You would think with a GOP veto-proof majority in the House and Senate and a GOP Governor (Pat McCrory), getting things done like passing a budget would come easy. You might normally think that gridlock is reserved for state governments featuring more than one party in power.
You would be dead wrong in North Carolina. In a state where the the General Assembly is gerrymandered to complete majority you would be wrong to believe Senate and House leaders would have simply ironed out budget issues months ago on a napkin at a fancy lunch place. The North Carolina budget is months late and affecting real people.
From WRAL
The budget, due by law July 1, is already 55 days overdue as of Monday. Lawmakers first gave themselves a deadline extension of 45 days. When there was no agreement, they passed a second continuing resolution for an additional 16 days, pushing back the deadline to Aug. 31.
Now the NCGA has passed another budget extension to Sept 18th
The GOP inaction is costing taxpayers money
Meanwhile schools, teachers, and especially 8500 Teacher Assistants are holding purchases, waiting for the ax to drop on them. One of the Senate budget plans call for firing 8500 teacher assistants. The savings would then be earmarked to go to reduced class sizes. The problem as told my many superintendents is there is no additional class space for additional classes, and no money to build additional space.
How about some raw meat to the teachers? Teachers, prior to last year ranked 51st in the country in teacher pay. A proposal will offer teachers a one time couple hundred dollar bonus. Good for one year.
As of today, schools are already in session and have no idea as to how much money they have to operate with the the school year. This affects things like after school, books, computer equipment, and nutrition programs.
GOP leaders want you to believe things are all rosy. They are getting their photos taken with veterans.
My theory is the NC GOP has come up with some very painful proposals including a sales tax reform that would take sales tax revenue generated from larger cities and redistribute it to more rural counties. They will wait until the very last moment before springing this upon the citizens of North Carolina. If recent history is a guide, they will include controversial policy provisions in the budget progress with few if any hearings for those affected.
The other bill to watch out for is the misnamedTaxpayers Bill of Rights, or TABOR This would come in form of an Amendment voted on by the people of North Carolina. This would enshrine in the State Constitution permanent spending caps.
State lawmakers would like to amend North Carolina's state constitution in ways that would undermine our ability to adequately meet the needs of a growing and changing state and impede our ability to build today for a strong economy for the future. These amendments would reduce annual state revenue by nearly $2 billion if implemented in 2015, meaning state funding cuts to important public investments that drive the state forward â our public schools, affordable higher education, safe and healthy communities, and modern infrastructure.
TABOR would make sure that we are unable to boost investments in early childhood initiatives, public schools, and public colleges and universities at a time when doing so is important to North Carolina becoming a more competitive and attractive state. -
Grover Norquist is all over TABOR
Great work NCGOP. You are Art Pope and the Koch Brother's greatest purchase.