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(04/26/09 4:00am)
From the presidential elections to his NCAA Tournament bracket UNC students' efforts helped President Barack Obama secure two very different wins this year. And the enthusiasm among students continues even after the president's first three months in office. Justin Rosenthal co-president of the UNC Young Democrats" said the organization remains optimistic about Obama's agenda. ""Most students on campus understand that his job is going to be long-term" he said. Although we fought so hard to get him in office" it's going to take some time to see some action.""Rosenthal said the Young Democrats have stayed politically active even after the elections. They have lobbied at the N.C. General Assembly"" and are in process of releasing a progressive publication called ""The Blue Print.""U.S. Rep. David Price" D-N.C." said in an interview that the president knows that he is going to have to take bold steps to sell his plans to the public and continue gaining their support. ""I feel that Obama will have a warm spot for North Carolina" Price said. He knows the state came through for him big time said Price. Price and other Obama supporters consider the stimulus package to be the president's biggest achievement. Presidents don't usually achieve that in the first two months of their presidency" said Isaac Unah, political science professor at UNC. A poll done by Public Policy Polling shows that 54 percent of the people in the state approve of Obama's efforts so far. But some on campus are not convinced of his plans.Jason Sutton, administrative vice president of the UNC College Republicans, said most students on campus are not politically aware enough to realize the consequences of their decision in electing Obama to office. He said the stimulus package is going to double the national debt in 10 years. It was hard for the College Republicans to make students aware of these facts during the elections and gain support for Republican candidate John McCain.Obama was sort of a dream candidate for the youth" especially compared to McCain Sutton said.He said the Young Democrats used eight years of pent-up frustration well. The College Republicans hope to do the same thing when President Obama runs for re-election in 2012.From next year we will do our patriotic duty now that we aren't playing defense anymore" he said. For Vivek Chilukuri, former co-president of UNC Young Democrats, whatever happens in the next election, it is a memory from a cold January morning in Washington, D.C., that will stay with him.He remembers walking out of the Metro at 4 a.m. to attend the presidential inauguration and seeing a line of people a mile and a half long outside the National Mall waiting to get in. There's not many things that can get college students out of bed at three in the morning" he said. I said ‘Wow" something special is going to happen.'""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(04/22/09 4:00am)
State officials have found a bright spot amid the recession in low construction costs. Contractors and architects have been competing for an estimated $1.4 billion that the state is expecting to receive from the federal stimulus package for construction projects.The competition for these projects has resulted in low bids" which is working to the state's advantage. Lower construction costs are allowing officials to stay within — or well below — their budget for construction costs. UNC is experiencing a competitive bidding climate for University projects as well. ""The cost for the projects are about 15 percent lower than the estimates" which were put together a year ago" said Bruce Runberg, associate vice chancellor for facilities planning and construction. He said lower bids and costs are helping the University make the most of a tight budget.Usually when construction plans are drawn up, the University includes items that are a part of the project site and need work, but are not of high priority. The funding the University receives for a project is limited to that project alone. Therefore, the money it is saving from lower construction costs will be used to do parts of the project that were prioritized lower, Runberg said.Now that we are getting a little bit extra" we can do everything we wanted and it will allow us to do a higher quality project he said.Runberg cited recent bids on two University projects as examples. The renovations for Bynum Hall and the UNC School of Dentistry will cost the University 20 percent less than the budget proposed.It is a boon to us clearly" Runberg said. The competitive bidding climate has been a significant help.""One of the biggest examples of savings is at the N.C. Correctional Institute for Women in Raleigh" which was $9.2 million under budget.Greg Driver director for the State Construction Office" said low bids are doing more than just cutting costs. ""If a project comes in with a lower bid" we are trying to make use of that to stimulate the economy as much as possible" he said.This year alone, the State Construction Office has bid on 74 projects. All of the projects were less than the proposed budget and cost the state a total of $186 million. Driver said costs have also been lower because some construction companies are taking jobs with low profit margins just to keep their employees working.The state hopes employees use that income to boost the economy.Construction affects people that are on the front side and rear side of the projects"" he said. It's not just the guy on the construction site that benefits."" Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(04/14/09 4:00am)
