In North Carolina, the political label “conservative” is more popular than the terms “liberal” or “progressive.” In the most recent John Locke Foundation poll, for example, 46% of likely voters described themselves as conservatives, with 25% picking the liberal label and the rest either “moderate” or nothing at all. If we broaden out to include all North Carolinians, not just those who reliably vote, the gap shrinks a bit. But conservatives still form a plurality — and they significantly outnumber liberals.
Access to better, safer alternatives to cigarettes is once again under attack, this time in North Carolina where lawmakers are considering a new tax on nicotine pouches. Proposals such as these have become all too familiar as more and more lawmakers look at ways to restrict access to reduced harm products that adults use as alternatives to tobacco products.
Because Gov. Roy Cooper’s former secretary of health and human services, Mandy Cohen, just got the nod from President Joe Biden to be the next director of the Centers for Disease Control, politicians and analysts are again debating how North Carolinians fared during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which is responsible for making high-speed internet affordable for over 750,000 North Carolinians, is expected to run out of funds in early 2024. There are many factors that go into our most low income and rural Americans not having access to high-speed internet, but affordability and access are two of the biggest issues. This program plays a key role in addressing the digital divide. If we let it expire, the most significant negative impact would be felt by those in rural communities.
RALEIGH — In a recent column, I argued that cities would draw more investment and job creation to their downtowns if people felt safer in them. Because the only North Carolina cities included in the national study I cited were Charlotte and Raleigh, some readers concluded that I thought the problem was limited to those two jurisdictions.
Democrats this summer are working to bring our country a step closer to socialized medicine by slipping a Bernie Sanders-backed pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform measure into a broader insulin cap package that is expected to receive a vote in the coming months.
RALEIGH — Has there even been a point of time in which so many public controversies rest on a single, abstract principle of constitutional government? I can’t think of one.
Some Members of Congress are pushing to change a little-known, but hugely influential airport rule that could seriously impact flights in and out of local and regional airports including the Fayetteville Regional Airport.
Faithful Christians all across America had good reason to celebrate Independence Day this year. In the week preceding the July Fourth holiday, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down two landmark decisions which significantly clarified and extended constitutional protection of religious liberty in American life and law.
Rep. Jon Hardister (R- Guilford) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision related to the use of affirmative action on college campuses:
We hope this law is never used, but unfortunately there are some cases in which it may need to be implemented. Ensuring local governments’ bank books are balanced and taxpayer money is properly accounted for has always been important. With millions of federal dollars flowing through our local governments, that obligation is more important than ever.
Governor Roy Cooper issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the Moore v. Harper case, rejecting NC Republicans' fringe election theory:
