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Credit, Debt, and Fees
posted at 2007-03-05 21:18 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
Reviews of Governor Easley's tax-floor proposal are rolling in. So far, no one but the Governor seems to like it much, which could indicate it's a viable compromise. The latest response comes from the NC Justice Center. They say the idea of cutting or lessening state taxes on low income workers won't target the people who really need help. They're pushing for a state earned income tax credit, which conservatives say amounts to a handout to the poor.
Moore PR?
State Treasurer Richard Moore, battling back from a rough week, announced today he's heading a literacy survey program to find out what 7th graders (?!) understand about savings, debt, and credit. The survey is co-sponsored by Moore, the state DPI, and...wait for it...two Citi subsidiaries. Hmmm. Citi's been building its visibility on credit literacy issues, and to be fair, it's not as if other industry players are lining up to get behind the idea. On the other hand, Citi makes the bulk of its profits through consumer interest payments on its debt products. So Citi's involvement might strike some as the fox guarding the proverbial henhouse. Either way, most lawmakers agree the state should be doing more to teach kids how to handle money and debt. In the 2005 budget bill, the legislature mandated financial literacy training curricula in high schools, starting this fall.
Welcome Holmes
File under "Stuff I didn't get to last week" -- House Speaker Joe Hackney has finally chosen a press person - Bill Holmes, a veteran AP guy out of Raleigh. An impressive pick, especially given Hackney's deep affection for reporters. Seriously, though, it's nice to see Hackney choose a guy with serious street cred to handle the press corps.
And, in related news, there's a rumor afoot that former NC Dems spokesman Schorr Johnson, who's coming to work for Basnight, will be replaced by a member of the capital press corps. Can't say more till I get corroboration. (And no, it isn't me.)
Lobby Bucks
According to a new report by Democracy NC, interest groups spent 14.7 million on Jones Street lobbyists in 2005. That's up from about 10 million in '03, though the reporting requirements were different, so the numbers aren't quite comparable. Still and all, that's a LOT of money. And that's just what lobbyists took in - not what they spent on greens fees, nice dinners, and etc.
As for the rankings, no surprise at the top of the food chain -- that'd be NCCBI, with more than a dozen lobbyists making a total of about 220K. #2 is insurance, #3 is SEANC. No shockers there, either. But as you move on down, it gets more interesting. The NC Press Association, which represents us reporter types, paid 147K, coming in at #7 on the principal spending list. We beat the Realtors? Holy cow. Next time I get into a scrap over access to an elected official, I'm calling our lobbyists, darn it.
Other interesting stuff - the Town of Cary spent more on its lobbyists ($97,500) than the NC League of Municipalities ($96,800), which represents the rest of the cities and towns in the entire state. Duke Energy outspent Progress, and the NC Art Museum Foundation outspent the video poker industry.
Stay TunedState Senator and GOP gubernatorial hopeful Fred Smith takes the podium in the press room tomorrow morning to argue for a state constitutional marriage amendment. Anti-gay-marriage demonstrators are expected, but no word yet on a counterprotest. Also tomorrow - the House is expected to take up its permanent Rules for the session. It's likely to be a lengthy and lively debate. Check back Tuesday night!
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