N.C. officials are nervously anticipating the state's income tax returns which are due today.Officials at the N.C. General Assembly Fiscal Research Division are estimating a $2.2 billion shortfall for the current fiscal year's budget of $20.6 billion.But once income taxes are calculated that deficit could increase or decrease depending on how much tax revenue is collected.Because there has been a decrease in consumption and an increase in unemployment rates in the state from last fiscal year the shortfall represents a 5.9 percent decline in the general fund which is funded by individual income taxes and sales taxes.In the past about 30 percent of the year's surplus or shortfall has come from April's personal income tax payments. Officials are expecting the biggest upward or downward swing in revenue this month.According to N.C. General Assembly Fiscal Research Division a shortfall of such magnitude is uncommon for the state because there is usually a surplus at the end of the year.Despite the shortfall" the N.C. Senate passed a budget of approximately $20 billion last week for the next fiscal year.""The Senate budget bill will focus on education" providing jobs and health care for the uninsured folks" said Sen. Linda Garrou, D-Forsyth. We thought it was a good bill for this time in our state's history.""Some legislators are expecting a decrease in income tax revenue" and therefore an increase in the budget deficit.Rep. Jennifer Weiss D-Wake chairwoman of the finance committee" said she is expecting the House's version of the budget to be more conservative because the income taxes could further increase the deficit.""We'll have the benefit of knowing what the revenue outlook is" she said. Every year" we have an April surprise. This year it's not going to be a good surprise.""Roland Stephen" assistant director at the Institute for Emerging Issues at N.C. State University" said the state needs a tax reform to make sure such shortfalls do not occur in times of economic depression. ""Our state revenue won't bounce around so much"" he said. We won't have to make tough choices about cutting programs.""Stephen said the economy has transformed into a service economy from a manufacturing economy and the state's revenue system should reflect that change.N.C. legislators should increase the sales tax base by taxing services" which will then decrease taxes across the board he said.Corporate taxes which make up 5.6 percent of the state's funds should also be broadened Stephen said.While tax reform will not improve the state's shortfall this year he said" it can reduce the deficit in the future. ""We believe in a classic tax reform — simpler" fairer" less volatile and more pro-growth. ""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(04/12/09 4:00am)
The slump in the job market is affecting more than just the state's unemployment rate.North Carolina is facing the fastest-growing number of people without health insurance in the nation in part because the insurance system is primarily based on employer-based coverage.The N.C. uninsured rate increased 22.5 percent from 2007 to 2009 the fastest-growing in the nation according to researchers.As of January the number of uninsured people in North Carolina was an estimated 3220 the fourth highest in the nation. A recent study by UNC and the N.C. Institute of Medicine suggested the high uninsured rates could increase health costs across the state.Such increases in health care costs forced David Penkava Asheboro resident to change his lifestyle. He lost his job at Hanesbrands a Winston-Salem-based manufacturer three years ago but he was not initially worried because he still had health insurance.But when his insurance company increased premiums from $126 to $1000 per month he was forced to sacrifice his retirement to make payments.Since his wife is not yet old enough to be eligible for Medicaid and suffers from diabetes" he had to go back to work at age 64.""I don't mind working. My problem is that I can't be at home with my wife to take care of her"" he said.Penkava, who also had open heart surgery, said he soon learned that individual insurance plans were not an option because their premiums are not affordable for lower income, high risk people. My biggest concern in life is health care — the cost of it and the ability to have it" he said.All three of Penkava's sons recently lost their jobs as well and are currently living uninsured.Of course my story is a lightweight compared to those that do not have any insurance he said.And the number of uninsured is on the rise.The number of people without health insurance is expected to continue increasing as unemployment rates in North Carolina rose to a record 10.7 percent in February.We know the job market recovers slower than other aspects of the economy. This type of uninsurance will continue for a while" said Mark Holmes, vice president for N.C. Institute of Medicine.The results show that for every percentage