Bill extending deadline on alcohol permits clears House committee
A bill seeking to extend a delay on payment deadlines for certain alcohol permits quickly cleared an N.C. House Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 3.
politics
State lawmakers look to eliminate hand-held cellphone use by drivers
State lawmakers are trying again to eliminate the use of hand-held cellphones by operators of motor vehicles.
Lawmakers, governor support reopening N.C. schools
Both political parties are throwing their weight behind school reopening in North Carolina. Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, urged schools to allow students to return to the classroom. Republican lawmakers also Tuesday, Feb. 2 moved to mandate in-person learning as an option for all K-12 students.
Attorney General Josh Stein leads bipartisan coalition fighting to defend robocall protections
Attorney General Josh Stein and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita today took action to ensure state attorneys general can continue to fight against robocalls. Attorneys General Stein and Rokita led a bipartisan coalition of 35 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in Lindenbaum v. Realgy. In their brief, the states argue that the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s robocall ban was enforceable from 2015 to 2020. Fighting robocalls is one of Attorney General Stein’s top priorities.
NCGOP hires new Press Secretary and makes other staff changes
The North Carolina Republican Party has hired Livy Polen to serve as the Press Secretary. Tim Wigginton is being promoted to Communications Director. The Party is also promoting Sarah Newby to Political Director and Phil Thomas will serve as the Party’s Chief Counsel and Strategy Director.
Former governor, chief justice inch closer to running for Burr’s seat
In public and behind the scenes, there’s a lot of movement on both sides of the aisle as candidates prepare to enter the race to succeed retiring Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, setting up competitive primaries and a general election race in 2022. Sources confirm that former Chief Justice Cheri Beasley has hired a new campaign consultant and is preparing to announce her entry into the Democratic primary. Other sources close to former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory confirm that McCrory has taken initial steps to run later this year.
John Hood: Legislators should reclaim their power
Among the many reasons the political discourse in Washington has gotten so toxic, and at the same time so unproductive, is that the legislative branch of our federal government has allowed itself to become increasingly irrelevant.
House bill would expand access to Opportunity Scholarships
North Carolina’s lawmakers are moving to advance school choice. Republicans on Thursday, Jan. 28, introduced House Bill 32, Equity in Opportunity Act, to reform the Opportunity Scholarship program. The bill would expand low-income students’ access to scholarships, integrate state funding, streamline the program for students with special needs, and boost outreach to low-income families.
Republicans slam proposed social studies standards
A N.C. State Board of Education meeting Wednesday, Jan. 27, became a flashpoint in the national debate over racism and American identity. Some Republicans complained proposed social studies standards were full of negativity, identity politics, and social agendas. Democrats argued that systemic racism exists, saying children should learn multiple perspectives on their country’s history.
Democratic litigator: After shift in Georgia, N.C. next to go blue
A Democratic litigator predicted North Carolina will be among a handful of states to turn blue in upcoming elections due to increasing turnout among minority and college-educated voters.
John Hood: States can limit regulatory damage
Shortly after taking office, President Joe Biden began revving up the federal government’s regulatory engine. He’s already run over the Keystone Pipeline. We can expect a pileup of other rules that will increase the cost of energy, food, and many other goods and services across our economy.
John Hood: Federal bailout will punish our state
Now that Democrats control the White House and both chambers of Congress (however narrowly), they will probably approve a new round of federal borrowing to bail out state and local governments with shaky finances. In other words, Washington will punish North Carolina and other prudently governed states by saddling us with the cost of other states’ mistakes.