NC Politics in the News

September 21, 2015

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Economic Development & Taxes

CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL: Incentives cap for N.C. urban areas removed from compromise bill
A compromise N.C. incentives bill exempts the state’s urban areas from a cap on the value of incentives offered each year to recruit businesses.

WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: Bill offers lower amount than House wanted for state economic recruitment
The N.C. House-Senate compromise on economic incentives provides less money for economic recruitment than the House had sought and removes a controversialsales-tax-revenue distribution proposal.

WRAL: 2015 budget deal changes taxes and fees
In general, the state raises fees on a variety of items, most notably in the Division of Motor Vehicles. It will also charge sales taxes on previouslyuntaxed services such as repairs to cars, installation of big items or warranties connected to new purchases.

Education

WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: More schools deemed “low-performing”
The state budget compromise approved last week changes the definition of a “low-performing school” in a way that greatly expands the number of schools withthe designation — a move that critics say serves to undermine low-income schools that are showing progress.

WCTI 12: Changes to review school sex-ed materials approved by House
An overwhelming majority in the North Carolina House has agreed to changes that could broaden the scope of materials middle-school teachers use to instructabout sex education.

Elections

WXII 12: NC House Speaker: Consensus to move all NC primaries to March
It sounds like North Carolina Republican legislative leaders are ready to move all 2016 primaries – not just the presidential election – to mid-March.

WRAL: Stein steps into 2016 AG race
day before a planned series of appearances across the state, state Sen. Josh Stein, D-Wake, announced Sunday via an email to supporters that he’s runningfor state attorney general in 2016.

WNCN: Spring Lake mayor announces candidacy for US Senate
Spring Lake Mayor Chris Rey announced Monday morning on his website ChrisyRey.com that he is running for U.S. Senate.

WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: Forsyth District Attorney Jim O’Neill is running for state attorney general
Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill is running for N.C. attorney general, making him the second Republican to announce his intention to run forthe seat, according to his campaign website and papers filed with the N.C. State Board of Elections.

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Charlotte mayor’s race: Jennifer Roberts leads Democratic field, but faces runoff
Charlotte Democrat Jennifer Roberts led the field in Tuesday’s primary but faces a runoff with Mayor Dan Clodfelter in an Oct. 6 runoff. The winner goes onto a November contest against Edwin Peacock, who easily turned back Scott Stone in the Republican primary.

Health Care

NEWS & OBSERVER: North Carolina to privatize Medicaid
Legislators have agreed to privatize North Carolina’s $15 billion Medicaid program, a change that doctors and hospitals have been fighting for months, butwhich some Republican legislators have championed as a remedy for unpredictable spending.

WRAL: NC task force trying to address mental health, addiction problems
A new state task force is charged with devising a plan for providing the most effective and efficient mental health and addiction services to those inneed.

FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER: Belhaven mayor seeks lawmakers help to reopen rural hospital
Eastern North Carolina leaders who wrapped up a 130-mile walk to Raleigh to fight for reopening a closed rural hospital got support Wednesday from a Senatepanel to avoid an extensive regulatory process to unshutter its doors.

State Budget

FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER: N.C. budget signed into law by Gov. Pat McCrory
North Carolina’s budget was signed into law Friday by Gov. Pat McCrory, more than two months after it was due, following a standoff and protractednegotiations between House and Senate Republicans.

FORBES: A Tale Of Three Budget Standoffs: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
While most state legislatures are finished for the year, lawmakers in a few states have gone into overtime, spending their summers in windowless roomsworking to finalize state budgets for a new fiscal year that began over two months ago.

WRAL: Budget delay cracks top-5 longest since the 1960s
When Gov. Pat McCrory signed off on the 429-page state budget bill Friday morning, 2015 officially became one of the most protracted North Carolina budgetseasons in more than half a century.


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