Carolina Politics Online

And make sure it’s the good stuff, like Cold Duck or something out of a box!

Gov. Bev Perdue isn’t losing ground.

Perdue’s poll numbers have mostly been bad news since she took office. A new poll by Public Policy Polling suggests that Perdue’s popularity at least isn’t sinking.

PPP asked 788 likely voters what they thought of Perdue’s job performance and 30 percent said they approved while 47 percent disapproved. A tiny bright spot for Perdue: in last month’s PPP poll, 48 percent disapproved.

The poll had a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

The N&O

Some of the more pro-business and conservative groups in North Carolina have gotten their feathers ruffled over Governor Perdue’s decision to expand talks with the SEANC and other union advocacy groups of state employees.  Currently, North Carolina, along with Virginia, has a ban on public employees unionizing and some interest groups throughout the state want it to stay that way.  They feel this move by Perdue is a way to slowly sneak this in the back door and pave the way for public sector unionization in North Carolina.  There is nothing wrong with groups like Civitas and others being vigiliant, but I’m not sure this is as alarming as they make it out to be.  The law is still the law and it still has to be changed.

When it comes to the private sector, I am not opposed to unionization.  I think if a group of employees want to be represented by a union then that is their right as an American.  I do not support compulsory unionization, however, which was the way of things back in my native northeast, because nobody should be forced to join one.  Up north if 50% plus one of the employees in your shop vote to unionize, everyone has to unionize, including the 49.9% of those who voted no.  I think most sensible people would agree that is just plain wrong, but many union folks are not all that sensible and the leaders of these unions see more dollar signs by forcing it on those who don’t want it.  Hence, I prefer Right to Work states, like most here in the south, where people have the right to unionize, but can’t be forced to.

Regarding the public sector, however, I am vehemently opposed to unionization.  When dealing with employees who are paid for with tax dollars and have their wages and benefits negotiated by politicians you are opening yourself up for a total economic disaster.  California is sadly an excellent example of this.  Public sector unions in California are bankrupting the state.  Steven Greenhut of the City Journal wrote an article just a few months ago revealing how firefighters in Orange County, California make an average of $175,000 a year with a gold plated pension package that provides them with 90% of their salary for the rest of their lives during retirement and that of their spouse.  This is typical compensation for a public employee in California.  This is a stark reversal of the past in which public employees would typically make less than private sector employees, but would be balanced out by more job security and better retirement benefits.  Today, they are instead turning into a special elite class of citizens in the state.  California is on the verge of true, blue bankruptcy and the state unions have so far successfully done their damndest to keep from having to make the same sacrifices that everyone else in the state has.

This is what North Carolina needs to be mindful of.  Public sector unions and the politicians that pander to them think that the taxpayers can provide an endless flow of cash to meet every demand they want and they hold the taxpayers and city government hostage in order to get it.  Need I remind you of the Air Traffic Controllers Strike of 1981?  Fortunately, President Reagan was prepared for that, but it still caused plenty of chaos.

Evidently public employees in North Carolina are feeling a bit disenfranchised right now.

“If you are anti-union this waves a red flag at you,” he said. “But from another perspective, state employees are feeling downtrodden. They have not had raises in two years and salaries are falling behind the private sector and there is no indication of any improvement in the near future.”

The Daily Reflector

Oh waaaaaaahhh!!!!  The poor babies.  A lot of private sector employees haven’t gotten raises in the past two years.  I work with people who haven’t gotten raises in the past two years.  A lot of people haven’t had a job in the past two years.  We’re in a recession people!

Now imagine if they had the power of a California public sector union.  Scary, huh?

Lanny Wilson, a very influential fundraiser for Easley and Perdue has resigned from his Department of Transportation position as reported in the News and Observer today.

He testified to the State Board of Elections that he gave large amounts of money to the Democratic Party with the intention of it being given to the campaigns of Easley andPerdue. This is a felony according to state and federal law. One has to wonder why our Democratic State Attorney General has not pursued this? No we don’t.

Such funneling would violate limits on donations to individual candidates. Wilson was the main financial backer of several coastal developments, including the Cannonsgate development where Easley bought a lot at a six-figure discount.

