Gov. McCrory signs repeal of Racial Justice Act
Jun 19th - 6:54 pm
RALEIGH — A bill that repeals North Carolina’s Racial Justice Act has been signed into law by Gov. Pat McCrory.
The legislation states that inmates on death row can no longer file an appeal on their sentencing based solely on racial statistics. Four cases involving the Racial Justice Act have already been considered since it became law in 2009.
In all four cases, the murdered had their sentence commuted to life without parole. The law also codifies court decisions on death penalty protocol in an effort to help North Carolina be prepared to start executions again.
No one has been executed in the state since 2006 due to multiple court cases.
Speaker Tillis on tax reform: We need to hold cities, counties harmless
Jun 19th - 1:13 pm
House Speaker Thom Tillis
I talked with House Speaker Thom Tillis this morning. Surprise, surprise we focused on tax reform.
Tillis said Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger spoke with the House Republican Caucus Tuesday to explain his tax plan and House members told Sen. Berger their concerns. Tillis hopes to do the same with the Senate Republican Caucus as early as today.
A big difference between the House and Senate plans centers around funding for cities and counties. The Senate plan could result in $163 million less for cities and $88 million less for counties once fully implemented. The cities and counties say that would likely result in a hike of property taxes to make up for lost revenue.
I asked Tillis if House Republicans want any tax plan to remain revenue neutral for counties and municipalities.
“It has to be,” Tillis said. “We set a precedent back in 2011 to say we’re going to balance the state’s budget based on the state’s revenues. We’re not going to do anything that puts a burden on the cities and counties. That’s our job to balance the budget, not to really shift it and have them have the responsibility for raising revenue because it could have an impact on property taxes and other things.”
He went on to say they need to hold cities and counties harmless and believes the Senate appreciates their concern.
That issue is just one of several issues holding up a compromise. Tillis said he’s concerned with making overly aggressively cuts in case the economy takes another downturn.
He also said there’s discussion regarding how far to cut the corporate tax that’s still unresolved. The Senate plan eventually cuts that tax altogether while the House reduces the rate.
Tillis said the House still believes an overall revenue neutral tax plan is the best first step. Neither the House or Senate plan are revenue neutral and result in more than a billion dollars of lost revenue over time.
In my interview Monday, Gov. Pat McCrory said he preferred revenue neutral but said it was only “one of the end games.”
Tillis said the current plan changes how you get revenue and then, over time, broaden the sales tax. In other words, he believes this is the start, and the end goal remains to broaden the sales tax to more services.
Tillis also reiterated that we don’t ever necessarily get to a zero percent personal income tax rate.
“The continuing resolution may be administratively necessary just so that the governor has enough time to review the budget after we pass it out of here (legislature),” Tillis said.
He went on to say he doesn’t believe they will have a problem getting it done in the first part of July.
The entire interview will air on tonight’s show at 7 p.m. and midnight.
- Tim Boyum
Capital Tonight June 18: Tax reform effect on municipalities
Jun 19th - 11:13 am
On Capital Tonight: We look at how tax reform will affect local municipalities. Johanna Reese, director of government relations with the Association of County Commissioners, and Paul Meyer, director of governmental relations with the League of Municipalities join Tim Boyum, plus, Perry Woods and Ballard Everette are our Insiders this week.
Watch the episode here.
Gov. McCrory on tax reform: ‘We’re rewarding productivity’
Jun 18th - 12:25 pm
Pat McCrory on tax reform
Do big tax cuts and closing some some sales tax loopholes equal comprehensive tax reform? That seems to be the question of the moment in Raleigh.
Sen. Bob Rucho, who, last week, quit his Finance co-chairman post, said he did not believe the latest Senate plan was comprehensive because it failed to tackle complete sales tax reform.
You have probably heard the arguments over the past year. We have a 1930s tax system that was built around the sale of goods. More than 80 years later we are now a service-oriented economy. In other words, we don’t buy as many tangible goods — we buy services like lawn care, lawyer visits, etc.
For months, we have heard that argument from Republicans. Rucho wanted to completely reform it by taxing more than 130 services and very few exemptions. Other legislatures have tried to reform the system but failed because it’s a political challenge to say the least.
Would you vote for someone that raised the tax on your groceries or prescription drugs? Granted, you get a nice income tax cut but you can just imagine those Democratic consultants salivating over the potential campaign ads against Rucho and other Republicans. Not to mention the political ads that were already airing from the Realtors Association (Rucho’s plan eliminated the state mortgage interest deduction).