increase in unemployment, there is a 0.7 percent increase in uninsured rate, said Holmes.As in Penkava's case, growing uninsured rates could affect the insured as well by driving up premiums and other health costs.This cycle not only affects the uninsured" but it also affects the rest of us" said Kristin Milam, spokeswoman for the N.C. Department of Insurance.When someone is treated at a facility but is unable to pay, that cost is absorbed by the facility and can add up to higher health bills.The growing number of uninsured patients at UNC Hospitals is causing the uncompensated care cost — money to treat uninsured patients — to rise to about $270 million this year, said Karen McCall, spokeswoman for UNC Hospitals.She attributes this 25 percent increase in cost mainly to patients losing their insurance after being laid off.For those who are struggling to find a job, the federal stimulus plan could lower costs for laid-off employees by providing a 65 percent subsidy for premiums.The more uninsured people there are in North Carolina"" the more expensive it is for everyone in the state.""And when people like Penkava's sons are laid off" it is even harder for them to pay the high costs of health insurance" creating even more uninsured. ""Since they're not working" they can't afford premiums" Penkava said. I don't know what they're going to do."" Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(03/25/09 4:00am)
Anne Meadors wanted desperately to improve her living space.She was living in a mobile home with no insulation bad flooring leaky pipes and no employed family members.Meadors who lives in Chatham county applied for the Weatherization Assistance Program. The initiative works to reduce the burden of energy prices on low-income families by improving the infrastructure of their homes. Earlier this month the Obama-Biden administration announced that North Carolina will receive $131954536 for the program.The program makes homes more energy efficient and teaches residents techniques for energy conservation.Workers from the program put insulation at the top of the house fixed pipes under the floors" put in a fire alarm and carbon monoxide sensor and also installed energy-saving lightbulbs.""They've done a wonderful job" she said. We are on a fixed income" and it helped us tremendously.""Douglas Dixon" weatherization director for Joint Orange-Chatham Community Action Inc." said the company is planning to weatherize 58 houses in Orange and Chatham counties by the end of June.This is a decision that UNC Center for Urban and Regional Studies senior research associate Spencer Cowan said is ""a fabulous investment for the state.""Weatherization is a cost-effective program" Cowan said because improvements are made only to parts of the house that will save the family more money than they will cost.Weatherization can save between 20 percent and 32 percent of a house's energy use Cowan said.On average" homeowners can save $350 to $400 per year by making their houses more energy efficient. The money that would have been spent on energy bills could instead stimulate the local economy.""If you save that money" you spend it in the community" Cowan said.The stimulus package increased weatherization funding to $6.2 billion this year, up from $440 million last year, Cowan said.This could also create jobs for people in North Carolina at a time when unemployment rates are close to 10 percent.Zack Hamlett, director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, said that the state typically weatherizes about 3,000 homes per year.Workers perform several diagnostic steps when they audit the house to identify leaks and other information.Air sealing" insulation of walls attics and floors and sealing ducts are typically things that save the most energy Hamlett said.Those families are able to save what little funds they do have on their heating and cooling bills" he said.Meadors said that a year and a half after her house was weatherized, she still follows the simple energy conservation tips that she learned through the program, such as cleaning the lint out of her dryers.You are not going to believe how much it has helped me"" she said. But there's a lot of people out here that still need help."" Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(02/25/09 5:00am)
N.C. legislators made it clear that they are still uncertain of the implications and process of allocation of the stimulus money that the state is receiving.In a joint finance committee meeting Wednesday legislators from the N.C. House and Senate expressed uncertainties at how best to allocate the $6.1 billion that North Carolina will receive as a part of President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus package. Roland Stephen assistant director for policy and research for the Institute of Emerging Issues said that even with the stimulus money North Carolina's needs far exceed the budget.He estimated that $9.8 billion is needed for maintaining schools" $65 billion for maintaining the transport system and $16.6 billion for the water and sewage system. ""The federal stimulus package is a small drop in the bucket in terms of North Carolina's needs"" he said.Looking for coins in the cushions is not going to be enough in solving these problems.""Stephen stressed the need for