Perdue had him on her short list for her cabinet and Senator Basnight has just emotion filled words of support for Lanny Wilson.

“Lanny has so much to give this state. He’s smart and he understands the department very well. I believe he could reorganize the department in a fashion that we would get much more out for our money,” Basnight said.

I hope people now see why North Carolina is considered to have one of the most corrupt state governments in our union.

Bev Perdue

Bev Perdue: Mini-Mike

“I don’t believe you can raise taxes in an economy with folks struggling the way they are.”
-Candidate Bev Perdue, Oct. 2008

Sept. 1, 2009: A 14% sales tax increase, signed by Gov. Perdue, goes into effect.

One of the all-time dumbest things I’ve ever seen was witnessed on Election Day, 2008. Outside many polling locations in Wake County were signs, erected by the NC Democrat Party, with the message: “Vote for Change- Vote Democrat”. Instructions for straight ticket voting followed.

Now, if we’re talking about change exclusively on a Presidential level, those signs would be appropriate. I think we can all agree that it was inappropriate to apply that logic to U.S. House and Senate campaigns, as Democrats controlled both those chambers.

The reason those signs entered the threshold of the idiotic, however, was that anyone with even a cursory knowledge of N.C. politics knows that here, “change” means voting for Republicans. Democrats have held the governor’s mansion since 1992. Since 1900, they’ve held the state house for all but a few years. They’ve held the state senate since Reconstruction. Reconstruction! That’s like McDonald’s having a sign saying, “Eat Healthy- Scarf down a Big Mac!”

I was reminded of those signs as I sat thinking of what to write about your choice for the penultimate jackass of 2009- N.C. Governor Beverly Perdue. For all the talk of “change”, both nationally and statewide, all I’ve seen in the past year is the same old incompetence on a more cataclysmic scale.

“Change” would have meant a governor taking a tougher stand against the knee-high crap-pool of corruption in this state. Instead, she appointed Tony Rand, who is corruption personified, as head of the parole board. What, Bev? Couldn’t wait for Jim Black to get out of prison? At least he’d be more qualified.

“Change” would have meant avoiding absurdist dick-measuring contests like the tax-wasting fiasco between her and June Atkinson. It took several months and a court decision for Bev to finally figure out what was clear to anyone who could read- that Atkinson’s office and authority are clearly defined in the state constitution.

“Change” would have meant cutting spending to avoid budget deficits. Oh, some spending was cut- teachers got the shaft, which was ironic considering that Perdue was a teacher and that they are her core constituency. Nice move Bev. I hope you told them it was for a good cause, because while you hung them out to dry, you refused to cut a $25 million pier, $123 million for the Wildlife Resources Commission, $55 million for low income energy assistance, $277 million in “free” child care, which isn’t so free if you pay taxes to support it, a “cultural tour” to China, and more pork spending projects than I care to review here.

And “change” would have meant doing something about North Carolina being the highest taxed state in the southeast. When you and I have income troubles, we cut spending. When the N.C. state government has income troubles… they just get more income by raising taxes. Perdue, who pledged not to sign a tax increase on “working families”, signed a 14% sales tax increase and an income tax surcharge. Well… at least we can say that our tax rate changed.

Yesterday I said that Kay Hagan was one of those accidents of history who happened to be at the right place at the right time- in this case, a Democrat in 2008. Ditto for Purdue. Now a woman who has no business running more than a Qwik-E-Mart is doing her damnedest to ruin the state’s economy for a generation. Not even her pal Mike Easley did that, and that’s why Bev Perdue is the 2nd Biggest Jackass of 2009. Not bad for your first year in office Bev. Now let’s see how low you can crater your approval ratings in 2010.

Tomorrow- Your choice the Biggest Jackass of 2009!

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Beverly Perdue is returning to North Carolina after a nearly two-week trade and cultural mission to China and Japan.

The AP

You’d think with a 25% approval rating Bev would do a cultural tour of North Carolina instead.

Perdue leaves behind a contingent of about 20 North Carolina residents — including several legislators — visiting China on a separate trip paid by outside groups. They will return this weekend.

Well, that must be costing the state that just raised taxes to fill a budget shortfall a pretty penny.

