It's common for the N.C. General Assembly to end legislative sessions amid a flurry of last-minute filings and maneuvering
Published: Saturday, July 14th, 2018 @ 7:39 pm
By: John Locke Foundation
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Despite repeated stern warnings from state Treasurer Dale Folwell, legislation adding $3 billion in state debt for unspecified transportation projects flew through House and Senate committees with bipartisan support
Published: Friday, June 15th, 2018 @ 10:54 pm
By: John Locke Foundation
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Let's just be really clear about the Build NC Bonds proposal to borrow $3 billion for roads making its way, in different forms, through the North Carolina House and Senate: it's a bad idea
Published: Thursday, June 7th, 2018 @ 4:22 pm
By: John Locke Foundation
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North Carolina taxpayers will foot the bill for a $3 billion transportation bond and won’t have a say in being saddled with the debt if House Bill 1010 passes
Published: Tuesday, June 5th, 2018 @ 10:23 pm
By: John Locke Foundation
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A House committee has proposed a $3 billion transportation bond, but state Treasurer Dale Folwell urges lawmakers to put the massive borrowing to a voter referendum if they proceed
Published: Thursday, May 24th, 2018 @ 11:44 am
By: John Locke Foundation
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Each February, the State Treasurer’s Debt Affordability Advisory Committee preempts the hopefulness of Groundhog Day with the publication of the annual Debt Affordability Study, the committee’s reminder that state government resources are limited
Published: Tuesday, March 13th, 2018 @ 4:08 pm
By: John Locke Foundation
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State Treasurer Dale Folwell hopes the General Assembly will build on its recent boost in the state's Rainy Day Fund with a plan to make state pensions and health benefits more solvent
Published: Sunday, July 16th, 2017 @ 8:28 pm
By: John Locke Foundation
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A new report ranking states' fiscal health puts North Carolina 15th nationally, highlighting the Tar Heel State's strong revenue and solid pension funding.
Published: Wednesday, July 12th, 2017 @ 10:58 pm
By: John Locke Foundation
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Budget deadlines in our state and another provide a healthy perspective on North Carolina's finances
Published: Monday, June 26th, 2017 @ 11:30 am
By: Civitas Insitute
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State Treasurer Dale Folwell isn't known to mince words and in a recent NC SPIN interview he reported North Carolina has made promises to present and retired state employees we are presently unable to pay
Published: Sunday, February 26th, 2017 @ 3:58 pm
By: Tom Campbell
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It's cheap to borrow right now. That doesn't mean you ought to load up with new debt, however, and this same wisdom applies to the public sector
Published: Wednesday, June 1st, 2016 @ 7:17 pm
By: John Locke Foundation
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Gov. Pat McCrory yesterday released his budget proposal for the next biennium. In odd-numbered years like this one, the legislature passes a two-year budget plan, and the following year will make adjustments to the second year of the plan.
Published: Saturday, March 14th, 2015 @ 8:17 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
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Before the governor and legislators release their versions of the state budget, a very important source of information is needed - a comprehensive assessment of the state's debt status. Each year the Treasurer's office releases a Debt Affordability Study, which outlines the state's debt...
Published: Thursday, February 12th, 2015 @ 4:15 am
By: John Locke Foundation
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Fiscal conservatives tend to look askance at large issuances of public debt. In this sentiment, they are in good company. "I go on the principle that a public debt is a public curse," wrote James Madison, "and in a Republican Government a greater curse than any other." His mentor and friend...
Published: Friday, September 26th, 2014 @ 11:03 am
By: John Locke Foundation
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Most of us have jobs, and with those jobs come certain benefits, most noticeably health care and retirement benefits. The same is true for state employees.
Published: Friday, April 11th, 2014 @ 6:20 pm
By: John Locke Foundation
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Remember voting for a bond on the ballot? You know, those things city, county and the state government use to pay for things like prisons, schools, roads, and any number of things.
Published: Tuesday, March 18th, 2014 @ 3:56 pm
By: Brant Clifton
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North Carolina municipalities and counties issue debt or bonds to pay for specific projects such as schools, jails, county or municipal buildings, libraries, water treatment plants, streets, and sidewalks, among other things.
