(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein announced that North Carolinians can view how their local governments plan to spend the approximately $1.2 billion coming to counties and municipalities to combat the opioid overdose crisis.
All in State Government
John Hood: Budget delay strengthens case for limits
RALEIGH — House Speaker Tim Moore told reporters last week that the North Carolina General Assembly is unlikely to craft and approve a state budget deal before Labor Day. That’s more than two months into the 2023-24 fiscal year that began July 1.
Ensuring a Brighter Future One Meal, One Student at A Time
Others cannot help but raise an eyebrow when I tell them that, not only did I thoroughly enjoy teaching 7th grade, but my favorite class to teach - 4th period - included a 25-minute lunch break in the middle of the class period. Although the unpadded circular seats took some time getting used to, I cherished the opportunity to build bonds with my students each day. It was during lunchtime, however, that I noticed the impact that a missed meal has on a student.
Attorney General Josh Stein announces sentencing in $4 million health care fraud
(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein announced that James Craig Bell, the owner of Townsend’s Pharmacy in Robeson County, was sentenced to two years in prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud. His fraudulent practices cost Medicare and the North Carolina Medicaid program more than $4 million over a decade.
Murphy introduces the senior citizens' freedom to work act
Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03), introduced the Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act. This legislation repeals the retirement earnings test (RET), which reduces benefits for Social Security beneficiaries who claim early retirement but choose to continue working and make above a certain threshold.
Attorney General Josh Stein: The General Assembly is Failing North Carolinians
(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein today released the following statement as the North Carolina General Assembly continues to delay passing a budget that helps North Carolina families.
Op-Ed: More Regulation is not the Solution for NC Small Businesses
There are likely only a few weeks left in this year’s North Carolina legislative session, and health care has been one of the hottest topics in Raleigh. Issues like expanding Medicaid and legalizing medical marijuana have gotten the most attention, but other major proposals have flown under the radar.
Op-Ed: Proposed budget language removing boundary limits on hospital authorities is bad policy
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.
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.