A political tip: If you’re going to send something to the governor’s office, you better know what’s in it.

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger showed off a wheelbarrow full of “Conservative Voter Surveys” Tuesday that he said reflected lots of anger and frustration with Democrats.

We’re guessing Berger never imagined the governor’s staff would bother to read them. He was wrong.

Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson, responding to a request from Dome, said she had skimmed about a third of the 3,000 or so surveys. She noted comments written to the Republican party included:

“I am embarrassed to be associated with this organization. Your tactics are disgusting and you’re going to lose a generation of voters.”

And then there was the check. A staff member found a $50 campaign contribution made out to Berger tucked in the surveys, which were, after all, a fundraising ploy.

The N&O

::head in hands::

::heavy sobbing::

Due to a North Carolina state law that defines a life sentence as 80 years, 20 violent inmates, rapists and murderers, are due to be let out of jail next week.  Apparently, they’re getting time off for good behavior.  The governor says, no way.

Gov. Beverly Perdue says she will not release 20 inmates who received life sentences in the 1970s.

Court decisions have said that one of those inmates, Bobby Bowden, appears eligible for release because when he was convicted of a double murder, state law defined a “life” sentence as 80 years. The court said that Bowden appeared to have earned enough credit to qualify for release.

The N.C. Department of Correction identified 20 inmates who would also appear to qualify for release because of their credit for good behavior. Perdue said in a statement that new questions about how the inmates were awarded credit off their sentences will mean the inmates won’t get out of prison soon.

The News & Observer

Props to Bev, although I have to say that if the court’s decision stands, she’d be breaking the law, which she is supposed to preside over, by refusing to let them out of jail.  I would imagine that would set her up for a contempt of court charge, so I’m skeptical that she will stick to this if push comes to shove.  We’ll see.

News and Observer

Lawyers for the state and the vendor traded arguments before the state Court of Appeals over the legality of a 2006 state law that made machines illegal except on the Cherokee reservation, west of Asheville. A trial court judge in Wake County overturned the law in February.

Governor Perdue says the current law allowing the Cherokees to have video poker in a casino but not allow others to have video poker machines is okay. To me it is all about greasing palms of the Democrats in this state.  Except for a brief period in this state’s history, the Democratic Party has held court over the citizens here. I hope the voters here come to their senses. I had better stop here I do not want to get on a Democratic enemies list.

Governor Bev Perdue hasn’t improved her persona in the eyes of the public.  A Public Policy Polling poll has her at her worst numbers yet with only a 24% approval rating and even in her own party there are now more Democrats disapproving of her than approving.  Pat McCrory is certainly going to have an anxious three years ahead of him.

A.D. “Zander” Guy, appointed as a member of the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission by Gov. Beverly Perdue, a Democrat, on Sept. 16, 2009, referring to his serving three months in prison in 1990 for cheating insurance clients out of nearly $16,000. Gov. Jim Martin, a Republican, commuted the rest of Guy’s three-year sentence and later pardoned him.

The News & Observer

Outraged or expected?  After all she is just keeping up with the corruption of the former Governor.  The House Speaker is in prison for bribery.  In South Carolina the elected coke head State Treasurer just got out of prison and the Governor is running around the world contributing to its over population.  And I haven’t even touched on the legions of state representatives who have ended their political careers in a drunken stupor.

This appointment sounds like par for the course for the Carolinas, but that’s your fault for voting for them all in the first place.

Today is the day the recently approved sales tax increase, among plenty of others, goes into effect, courtesy of Governor Bev Perdue (D).  It will increase from 6.75% to 7.75%.  In Mecklenburg County, which has an added half cent transit tax, the sales tax will rise from 7.25% to 8.25%.  This represents a 14% increase in the sales tax all of you “working” families out there will pay on every purchase even though good ole Bev pledged that she wouldn’t raise taxes on “working” families right up until a week before she signed a budget raising taxes on “working” families.  But then, if you were dumb enough to vote for her you really only have yourself to blame.

This is why I live in South Carolina and while I work in Charlotte, I won’t be buying a whole lot across the state line anymore.