Sen. Phil Berger decided that plan was no longer an option because of the political ramifications and created a new plan released a week ago today. That’s why Rucho quit his Finance post.
The new plan closes several loopholes, eventually eliminates the corporate income tax and cuts the personal income tax to a flat 5.4 percent next year. It will also cost $4.4 billion in funding for the state over five years because the sales tax is not broadened to cover services like Rucho’s original plan.
Fast forward to yesterday and my chance to sit down with Gov. Pat McCrory to ask him if he believes these most recent plans are still tax reform.
None of the new plans under consideration broaden the sales tax extensively and none of the plans are revenue neutral. McCrory told me he still prefers revenue neutral, but is that his end game in negotiations with the House and Senate?
“That’s one of the end games,” McCrory said.
So, back to the question of whether or not this is indeed true comprehensive tax reform.
“Oh it is tax reform, in fact we’re rewarding productivity,” McCrory said. “We’re rewarding capital investment. We’re rewarding making things and building things and innovating things. This is not a tax cut, this is tax reform. This is major reform if we can lower the income tax, be competitive with our neighboring states and also a portion of our corporate or franchise tax, then I think we’ll have a positive impact on creating jobs in the long run.
“This is reforming the tax system now,” McCrory continued. “We’re going to be closing some loopholes, which includes some loopholes in the sales tax which people get a refund on at the expense of other taxpayers and I think we need to reform that. There’s a lot of inequity and there’s a lot of loopholes in the system that has to be closed and it’s very confusing to try and explain our tax code to individuals and businesses.”
But with total Republican control of the legislature and executive branches, why not do complete, comprehensive tax reform now? Who knows if they will ever have this much political clout again, right?
“First of all, I don’t believe in radical reform, because that brings about uncertainty of gosh when’s it going to happen again,” McCrory said. “I’m a very strategic person. I’m a very pragmatic person too. So, I’m implementing tax reform in a very strategic way that gives businesses confidence and you don’t do that by just tipping over the boat. You do that by making sure the boats moving straight. “
The governor would not elaborate, but said there are things about the House and Senate plan he does not like. He also made a point to say he anticipates more compromise and he will be a part of the discussion.
That discussion will ramp up although most of it will happen behind closed doors now as the House, Senate and governor try to negotiate a final deal.
- Tim Boyum
Dems hit Tillis on special interest ties as US Senate campaign ramps up
Jun 18th - 11:39 am
House Speaker Thom Tillis has launched his campaign for the U.S. Senate, running against incumbent Kay Hagan, and the Democrats are already hitting Tillis on special interest ties.
A news website, specialinterestthom.com, launched Tuesday by the NC Democratic Party. Posts on the website highlight Tillis’ ties to the sweepstakes and the payday lending lobbies, and
“Thom Tillis got the nickname ‘the special interest speaker’ the old-fashioned way: he earned it,” said Ben Ray, a spokesman for the Democratic Party. “He’s slashed unemployment insurance, rejected health care for 500,000 North Carolinians, ended the Earned Income Tax Credit, solicited contributions from lobbyists, and repeatedly concealed the identity of special interest donors to his campaign–all while ignoring job creation and the economy.”
Public Policy Polling shows Tillis isn’t the leading potential GOP candidate, U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, who represents the 5th District, is. PPP’s latest poll, released Tuesday morning, said that Foxx is the “preferred Senate candidate of moderate Republicans in North Carolina.” (Read results here.)
Foxx hasn’t said if she will run, but she’s in a group of potential Republican candidates that include her colleague in the House, Renee Ellmers, NC Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger, the Rev. Mark Harris and former Ambassador Jim Cain, writes the AP’s Gary Robertson.
Funeral plans announced for former Gov. Jim Holshouser
Jun 18th - 10:08 am
Holshouser, in a photo provided by his family
SOUTHERN PINES—Funeral arrangements have been announced for former Gov. Jim Holshouser.
He passed away Monday after several years of declining health. Holshouser was elected the state’s first Republican governor of the 20th Century in 1972, a position he held for one term.
He was also a longtime member of the UNC Board of Governors.
“He was a man that came in with almost no backing in the legislature. Nobody in state government that knew him but able to bridge gaps with people and make things happen,” said Republican consultant Ballard Everett.
Visitation will be held at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Southern Pines on Thursday, from 6 until 8:30 p.m.
A funeral at the church takes place Friday at 1 p.m.