strengthening the state's renewable energy. He said that $183 million from the stimulus package should be allocated for the cause.""It is one growing step towards the future. How to is much more important than how much"" he said.Last week, Gov. Bev Perdue announced that Dempsey Benton would be heading the Economic Recovery and Investment Office, which will be responsible for handling the $6.1 billion in stimulus money.Benton assured legislators Wednesday that the office will adhere to standards of transparency, timeliness and accountability.The governor wants to maximize the availability of these funds to the state"" he said.One of the ways the office will accomplish that task is by working with federal agencies in the state that are also receiving stimulus money, Benton said.The office also wants to ensure that some of the money goes to local governments and public housing agencies across the state, he said.The state will invest funds to create jobs for the increasing number of unemployed North Carolinians through better education and innovation, he said.The state's unemployment rate hit 8.7 percent in December.Benton provided the legislators with a timeline of their expected plans to spend the money.This is a use it or lose it situation. We have to make sure we use the funds within the deadlines"" he said.Benton and the governor's office are uncertain about how the stimulus money will affect taxpayers. State legislators still needed to know, for example, whether they would have to mirror the federal government's tax incentives.There are still tax implications" and this office is going to continue to evaluate those implications" said Chrissy Pearson, press secretary for the governor's office. There are still a lot of questions that need to be answered"" she said. Right now where we are is sorting through the details to make sure North Carolina is ready.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(02/19/09 5:00am)
A study criticizing an immigration law enforcement program was presented by the UNC School of Law at a press conference on Wednesday.The program 287(g) partners local sheriffs' offices with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.It allows sheriffs' offices to identify undocumented immigrants through a federal database and start deportation procedures. Currently" eight out of 100 counties in North Carolina participate in this program.""287(g) has pawned the responsibility off to local agencies"" said Deborah Weissman, a UNC law professor and director of clinical programs.Immigration traditionally has been a federal issue, and the study shows that giving local authorities the power to enforce federal laws is causing concerns statewide, Weissman said.(Local officials) are not immigration enforcement officers"" she said. Four to five weeks of training is not enough in dealing with complex immigration issues.""She said that the purpose of the program was to target terrorists and violent felons"" but that local officials are using it to arrest and deport immigrants mainly for misdemeanors and traffic violations. ""People are being arrested without any instigation except that they look like Hispanic immigrants. That is called racial profiling"" said Rebecca Headen, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, who contributed to the study.Headen also said that checkpoints are often set up outside Latino churches and markets to arrest and deport immigrants for charges such as driving without a license, jaywalking and fishing without a license.Wake County is one of the counties in North Carolina that has implemented this program.Donnie Harrison, Wake County's sheriff, said he has been monitoring his deputies and has not seen any signs of racial profiling.We are getting people off the streets that aren't supposed to be here and have committed crimes"" he said.Harrison also said more than 1,200 undocumented immigrants had been deported since the introduction of 287(g) last year. Headen said the program makes the community more vulnerable to crime because immigrants will be too scared to report crimes that they were victims of or witnessed.The study also mentions that the cases are not treated like criminal cases, so arrested immigrants who are facing deportation are not provided with a lawyer.Orange County is implementing a similar program known as Secure Communities. Through this program, sheriffs' offices have access to the database, which can identify illegal immigrants once they are arrested but does not initiate deportation procedures.Weissman said studies have shown that there have been problems with the database, and at times, the immigration status is not updated.At least three U.S. citizens from North Carolina have been erroneously deported, she claimed.All counties in North Carolina are expected to use this database by next year, Weissman said.That's the nightmare we are going to face"" she said. We think North Carolina can do better. We are a state that has principles of liberty and equality.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(02/16/09 5:00am)