WRAL has up an “Ask Anything” session with Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory concerning last year’s gubernatorial race and his future political prospects. McCrory’s answers to the first two questions strongly imply he may take another shot at the governor’s seat in 2012.

1. Are you going to consider running for governor again or maybe even running for Senate? – Cecil Woodall, Smithfield

Yes. Running a state-wide race was a great experience (except for election night!!!) and I am proud of the campaign we ran. We participated in (and most believe we won) every debate and proved that a candidate can run an effective, positive campaign. We lived within our fundraising means, didn’t take any loans, and ended the campaign without any debt, just in the same manner I promised I would govern.

2. Dear Mayor McCrory, first I hope that you take another run at the governor’s race in about three years. What do you think of the term so far of the current administration? – Mandy Poole, Knightdale

I believe the appointments for Secretary of Commerce (J. Keith Crisco) and Secretary of Transportation (Gene Conti) were actually quite good. However, the current administration has done an about face on about everything she promised during our campaign. Our new Governor has raised taxes, reduced mental health care, laid off teachers, and closed much needed prisons. There has been no effort to change the culture of how state government decisions are discussed behind closed doors. Campaign violations by the past and current Administration continue to be exposed well after the election.

I hope he does run against Perdue again.  The first few months of her term she seemed like she was going to do pretty well, but her performance and decisions made in the last two months have flushed all of that straight down the crapper.  Perdue pledged she wouldn’t raise taxes on “working” families and yet she turns around and does exactly that.  Her budget and tax increases she approved of this year is going to come back and bite her in the ass.  Her approval is worse than George Bush’s after just a few months on the job.  Of course, a lot could change in three years and voters tend to have short memories, but I have a feeling Bev Perdue is going to be a one hit wonder.

So remember all of this talk by Bev Perdue about not wanting to raise taxes on “working families” and she would only support an increase on the wealthy?  Well, we have found out what it means to be wealthy in North Carolina.  It’s $60,000 a year.  You got it.  If you make $60,000 a year you are rich!  Surprise!

The tax proposal includes a one-cent sales tax increase and a surcharge on income tax that would apply to individuals with an adjusted gross income of at least $60,000 or married couples with an adjusted income of at least $100,000. Rep. Paul Luebke, a Durham Democrat, said those levels would mean that 87 percent of taxpayers would not pay the surcharge.

The proposal also includes tax increases on cigarettes and alcohol as well as taxes on certain purchases made over the Internet.

The News & Observer

The entire 239 page budget, should you dare venture down that road, can be found here.

In all honesty, you should try and wade through it regardless of how painful it may be. You’ll find out exactly how full of shit the state legislators were when they claimed they cut all they could. Take a look at page 212 at $123 million being spent by the Wildlife Resources Commission, for instance. Or the $55 million on page 123 for low income energy assistance. There is also the $277 million in “free” child care, courtesy of you. Enjoy.

Our friends at Under the Dome put together a very instructive timeline on Bev Perdue’s shifting tax positions:

October 2008 — Perdue, as a candidate for governor. “I don’t believe you can raise taxes in an economy with folks struggling the way they are.”

March 17, 2009 — Proposes budget that includes raising state cigarette tax from 35 cents per pack to $1 per pack, and adding a 5 percent surcharge on alcohol sales.

June 4, 2009 — After state revenues declined sharply and the House proposed deep cuts to education and other state services, Perdue said, “I think we can not do what we we have to do as a people on cuts alone. As to the mix of revenue, I am seriously looking at all the options.”

June 17, 2009 — Asks legislature to come up with between $1 billion and $1.5 billion in new taxes. Stopped short of saying what taxes should be raised, but notes that she had previously recommended raising the taxes on cigarettes and alcohol.

June 30, 2009 — Says it is costing taxpayers $5 million per day they do not have a budget by the beginning of the July 1 fiscal year. “I need the General Assembly to step up and come to a consensus.” She added that “I don’t care which plan it is.”

July 2, 2009 — A Perdue spokeswoman clarified Perdue’s June 30 remarks. “It’s not so much that she does not care which taxes. She supports the idea of sales, high income, (sales tax on) services and, of course, she originally proposed the sin taxes (on tobacco and alcohol). She understands that there could be a combination of solutions from the two chambers that could get us where we need to be.”