Published: Sunday, January 19th, 2014 @ 1:51 am
By: John Locke Foundation
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Earlier, we reported on the cushy treatment North Carolina insurance commissioner Wayne Goodwin has been getting regarding this ObamaCare mess.
Published: Sunday, November 24th, 2013 @ 7:29 pm
By: Brant Clifton
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Rob Christensen of the News & Observer recently published an article in which he claims to uncover "the truth" behind 10 "myths" about North Carolina state government.
Published: Thursday, September 12th, 2013 @ 11:04 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
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From taxes and spending to regulation, education, and transportation, the 2013 session of the North Carolina General Assembly proved historic in producing positive reforms for state government. That's the assessment from top John Locke Foundation staffers reviewing this year's legislative scorecard.
Published: Monday, August 12th, 2013 @ 8:07 pm
By: John Locke Foundation
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Eighty-two bucks a month. For nearly a decade, that was the price I paid for the student loans that funded my bachelor's degree. My education wasn't completely self-financed. My parents helped out, and I had a scholarship.
Published: Wednesday, August 7th, 2013 @ 8:32 am
By: John Locke Foundation
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As Democrats and Republicans debated North Carolina's recently approved state budget, they devoted much of their attention to the income statement of...
Published: Tuesday, August 6th, 2013 @ 8:50 pm
By: John Locke Foundation
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From taxes and spending to regulation, education, and transportation, the 2013 session of the North Carolina General Assembly proved historic in producing...
Published: Friday, August 2nd, 2013 @ 4:38 pm
By: John Locke Foundation
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As the dust settles on the landmark 2013 North Carolina legislative session, conservatives can look upon the accomplishments of the state legislature and find much to celebrate.
Published: Wednesday, July 31st, 2013 @ 8:05 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
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Gov. Pat McCrory has signed into law a bill substantially scaling back the amount of debt the state can assume without voter approval. Supporters say...
Published: Saturday, July 27th, 2013 @ 12:35 am
By: John Locke Foundation
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For savers, compounding interest can be a great thing. It helps to accelerate the rate of increase of your money in the bank.
Published: Wednesday, May 8th, 2013 @ 4:51 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
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Today was a "red letter day" in North Carolina. The N. C. Senate passed S 129, a bill entitled "Limit State Facilities Finance Act." The vote was 47 for and 1 against. It was co-sponsored by Bill Cook, along with 5 other senators.
Published: Monday, May 6th, 2013 @ 6:21 pm
By: Beaufort Observer Editorial Team
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Bypassing statewide bond referendums has cost North Carolina taxpayers an estimated $261 million in extra interest payments on state debt since...
Published: Saturday, April 27th, 2013 @ 10:56 am
By: John Locke Foundation
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NC General Assembly, State Sen. Tommy Tucker, R-Union, wants to curb a government funding mechanism popular among elected officials because it does not require them to gain voter approval to raise taxes...
Published: Monday, April 8th, 2013 @ 3:40 pm
By: John Locke Foundation
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House Bill 35, with primary sponsors Rayne Brown (R-Davidson) and George Cleveland (R-Onslow), would repeal the statutory authority enabling the state to issue Certificates of Participation (COPs) as a form of debt financing.
Published: Thursday, February 14th, 2013 @ 11:49 am
By: Civitas Insitute
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I have repeatedly argued in this space that North Carolina’s ballot is too long, that the state’s governors and legislators should decide who holds what office rather than asking voters to choose.
Published: Thursday, November 1st, 2012 @ 11:24 am
By: John Locke Foundation
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Incumbent Democratic state Treasurer Janet Cowell and Republican challenger Steve Royal don't agree on much, but concur that lack of statewide name recognition is a challenge in the Nov. 6 general election.
Published: Tuesday, October 30th, 2012 @ 12:48 pm
By: John Locke Foundation
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The ongoing state budget "crisis" strongly underscores the urgent need for North Carolina to adapt significant state budget reforms.
Published: Saturday, August 25th, 2012 @ 8:30 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
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For the second year in a row, Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed the state budget approved by the General Assembly. And also for the second straight year, the General Assembly garnered the three-fifths majority vote in both chambers needed to override her veto.
Published: Wednesday, July 25th, 2012 @ 7:22 am
By: Civitas Insitute
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