Capital Tonight June 17: Gov. Pat McCrory; NC remembers Jim Holshouser
Jun 17th - 8:37 pm
On Capital Tonight: Gov. Pat McCrory talks with Tim Boyum about tax reform and budget negotiations, and, we remember the life of former Gov. Jim Holshouser, the first Republican to be elected chief executive in the 20th Century. Watch the full episode here.
Senate proposed budget cuts sales tax holiday weekends
Jun 17th - 6:51 pm
GREENSBORO — For many consumers, the tax free weekend in August is like a Christmas shopping spree. But this may be the last year shoppers can take advantage of the savings on everything from clothes to computers.
The laundry list of back-to-school supplies many families will face in a few short months can quickly get expensive. The tax free weekend helps ease some of that financial burden and when the first weekend of August rolls around, the stores are packed.
“They put everything on sale for the school supplies,” shopper Cheryl Wyrick said. “Definitely good savings. Then on top of that you don’t have the tax. It’s a wonderful thing.”
And retailers like Target feel a nice boost in sales.
“The whole weekend it drives around 20 to 25 percent in incremental sales,” assistant store manager Jarrett Dunston said.
But if the state Senate passes the current tax bill, this would be the last year for that tax break.
Last year, the North Carolina Department of Revenue estimated the state lost $13.6 million in tax revenue during the sales tax holiday weekend.
Lawmakers said those are dollars the state can’t afford to lose.
Yet, many shoppers wait for that discount to make their higher-end purchases.
“If you’re buying a very large item, you can actually get quite a bit of savings,” shopper Amanda Boothby said. “So when you get a computer or something like that, of course it’s probably a little more worth it.”
But other customers don’t think the savings are worth dealing with the crowds.
“When I look in the paper and see the kind of deals they have, it doesn’t really seem like a big savings to me,” shopper Sherry Gibson said. “Not enough to pull me in.”
Retailers said they may not see the usual spike in sales, but families will still have to buy those new school supplies.
“I believe shoppers would still shop, but I don’t believe retailers would see the large crowds that they usually see during the tax free holiday weekend,” Dunston said.
The Energy Star tax holiday on major appliances is also on the chopping block.
Lawmakers are expected to vote on the bill Tuesday. Then it will be up for the House to decide.
- Amanda McKenzie
Jim Hunt on Holshouser: He was a good governor, a great human being
Jun 17th - 5:10 pm
Gov. Jim Hunt
Before he became North Carolina’s longest-serving governor, Jim Hunt served as lieutenant governor under Gov. Jim Holshouser. The two served together and, after each left the Governor’s Mansion, they worked together on shared passions.
Reporter Andy Mattison spoke with the former governor about his friend:
On education
I think Gov. Holshouser values most were people – sometimes we called it the human capital of North Carolina. He knew that the way you build the economy and have good jobs for people — and equal opportunity for all people, because he believed in that – was to have education for everyone.
And he believed we needed to invest in that. We needed, in particular, to have wonderful teachers, to pay them well, to start children early in Smart Start and kindergarten and he was, in every way, a great human leader of North Carolina.
On his legacies
I well recall two big things that he did, three in fact: One was starting public kindergartens. I helped him with that. I’d campaigned on that, as he had. Second was raising teacher pay very significantly in North Carolina, and third was standing for and pushing for the Coastal Management Act to protect the coast of North Carolina, and to have things built on them that would make them ugly and not fun for people to go to the beach for.
On working in a bi-partisan manner
He was a great unifier. He was a strong Republican, he believed in his party. Even more than that, he believed in people working in a bi-partisan way to move North Carolina forward. He was a bi-partisan kind of leader and it was my joy to work with him in that way.
PPP: Governor, General Assembly very unpopular
Jun 17th - 4:27 pm
Gov. Pat McCrory’s approval numbers are slipping and the General Assembly remains unpopular.
Public Policy Polling said Monday that only 20 percent of voters approve of the job the General Assembly is doing; with 56 percent disapproving. Not surprising, Democrats (10/64) and independents (20/63) are very unhappy with the legislature, but Republicans (36/40) also have a negative view, despite their party being in power.
McCrory’s approval numbers sloping downward, with 45 percent approving of the job he’s doing, and 39 percent disapproving. That’s down 10 percent in May.
Voters also are not thrilled about Republican legislative proposals:
- 66 percent oppose allowing guns on school and college properties and eliminating gun permits;
- 48 percent oppose banning selling Tesla electric cars in North Carolina;
- 68 percent oppose raising interest rates on consumer finance loans up to $4,000 to 30 percent.
Read the full results here.
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