July 7, 2009 — Calls for a temporary 1 cent sales that would expire Sept. 30, 2010. She also proposes an income tax surcharge on a person earning more than $500,000 per year and couples filing jointly earning more than $1 million. It would end after two years. When asked why voters should trust that the taxes would be temporary, Perdue said, “Because I’m the governor.”

July 23, 2009 — Calls for the legislature to come up with another budget. Said plans to levy an income tax on working people is unacceptable. “Who in the world thinks in these trying times for families you can raise income tax for working families and middle class families?” (Celtic here- I would add that Bev Perdue no trouble raising taxes on those evil, slimy, wealthy people. I guess in her opinion, wealthy people don’t work. They must have found all that wealth under a rock or at the end of a rainbow or something.)

We talk a lot about annexation here and how in 21st century American such a draconian law can exist in any state anywhere.  Welcome to North Carolina, home to what is becoming more and more like Chicago style corruption in the state government.  In response to a growing outcry to forced annexation the state passed a very watered down provision earlier this week that was supposed to placate the shouting voices, but it doesn’t seem like most people were fooled and judging by the state’s recent actions, they shouldn’t be.

Senate Bill S967, sponsored by Fletcher Hartsell (R-Concord) would create what is called the Yadkin River Trust.  The legislation would enable the state to seize the lands, dams, and other properties currently owned and operated by Alcoa Power Generating Inc. along the Yadkin River.   Why? To keep this simple, the state thinks they can operate Alcoa’s hydroelectric plants to the benefit of North Carolinians better than Alcoa can.  Alcoa just applied for a new Federal permit giving them another 50 year lease on the land and Governor Perdue along with Hartsell and others in the state legislature want to put a stop to that immediately.  The state feels that Alcoa is “exploiting” the river.

Alcoa legally owns these lands and has since 1915 when they purchased them.  Several environmental agencies in both the state and the Federal government as well as environmental lobbyists have approved of and worked with Alcoa to get their permit renewed.  For the state to attempt to pass a law allowing them to seize the private property of a business in the name of the “common good” is Stalinist.  They must have gotten their queue from the Federal government.  If they can use this excuse to take Alcoa’s property who will be next?  It sends the whole state and your own property down a road with an unknown destination.

I’m not the least surprised to see fatty Fletcher’s fingerprints on this either.  He is a disgrace to the ideas of freedom and liberty and the Cabarrus and Iredell Republican parties would do well to rid them selves of that over bloated gas bag.  Hartsell actually had the nerve to tell people that this wasn’t about government taking over a private business.  Honestly, he actually made that claim:

Senator Fletcher Hartsell (R-Cabarrus), a primary sponsor of SB 967, reminded the committee members of the importance of the legislation and the fact that SB 967 has “absolutely nothing to do with taking over a private business.”

1888 Press Release

Nothing to do with it?  Reading Hartsell make that claim reminded me of a quote from Baghdad Bob during the Iraq War several years ago regarding the American military.

“They’re not even [within] 100 miles [of Baghdad]. They are not in any place. They hold no place in Iraq. This is an illusion … they are trying to sell to the others an illusion.”

If you would like to learn more about this government theft taking place in your own state the North Carolina Property Rights Coalition has a lot of information on this. Go to www.LeaveThatDamAlone.com for more information.

Update: The N.C. House of Representatives’ Water Resources and Infrastructure Committee rejected the bill today that would have allowed the state to take over Alcoa’s dams. Part of a press release from the North Carolina Property Rights Coalition is below:

RALEIGH, N.C. – The N.C. House of Representatives’ Water Resources and Infrastructure Committee rejected a bill today that would have opened the door for the state to take over Alcoa’s privately owned dams, powerhouses and other facilities on the Yadkin River. A motion to move the bill, SB 967, out of the committee failed in a bipartisan 8-6 vote.

A plan to increase the income tax of all North Carolina taxpayers is apparently dead.

After Gov. Beverly Perdue upended budget deliberations by fellow Democrats in the legislature, however, virtually everything else about a solution to the budget deficit is back up for grabs.