RALEIGH — The bus of UNC students hadn't even left Chapel Hill before occupants burst into song and cheers — warming up vocal cords to express their dissatisfaction with the N.C. Legislature.About 75 UNC student activists joined 3"000 other N.C. residents to march from Martin Luther King Boulevard to the N.C. Legislature on Jones Street" and told the state government one thing: ""Don't budget on the backs of the poor.""The third annual Historic Thousands on Jones march — or HK on J — rallies organizations statewide to demonstrate for a 14-point agenda advocating" among other things livable wages universal health care" affordable housing and collective bargaining rights for public employees. ""Our agenda is rooted in freedom" hope and what's right. It is comprehensive because many people's pain is comprehensive" said Rev. William Barber, president of the N.C. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, at the rally.The UNC chapter of the NAACP, the Black Student Movement and Students for a Democratic Society joined the march, as well as UNC student body president candidate Jasmin Jones.Brian Allison, political action committee co-chairman of the UNC chapter of the NAACP, said working with Barber inspired him to get UNC students involved. If it doesn't affect you directly" it affects you indirectly Allison said.Students' enthusiasm became clear when the bus full of students en route to Raleigh broke into songs and cheers almost as soon as the driver revved the engine. Allison said he hopes that the numbers and enthusiasm keeps increasing yearly. I don't think anything at UNC this big has ever happened — progressive whites and blacks from different organizations working together" he said.Allison said students care about workers' rights, affordable housing and health care because they will soon deal with the same problems.Many students also wore yellow gags around their mouths that had Repeal 95-98"" written on them to protest a statewide ban on collective bargaining.The route led the activists through historic sites in downtown Raleigh" starting with Chavis Park which was the only park blacks were allowed to enter during segregation and went by Shaw University where the first student nonviolent committee met during the civil rights movement.Woody Woodard president of the Statesville NAACP said the weather probably kept the march's numbers from reaching last year's high of 5000 people but said the youth turnout was higher than last year.Senior Kennetra Irby a member of the UNC chapter of the NAACP" said the causes supported at the march were universal.""These are points that resonate with everybody" she said. It's going to show the legislature that people in N.C. are really invested in the state" and we are going to push for what we want.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(02/11/09 5:00am)
An N.C. bill that denies undocumented immigrants the right to bail could add to the already controversial steps taken by the state to control crimes by illegal immigrants. The No Bail for Certain Illegal Aliens bill proposed Monday by N.C. Reps. Justin Burr (R-Stanly) and Pearl Burris-Floyd (R-Gaston) would deny bail for illegal immigrants who are charged with sex offenses drug trafficking gang related offenses" violent felony charges or driving offenses. ""I see too many times that they get off on bail and don't show up for their trial"" Burr said. (The bill) seems to be the only way to get them to show up.""The bill" which still must be passed by committee and the General Assembly is designed to help sheriff offices enforce federal immigration laws by alerting federal authorities of detained illegal immigrants.But Deborah Weissman a professor and director of clinical programs at the UNC School of Law" said that ""denying a certain class of people their right to bail violates due process" the Fifth Amendment" the Sixth and the Eighth Amendment."" She said there has been misinformation about immigration in North Carolina. Some studies have shown that in counties with a high influx of immigrants" the crime rate is lower. Also" there have been cases in which legal immigrants were erroneously arrested and deported by local officials.""Even if it happens to one person" it's more than enough" she said. Marty Rosenbluth, an immigration attorney for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, said that often illegal immigrants do not attend state trial not because they have fled, but because they have been detained by federal authorities. I think the real problem with this bill is that it is yet another attempt to have state be involved in federal law" which the Supreme Court has said over and over again is unconstitutional" he said. Rosenbluth said 66 percent of illegal immigrants are arrested for smaller crimes, such as driving offenses, for which the bill would also deny them the right to bail.This is exactly the same as the various local ordinances that bar illegal aliens from jobs and public schools"" he said.Denying illegal immigrants bail will close the loophole in a program by allowing local officials to start deportation procedures without the risk of the immigrants fleeing, Burris-Floyd said, mirroring a recently implemented program in Chapel Hill called Secure Communities.We are still looking at how to craft it so it is considered constitutional" Burris-Floyd said. But if a person is illegal" then on what grounds are they standing?""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(01/23/09 5:00am)
