All in State Government
A bill allowing hospital service corporations, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, to reorganize by creating a nonprofit holding corporation is facing fierce opposition from the state's Republican Insurance Commissioner, Mike Causey, who has labeled the proposal as "all about corporate greed." The bill, which has broad bipartisan support in the legislature, has been criticized for potentially evading scrutiny and avoiding a legal trigger that could lower customer premiums.
(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein today proposed several strategies to recruit and retain law enforcement officers. North Carolina is experiencing a shortage of officers in many communities.
North Carolina's Republican lieutenant governor, Mark Robinson, has announced his candidacy for the position of governor in a tweet on April 24, 2023.
"Passing legislation requires good subject matter, the ability to get along with your colleagues, and an understanding of basic math because you must have enough votes in support of your issue," says NC Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Sen. Jim Perry (R - Craven, Beaufort and Lenoir). With the "crossover" date looming, North Carolina lawmakers are gearing up for a crucial period when bills must pass from one legislative chamber to the other or risk being "dead."
Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04), joined Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) as they reintroduce the Green New Deal Resolution (GND) at a press conference in front of the U.S. Capitol Building
Republicans in the North Carolina Senate passed legislation to protect fair competition and promote safety in school athletics. Senate Bill 631, “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” is a commonsense solution to the unfair advantage gained when biological males compete in female sports.
The Inaugural North Carolina Bring Your Legislator to School Day will take place on May 15, 2023. Members of the NC Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year Network, the Public School Forum of North Carolina, and bi-partisan legislative sponsors kicked off the initiative by inviting the entire North Carolina General Assembly to visit schools in their respective jurisdictions and engage with school communities. Currently over 40 legislators have accepted the invitation.
The state’s seasonally adjusted March 2023 unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from February’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.5 percent.
This week, House Democratic Leader Robert Reives sent a letter to Speaker Tim Moore asking for an inquiry into the eCourts rollout. The failed rollout of the system has been widely reported on and has had a costly impact on North Carolinians.
The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved nine grant requests to local governments totaling $2,221,694, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 191 jobs, 22 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $49.5 million in private investment.
When the North Carolina House of Representatives approved its state budget plan a couple of weeks ago, the proposed pay raises for public employees, tax relief, and policy changes found within the budget bill commanded the lion’s share of public attention.
On Wednesday, April 19, 2023, members of the North Carolina House and Senate will be joined by members from the Police Benevolent Association and the Police Protective Association to discuss House Bill 363, The Gabe Torres Act.
RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed April 16 – 22, 2023 as National Volunteer Week in North Carolina to recognize the important work volunteers do in communities across the state and encourage more North Carolinians to find volunteer opportunities.
Attorney General Josh Stein today filed a bipartisan antitrust lawsuit against Google alleging that the company harmed consumers by creating a 15-year monopoly in digital advertising technology. By stifling competition through anticompetitive and exclusionary conduct, Google is limiting people’s access to ideas, information, goods, and services, and is profiting by taking more than 30 percent of the advertising dollars on its platform.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from 37 stores in 22 counties because of excessive price-scanner errors.
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) released the 16th edition of Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index, the annual report assessing each state's competitiveness and economic outlook
Raleigh, NC – The Raleigh News & Observer, Charlotte Observer and Durham Herald-Sun published an op-ed from Reps. Jake Johnson and Harry Warren on their committee's investigation into allegations of political interference by Gov. Cooper's senior staff over North Carolina's top law enforcement agency.
As an elected Senator, I strongly believe that government transparency is a fundamental pillar of a healthy democracy. Public notices are an essential tool for keeping citizens informed about important government activities and decisions, but the current system of posting them as paid advertisements in newspapers is outdated, costly, and inefficient.
Raleigh, NC – The Raleigh News & Observer, Charlotte Observer and Durham Herald-Sun published an op-ed from Reps. Jake Johnson and Harry Warren on their committee's investigation into allegations of political interference by Gov. Cooper's senior staff over North Carolina's top law enforcement agency.
The three most-trusted social institutions in North Carolina are the military, the police, and small business. Make of that what you will. I made the following column.
