All in Opinion
RALEIGH — Recent assassinations and attempts on the lives of politicians, commentators, and other high-profile leaders are horrifying, wreaking havoc on our political discourse. Those who commit, welcome, or excuse such outrageous crimes differ in ideology, but most share a common objective: to provoke a wider war that, they assume, will result in victory for their “side.”
RALEIGH — President Donald Trump has removed the head of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and appointed an economist from the Heritage Foundation to replace her. A legal exercise of the president’s powers? Absolutely. But the replacement, E.J. Antoni, must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. I hope North Carolina’s Thom Tillis and Ted Budd give the matter careful consideration.
I bet each of you reading this has a piece of paper that you are certain is worth something. It’s about two and half inches wide and 6 inches long and is made of a cotton and linen blend. It’s green and has all sorts of symbols on it that probably need a lot of explanation.
RALEIGH — Over the first six months of the Trump administration, the United States has experienced a dramatic decline in illegal border crossings. In June, reported the Department of Homeland Security, there were just 25,243 apprehensions or expulsions — the lowest such number in reported history.
RALEIGH — Since the federal reconciliation bill was signed into law last month, fans and foes of the sprawling legislation have waged a war of words over its likely fiscal and economic effects. Some argue its permanent repairs to a broken business-tax code will boost capital investment, productivity, and wage growth. Others argue that adding trillions of dollars to federal deficits over the next decade is grossly irresponsible, risking stagflation or worse.
RALEIGH — Of all the legislation enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly this year, none is more significant than House Bill 402, which strengthens legislative oversight of state regulations. Passed by both chambers in June, it drew opposition from Gov. Josh Stein. In July, lawmakers overrode his veto to make it the law of the land.
RALEIGH — It’s not the biggest threat to public safety, I admit, but panhandling along and often on North Carolina roadways is illegal, dangerous, counterproductive — and commonplace.
Each year, nearly 70,000 North Carolinians receive the devastating news that they have cancer. In rural communities, where access to preventive care and cancer screenings is comparatively limited, diagnoses are often made later, when the disease is harder to treat and more costly. The burden of cancer is alarmingly high in our state, and it's hitting rural families hardest.
RALEIGH — The likely Democratic nominee for North Carolina’s Senate race next year, former Gov. Roy Cooper, led likely Republican nominee Michael Whatley by six points in the first independent poll commissioned after the two men announced their campaigns last month.
RALEIGH — As Americans continue to celebrate our country’s semiquincentennial — the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the war for American independence — I will continue to highlight the pivotal role that North Carolinians played in these historic events.
Just a few weeks ago, WakeMed in Raleigh reported a surge in heat-related emergency cases, including three children. They weren’t alone. Hospitals across North Carolina have been overwhelmed this summer, not just by record temperatures, but by the growing pressure to do more with less.
RALEIGH — Daimler Truck North America operates some of North Carolina’s largest manufacturing facilities, including a Freightliner truck plant in Mount Holly, a Freightliner and Western Star plant in Cleveland, a components and logistics center in Gastonia, and a Thomas Built Buses plant in High Point. It employs some 6,800 North Carolinians in the Charlotte area alone.
RALEIGH — While the North Carolina House and Senate continue to discuss how — or whether — to resolve their budget dispute and enact a new fiscal framework for the next two fiscal years, now is an excellent time for tax reformers in both chambers to spell out precisely what they hope to accomplish.
Senator Thom Tillis’ decision not to seek re-election next year gives him a rare opportunity in the coming months: more freedom to lead boldly on the most pressing issues of our time. As he enters his final stretch in the Senate, one way he can cement his legacy as a pro-innovation, pro-business lawmaker is by championing smart, federal policy for cryptocurrency.
RALEIGH — North Carolina is in a mess. It was an entirely predictable mess. Indeed, I and others have been predicting it for more than two years. But former Gov. Roy Cooper, coming soon to a U.S. Senate race near you, and lawmakers of both parties didn’t listen. They expanded Medicaid to include hundreds of thousands of childless, able-bodied North Carolinians — without a realistic means of paying the bill.
In my decades of public service—from the sheriff’s office in Rutherford County to the UNC Board of Governors—I’ve seen the strength, grit, and heart of Western North Carolina. We’re resilient people. But resilience doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It takes planning, protection, and the right long-term partners.
