The state budget proposal currently being negotiated by House and Senate leaders contains language that would allow local hospital authorities to expand unfairly throughout the state. This is a bad idea.
All in State Government
John Hood: State economy rests on diverse portfolio
RALEIGH — The late Harry Markowitz, who won the 1990 Nobel prize in economics for his work on portfolio theory, reportedly said “diversification is the only free lunch” in investing. By distributing your savings across a broad base of stocks, bonds, and other asset classes, you maximize long-term gains and minimize risk — assuming that the performance of the assets in question isn’t strongly correlated.
Attorney General Stein Pushes for Legislation To Protect Veterans’ Benefits
Attorney General Josh Stein today urged Congress to protect military veterans by passing the Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (G.U.A.R.D.) Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits Act. The bipartisan legislation will hold accountable unaccredited and unregulated bad actors who prey upon veterans applying for federal VA benefits.
OP-ED: UNC Health antitrust exemptions in the budget would hurt consumers
Right now, the proposed state budget includes changes that would be a huge step backward for healthcare in North Carolina. As our options for healthcare grow, patients deserve the protections currently in place to ensure that growth is fair.
Op-Ed: The NC legislature’s irresponsibly undisciplined budgeting
Imagine yourself in the following situation: Your children lack decent clothing and shoes and depend on reduced-price school meals to meet their weekly nutrition requirements.
High staff vacancies meant NC agencies left budgeted money unspent
North Carolina agencies left untouched more than $1 billion set aside for them, partly because of the state employee staff shortage, the state budget office said Monday.
John Hood: Presidential Primaries Need a Shake-Up
I know you may find this news depressing, but we’re only five months away from the first votes in the 2024 presidential election. Our current primary system is absurd. The contests start way too early. And their location is unfair to large swaths of American voters.
Attorney General Josh Stein Announces $1.9 Million Medicaid Settlement with Cary Lab
Attorney General Josh Stein today announced that Aspirar Medical Lab LLC in Cary and its owner Pick Chay have agreed to pay $1,951,090 to resolve allegations that they violated the law by billing the North Carolina Medicaid program for unnecessary urine drug tests and paying illegal kickbacks for these tests.
Brian Strong named Director of North Carolina State Parks
Brian Strong, a 23-year veteran of the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, has been named director of the division by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Op-Ed: Rep. Patrick McHenry's Vision for Digital Innovation and Regulatory Excellence
North Carolinians should thank Rep. Patrick McHenry for his leadership on legislation that will keep North Carolina a leader in innovation while protecting the blockchain and digital assets industry.
Bishop Launches Bid for Attorney General
Conservative Congressman Dan Bishop announced Thursday he is running for Attorney General, to defend the rule of law and protect North Carolinians’ freedoms.
Rep. Dan Biship to run for North Carolina Attorney General
Representative Dan Bishop, a prominent Republican member of the Freedom Caucus who represents District 8, has announced his decision to step down from his congressional seat in order to run for the position of North Carolina attorney general. This decision has sparked intense competition for the role, historically dominated by Democrats.
North Carolina's June County and Area Employment Figures Released
Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 86 of North Carolina’s counties in June 2023, decreased in five, and remained unchanged in nine. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.4 percent while Swain County had the lowest at 2.7 percent.
Attorney General Josh Stein: North Carolinians Need a Budget
Attorney General Josh Stein today released the following statement as the North Carolina General Assembly fails to pass a budget for North Carolina that will ensure our communities can grow and thrive.
Treasurer Folwell Announces 2024 State Health Plan Premium Rates with No Increase
State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, and the State Health Plan (Plan) Board of Trustees today approved, for the sixth straight year, no premium rate increases for State Health Plan active members for the 2024 benefit year, which begins January 1, 2024.
Williams’ FEMA resolution adopted by National Association of Counties
A resolution introduced by Brunswick County Commissioner Frank Williams was adopted at the National Association of Counties (NaCo) annual conference in Travis County, TX on Monday, July 24, 2023. The resolution, which was adopted for the second consecutive year, puts Counties on record as advocating for a more streamlined FEMA individual assistance process.
From Dr. Murphy's Desk: Updates from Eastern North Carolina and Washington D.C.
Thank you for taking the time to read my most recent updates from Eastern North Carolina and Washington, D.C. As always, it remains a true honor and a privilege to represent you in Congress!
The Elevator Queen Cherie Berry endorses Luke Farley for Commissioner of Labor
Former Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry, the longest-serving commissioner in North Carolina history, has endorsed Luke Farley to be the next Labor Commissioner.
John Hood: Gas Pipeline Will Help North Carolinians
Over the next 25 years, the market for electrical power in North Carolina will undergo dramatic change. If progressives get their way, government will use a combination of subsidies and mandates to vastly expand our dependence on solar and wind. If cooler heads prevail, we will vastly expand our use of nuclear energy
2023 Annual Report: NC's First in Talent Plan Shows Promise
Raleigh, N.C. - The North Carolina Department of Commerce and several of its state partners provided updates on the state’s economic development strategic plan during a virtual First in Talent Town Hall today. The 2023 annual economic performance evaluation report noted that the Commerce department has made progress on 32 of the 44 tactics in the plan since launching in 2021.