Perdue, hinting at a veto, said she told legislative leaders Thursday that she would not support an income tax increase that hit anyone other than the wealthy. “Who in the world thinks, in these trying times for families, you can raise income tax for working families and middle class families?” Perdue said at a hastily called news conference outside the Capitol on Thursday evening.

Legislative leaders had agreed this week to add a 2 percent surcharge on all income tax brackets as part of a $980 million revenue package that would have also increased the sales tax by one cent and increased taxes on alcohol and tobacco.

The N&O

Well, two things come to mind immediately. The first is that Bev Perdue is somewhat right. She was right to reject a tax hike of any sort. But she’s wrong for still wanting to raise taxes on the wealthy, or as I like to call them, “job makers”.

The second is that the legislature must have been under the impression that this idea would fly with her, otherwise they wouldn’t have spent so much time on it. Either Perdue sent them mixed signals, or she plain backed out on them. If I had her poll numbers I’d probably do the same thing.

News and Observer

Gov. Beverly Perdue succeeded Thursday in blocking a tax package deal struck between the House and Senate just 24 hours earlier.

It looks the Democratic Party is unable to find a solution to their out of control budgeting and spending of the last 10 to 20 years. Governor Perdue, Democrat, has killed the latest compromise by the State Senate. The reason is that any veto override would need Republican votes. And since EVERY single Republican Amendment and suggestion have been ignored by the Democrats I do not see any veto overrides in our future. Some basic Republican ideas have included zero-based budgeting, Tax Payer Bill of Rights, and a statewide Fair Tax. Also many Republican budget ideas to control last minute spending and to ensure every dollar given to each department is accounted for has been ignored by the Democrats.

According to a poll conducted by the Civitas Institute, if the next gubernatorial election were held today Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory would defeat Governor Bev Perdue by 14 points.  A little bit of buyer’s remorse, I guess?  I don’t know why it is that people are suddenly turned off by Perdue.  I mean, I predicted exactly what she would do when she was running for office last year, but I do realize that I am of a higher intelligence quotient than most.  Why are the tax increases and broken promises shocking to so many people?  Are North Carolinians really that stupid and naive?

Anyway, this poll doesn’t really have any bearing on the next election, which would be over three years from now.  If the state economy rebounds by then Perdue’s numbers will go up.  Three years is also plenty of time for most people to get over the anger of the tax increases they are about to be hit with.  All the poll really tells us is that people realize they made a mistake on Election Day, only eight months too late.

According to a July 12th poll taken by Public Policy Polling, Senator Richard Burr had better get his game on if he wants to see another term in the U.S. Senate.  While Burr is ahead of his potential Democrat challengers, his approval rating is hovering in the lower forties to mid thirties and he doesn’t poll any higher than 42% of the vote at this point in time.

Burr currently has an approval rating of 36% with 29% of state voters holding an unfavorable view of him.  A 36% approval rating for an incumbent is pretty piss poor, but Burr’s one saving grace is that the disapproval is even lower meaning that about a third of North Carolina voters aren’t sure what they think of him.  That still isn’t good, but it would be a lot more damning if his disapproval was in the fifties or sixties.

Against Democrat Cal Cunningham Burr wins 40% to 31% and against Kenneth Lewis he wins 42% to 31%.  Both of these fairly unknown candidates hold Burr well under the 50% mark which is considered safe territory for an incumbent politician.

There are so many factors going on right now that it’s really impossible to make any kind of prediction as to what Burr could face in next year’s election.  Governor Beverly Perdue (D) has an abysmal approval rating of 25% just after six months in office.  Former Governor Mike Easley (D) and his wife are under several corruption related investigations.  The Democrat State Legislature in North Carolina is ready to pass an astronomical tax increase.  Furthermore, throw in the quagmire going on at the Federal level with Cap and Tax, the failing stimulus legislation, the growing opposition to ObamaCare, and President Obama’s sinking popularity and Burr could end up sailing to reelection despite these numbers.

On the other hand, if the economy does pick up and employment begins a steady increase between now and November of next year and Obama begins to rebound back to higher approval ratings Burr could just as easily be retired.  I think Burr’s reelection will be more about the Democrats at both the state and Federal level than it will be about Richard Burr.