Count campaign costs per voter
Was the 2014 Senate race between Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan and Republican victor Thom Tillis really the most expensive race in North Carolina history, or in the country’s entire election cycle... Read More
NC Spin Articles
Our poisoned political speech
Editorial by Wilmington Star-News, August 8, 2015. Upon reaching a certain age, it's not uncommon to start saying things that, in more youthful days, you were sure you'd never utter. Take, for example... Read More
Plan for charter takeover of worst public schools crafted in secret
N.C. Rep. Rob Bryan, a Mecklenburg Republican with a leadership role in education, has been working for weeks on a bill he hopes will eventually transform public schools. It would start small, with a... Read More
McCrory signs 26 bills into law
Gov. Pat McCrory signed 26 bills into law Thursday, most of them non-controversial. Here is a round-up: House Bill 134 (House 115-0, Senate 46-0) provides that minors cannot be charged with... Read More
GOP debate unlikely to change candidates' standings
The official kick-off event of the Republican presidential primary debate season came and went, and with few surprises, it seems like the field will stay locked in its current state. The candidate who... Read More
Laughable praise for transparency from the Right
It’s more than little ironic that a column this week by a prominent think tanker on the Right was headlined “Making Transparency a Top Priority.” The column praises a provision in the Senate... Read More
Crazy budget talk. So crazy it just might work
Crazy talk. Or is it? Here we are, more than 100 legislative days into the 2015-16 session and still no budget. What gives? North Carolina is one of only 5 states in the country that hasn’t adopted... Read More
The Voting Rights Act alive at 50
On the eve of its 50th anniversary, the Voting Rights Act got a shot in the arm from an unlikely source – the traditionally conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Ruling unanimously in... Read More
UNC Schools don't need more buildings
The 2015 House Bond proposal includes nearly $1 billion for the UNC system. That includes at least one project at each school, even tiny Elizabeth City State which is rapidly losing enrollment... Read More
NC Senate compromise includes taxpayer bill of rights
by Brian Balfour, Civitas Review online, August 6, 2015. The Senate Finance Committee has been quite active these past two days. Late yesterday afternoon, they decided to remove key policy provisions... Read More