Due to a reporting error this story misidentified the speaker at the Orange County Board of Commissioners meeting from the Coalition for College Access. The woman speaking was Amanda Gutierrez a founding member of the coalition. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass tried to clarify his decision to enroll the county in a program that alerts federal authorities to illegal immigrants who have been arrested.At its meeting Thursday the Orange County Board of Commissioners expressed concerns that it could lose control of the decisions made for the people in Orange County by enrolling in the program called Secure Communities.It is one of the controversial programs started by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It links the sheriff's office to a federal database and alerts federal authorities when an illegal immigrant is in the sheriff's custody. In response to the board's concerns Pendergrass used an example of an individual who was convicted for sexual offenses in Orange County. ICE was notified and he was placed in a jail in Georgia but he still has a hearing in Orange County.Until recently" many of the board members were unaware of Pendergrass' decision to enroll in the program and questioned its implementation.""I don't have a choice" Pendergrass said. By the end of the year" the whole system in the state of North Carolina will be just the same as ours."" He said that by 2010" all 100 counties in North Carolina would be required by the state to enroll in the program.The board was unconvinced by the sheriff's argument and agreed that the program should be discussed further with the county manager chairwoman and vice-chairman of the board the county attorney and Sheriff Pendergrass. Rachel Craft president for the Coalition for College Access" addressed the board concerning her apprehension about the program and the possibility of racial profiling after the floor was opened for public comments.""We are concerned about the backlash from the fear this program will cause in the community"" Craft said. We are eager to see Orange County as a leader again in preserving rights and safety in our neighborhoods."" Pendergrass denied that racial profiling would be a problem.""There's a lot of misconception about the Secure Communities Program"" Pendergrass said. The section is only looking for criminals? We are not going to sweep people off of neighborhood streets.""In 2007" the board passed a resolution expressing that local law enforcement should not enforce federal immigration laws.Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(12/02/08 5:00am)
The national lending crisis reached the student loan market months ago but the federal government is now stepping in to bail out the student lending industry.Meanwhile" N.C. officials claim that federal student loan availability in North Carolina is expected to stay stable through the next academic year. The U.S. Department of Education first stepped in last spring. This is the second time it's provided financial assistance for the lending industry to minimize potential disruptions in the student loan market.""I am using the authority granted by Congress to … help ensure continued" successful disbursements of student loans" stated U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings in a press release in late November.The education department is planning to buy more of the Federal Family Education Loan Program's student loans, which it began buying last spring.The N.C. State Educational Assistance Authority, a state-sponsored lending agency that provides most of the student loans for the state, is in good shape to continue providing loans. It is true that the state of the financial market has put some pressure on the capital which provides loans" but we have adequate funds for students" said Julia Hoke, director of legal affairs and general counsel for the lending agency.A private bond from the N.C. State Employees' Credit Union funds a large portion of the capital used by NCSEAA to provide loans for students.That support is partly why they are still able to lend to students while other states are having difficulty, said Steve Brooks, the agency's executive director, earlier this year.Tabatha Turner, associate director of financial aid at UNC, said that while need-based federal loans will remain secure for the next academic year, more financial aid applications are expected due to the economy.Students who want private loans also might have a harder time because the availability of those loans depends on the financial security of banks and other private lenders, Turner said.There is not a sizeable portion of students at UNC who use these loans" but for those who do they will definitely be affected" she said.N.C. students borrowed a total of $118 million in federal, private, state and institutional loans in the 2006-07 academic year. Federal loans made up $105 million of that. Private loans constituted an estimated $8.5 million, Turner said.The remaining difference was covered by the state and lending institutions.Although the loan market is secure for now, problems could arise in the future if the financial market does not improve, Hoke said. We have made arrangements and have capital secure for the following year" but our economy is difficult" so we can hope that things improve.""State & National Editor Ariel Zirulnick contributed reporting.Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(11/16/08 5:00am)
