoing savings in pilots, maintenance, hangars. They don't tell much about the "Executive Aircraft Division" on the website.
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Combine all grant-making and money for local water and sewer systems into one place. I have been told there are at least 16 different ways of funding local systems. Very inefficient. Here are a few places to get state money: Rural Center - non-profit but state money – not accountable and overhead added in. NC Dept of Natural Resources - several different places to get $ Here, Here, Here TOO MANY TO LIST! and so on…
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In the Dept. of Administration, eliminate the Agency For Public Telecommunications. It is unnecessary as it does nothing that is a direct (or even indirect) function of government. Any service it provides to other agencies can be contracted with the private sector at lower cost and higher quality.
I have started now it is your turn. Send this to everyone you know and help build a list.
Kudos to the UNC Retired Faculty Association. At their monthly meeting in February, the group of retired professors went on record offering to teach classes, supervise grant writing and perform other duties – all without pay. What prompted the generosity? Members said they wanted to do their part to ensure state budget cuts didn’t adversely impact the educational experience of students.
You’d think UNC would be dying to get the services of talented faculty – especially when the price is right. But – as usual — there are hurdles to clear. Input from faculty and accrediting agencies is still needed and competencies are also a consideration. Still let's hope UNC can find a way to use the services of such talented people. Then, let's give three cheers for these retired faculty and their commitment toward helping students and institutions in time of need.
We asked a few questions about the recently passed stimulus bill this month, and although 50 percent of voters say they support the bill, 49 percent of voters think there is a chance the bill will actually make matters worse.
A similar 50 percent of voters said they would be less likely to support the
plan if they knew that the tax cuts in the plan would only yield the
average worker approximately $13 more per week. Nearly one-quarter of
voters who originally voiced support for the plan said this fact would
make them less likely to support the bill.
Read the full release here.
What to take from this? I'd say voters know something needs to be done, but aren't really convinced the packaged passed by the Democrats in Congress is really the best solution.
Support for the stimulus package is directly tied to support for Obama. And the relative success or failure of his Presidency may very well be decided on it.
The News & Observer education reporter shares information from a university study comparing low income student performance in Mecklenburg and Wake In this Article. This study addresses some of the issues Wake Board of Education member Ron Margiotta tried unsuccessfully to get the Wake board to study. They voted the idea down in December.
Maybe now they will reconsider and study the issue before spending more millions on reassignments and busing. Remember $4 a gallon gas?
Read the full report here.
Gov. Purdue is now calling for most state agencies to cut their budgets this year by nine percent.
Gov. Beverly Perdue on Wednesday ordered deeper cuts in state government, a move
that could potentially jeopardize such North Carolina icons as "The Lost Colony"
outdoor drama in Manteo and the High Point Furniture Market.
Whoa, you know times must be tight when such essential government services like outdoor dramas and advertising dollars for furniture makers might fall under the chopping block.
But before you shed too many tears for state budget makers, lets put all the "slash" and "crisis" hyperbole into some perspective. The current year's General Fund budgeted $21.35 billion in spending. The latest estimates put the current year deficit at roughly $2.2 billion. That leaves $19.15 available to fund current year operations. $19.15 billion is larger than the budget of just two years ago (FY 2006-07 budget spent $18.9 billion).
Also consider that the General Assembly introduced nearly $4.2 billion in new state spending in just the last three years – an increase of 24 percent. In short, the reason for the current budget "crisis" was summed up rather accurately by Sen. Tony Rand:
February poll is out and wanted to run down the job approval ratings we tested:
President Obama:
Strongly approve – 36% (+3 from January)
Somewhat approve – 29 (+2)
Somewhat disapprove – 5 (+2)
Strongly disapprove – 11 (+8)
Not sure – 19 (-15)
Net approval rating 48% (-7)
Full release here.
Governor Perdue
Strongly approve – 16% (+1)
Somewhat approve – 36 (+4)
Somewhat disapprove – 9 (+6)
Strongly disapprove – 7 (+2)
Not sure – 32 (-13)
Net approval rating 36% (-4)
Full release here.
Senator Kay Hagan
Strongly approve – 12%
Somewhat approve – 29
Somewhat disapprove – 7
Strongly disapprove – 9
Not Sure 43
Net approval rating 25%
Full release here.
Obama is still getting high marks from NC voters. The number of people approving of his job ticked up 5 points to 65% however the number of people disapproving nearly tripled. Still 19 percent of the voters with no opinion. I would guess that those are people who disapprove but don't want to seem to say anything bad about the new President.
Perdue's numbers remain strong as well with a 5 point bump in total approve to 52%. But like Obama, disapproves shot up 8 points as well.
Hagan's was probably the most surprising because of the large number of people with no opinion. Despite just going through a tough election fight, people don't really have an opinion of her. Out of sight, out of mind, perhaps?
In a major blow to labor union's ability to finance their political agendas, the US Supreme Court upheld an Idaho law (popularly known as the Paycheck Protection Act), restricts payroll deductions from state employees going to labor union Political Action Committees (PACs).
In writing for the majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote:
The First Amendment prohibits government from “abridging the freedom of
speech”; it does not confer an affirmative right to use government
payroll mechanisms for the purpose of obtaining funds for expression.
Idaho’s law does not restrict political speech, but rather declines to
promote that speech by allowing public employee checkoffs for political
activities.
This ruling clears the way for other states to pass similar legislation that keeps government out of being a conduit for political speech. If government employees wish to voluntarily contribute to a union PAC, they can do so, but we, the taxpayers shouldn't pay for it.
SEANC raised over $400,000 from individuals this election cycle to give to candidates, most (if not all) through payroll deductions from state employees.
What would happen if the NRA wanted access to state employees for payroll deductions for its PAC, do you think that would be allowed? Probably not, and rightly so. Our private political speech (money) should be kept separate from our employment status.
Now that the US Supremes have upheld Idaho's law, it is time for North Carolina to pass a paycheck protection act here. So our state employees can be kept free from union bosses intimidating them from sacrificing part of their pay for political causes.