I wonder if a single day has gone by in which there was NOT an increase in spending from Raleigh, NC. I strongly suspect there has not.

As I write this, "negotiators" from the House and the Senate are still meeting to attempt to create a budget for the state of North Carolina. No, they're not arguing about where to save money, only about who can spend MORE money -- for example, whether to raise the cigarette tax by 75 cents or only 40 cents.

They are meeting in back rooms, with absolutely ZERO public hearings. They will not allow the public to hear or know about the negotiations. The budget was supposed to have been done months ago. It's likely they'll not actually finish until October. And, as you might expect, it is ONLY Democrats who are allowed to do this negotiating. So 100% of the tax increase and utterly wasteful and irresponsible spending credit goes only to North Carolina Democrats.

While they are meeting and raising billions of dollars in NEW taxes and tax increases, the spending continues! Governor Easley just spent $75,000,000. Yes, with no budget in place, Easley just used an executive order and spent $75 million. There is no way to use the word "responsible" combined with "legislature" or "governor" in this state.

Oh, but the money was "for the children," so it's OK. Despite NUMEROUS increases in spending on the schools, including approving $300+ million in new lottery spending for next year, $500+ million in new funding from fines, and other untold millions in "normal spending increases," Easley saw the need to spend ANOTHER $75 million.

Folks, the schools in North Carolina should be lined with gold by this point. If you add up JUST the new spending this year on schools, spending on schools has INCREASED over $1,000 PER STUDENT. But it's for the children. And they won't stop the spending.

Posted by: Ogre at 04:45 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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