Carolina Politics Online

One of two bills Dole will introduce, the Safe Roads Enhancement Act, would force legal and illegal immigrants - including permanent legal residents and those here on student or work visas - to begin deportation proceedings if they are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The same bill also would classify repeat drunk driving as an aggravated felony. Such a classification could be taken into consideration for people hoping to either obtain a visa to visit the United States or have a visa renewed.

The bill is a narrower version of the Scott Gardner Act first introduced by Rep. Sue Myrick, a Charlotte Republican, in the House. Dole and Sen. Richard Burr of Winston-Salem introduced companion bills last year in the Senate, but they have not passed.

Dole’s second bill, a companion to one already introduced in the House of Representatives, would reverse a Clinton-era executive order requiring federal government services to be provided in foreign languages if requested.

Twelve other bills to be introduced by other senators today include measures that would require the United States to finish the fence on its border with Mexico, maintain a National Guard presence at the border, expand immigration enforcement partnerships with law enforcement and set English as the national language.

The News & Observer

These are good bills and Dole is on the right side of them. Would her potential Democratic opponents also support enforcing our immigration laws?

This may just be electioneering, but if they pass and are implemented then the result will be positive. The American public has been more than patient with the Feds on this issue.

Meleah Corner of Huntersville decided to home-school two of her children to tailor their education so they could learn at their own pace.

She sees more people who are unhappy with public schools making the same choice.

‘I think home schooling is becoming more popular in Lake Norman, and it’s going to continue to grow,’ said Corner, 32, a mother of four. ‘I think parents are more concerned about having the control over what their children learn and at what pace and the ability to help mode their character.’

Topix

Home schooling has been gradually gaining popularity over time.  A lot of parents have gotten fed up with the broken government monopoly of the public school system and there is no sign in site of it improving in the near future.

It didn’t take long for state Rep. Drew Saunders to come out swinging against his Democratic primary opponent, Nick Mackey.

Mackey, who filed Friday to run against the six-term House incumbent, gained wide attention last year in his ultimately unsuccessful bid for sheriff. Now a lawyer, he’s a former Charlotte police officer and candidate for judge.

“I have no desire to be a Policeman, Judge or Sheriff,” Saunders said in a news release. “I am running for this office to represent the people of the district, not because I am mad that I cannot be Sheriff.

Charlotte Observer

It won’t be hard for Saunders to cut Mackey down.  He has plenty of indiscretions that are ripe for the picking.

“My opponent has been held in contempt of court because he would not represent one person in the courtroom. If he did not represent one person in the heart of Charlotte, how can we expect him to represent 67,000 people while working out of the State Capitol in Raleigh?” Saunders said.

Mackey, 40, declined to respond.

What’s he going to say?  It’s true.

Raleigh – State Treasurer Richard Moore said today if elected governor he would offer a free community-college education to North Carolina’s high school graduates.

The Democrat also said he would bump the minimum wage up by $1 by the end of his first term, making it $8.25 by 2012.

The state could pay for the two free years of education with interest on money won in its settlement with tobacco companies, he said.

Asheville Citizen-Times

I thought Perdue was a panderer, but this is even topping her now. North Carolina has a good deal going on right now as far as jobs and a friendly business environment are concerned. Raising the minimum wage would be stupid a thing to do as it would aid in stifling that progress.

Then we have the issue of free community college. Why should college education be free for anybody? Hell, why stop there? Everyone needs a house too, so let’s buy everybody one of those. You got to have a car if you’re going to go to work. I say free automobiles for everyone!

Furthermore, isn’t the money won from the tobacco law suits supposed to go to medical care of those suffering from tobacco caused illnesses? Of course, those of us free marketeers out here said ten years ago when these ludicrous and frivolous lawsuits were hitting the tobacco companies that barely a dime of that money would ever go to the medical care the states claimed it would. We were right. Those lawsuits were nothing more than a way for state governments to legalize stealing from an industry they didn’t approve of. How does Mr. Moore intend to pay for this “free” college education once that tobacco money runs out? North Carolinians have a big whopping tax increase down the road if they elect this guy.

The promise of free community-college tuition would lower high school dropout rates, Moore said.

Where is the study that provides you with this information Mr. Moore? Where is the data that unequivocally shows that a free education at the local community college will result in l0wer high school drop out rates? I think this is a question that needs asked.