Statewide elections have left the board that votes on issues such as state financial matters and capital punishment procedures leaning heavily Democratic.The newly elected N.C. Council of State which is composed of the heads of state agencies now is stacked 7-2 in favor of Democrats. Incumbent Republican State Auditor Leslie Merritt was defeated by Democrat Beth Wood" leaving only two Republicans on the council this term — Commissioner of Labor Cherie Berry and Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler. The two might face tough odds in having their voices heard.""It is a voting body" so it is tough when we are in the minority" Berry said.When she was the only Republican on the council in 2000, Berry said that she usually couldn't get any of the members to second her motions.That changed in 2004, when Troxler and Merritt were elected.Marshall said the replacement of Merritt with Wood could weaken Republicans on the council.It was clear that the auditor had a Republican agenda in the types of questions he raised" so that will change she said.But Wood said she doesn't think the Democratic majority will change the council's dynamics.We will be working for all citizens in North Carolina and do what is best for the state she said.She said partisanship doesn't affect the council and Democrats won't be pushing any sort of a political agenda.I haven't talked to anybody who feels like the Republicans are going to be bulldozed" she said.Troxler also said he doesn't foresee a lot of change.Since each member votes individually, party loyalties don't tend to come into play, he said, although controversial issues like capital punishment and state debt could be impacted.On the issue of state debt, N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said Republicans don't agree with the N.C. General Assembly passing bonds without voter approval.It is more of a fiscal issue than a party issue" but the Republicans bring it up more" Marshall said.Berry said Republicans tend to question the state's finances since debt has recently doubled.However, Troxler said votes are less about party and more about personal opinion.Sometimes we vote on party lines" sometimes we don't" but once again it goes back to individual votes.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(11/10/08 5:00am)
A business magazine has selected North Carolina as the top business climate in the country" even in times of economic distress. Site Selection Magazine recently named North Carolina as the top state for the seventh time in eight years. The magazine makes its annual selection based on two factors: a survey taken by top executives in the country and the extent of new plant activity in the state. It credits Gov. Mike Easley's administration for playing a key role in the state's ranking.""Corporate executives know North Carolina is listening to them and we understand what they need to succeed"" Easley said in a press release about the ranking.Performance-based incentive programs and workforce training programs have helped attract major industries to North Carolina and created a diverse workforce. Ken Evans, corporate communications manager for Spirit AeroSystems, which has a plant scheduled to open next year in Kinston, N.C., said that these incentives helped the company choose the site for its new plant. After an international site search" we down selected the Southeast" he said. It then became clear that North Carolina met our needs."" Factors that make North Carolina's business climate ideal include the state's close proximity to sea ports" its growing population and a readily available and technologically trained work force Evans said.There are also state grants such as the Golden Leaf which uses tobacco industry revenue to provide business incentives.Kathy Neal spokeswoman for the N.C. Department of Commerce" said there has been a significant growth in the aviation industry and other knowledge-based sectors such as biotechnology and life sciences.""There has been lots of activity in (Research Triangle Park)" the Piedmont Triad Charlotte as well as the West and southeastern parts of the state" she said.What it shows is that North Carolina is attractive to many people for different reasons.""She said the state's reputation for having both a strong education system that interacts with the business sector" as well as a high quality of life are attracting a talented diverse workforce. They bring knowledge-based industries to the state.Robert Connolly UNC associate professor of finance" said North Carolina's location also gives it an edge.""North Carolina has an advantage that it has many ports and that it's located between Richmond" Boston and Atlanta" he said. Besides North Carolina, Site Selection Magazine also ranked Tennessee, Alabama, Texas and Indiana as other top states with healthy business climates. The state's hope is that companies still expanding during the downturn will use these rankings to determine where to relocate.Companies certainly pay attention to these rankings"" Neal said. It better positions us to weather the crisis in hard economic times.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.