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Monday's Roundup
posted at 2007-01-22 19:02 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
Easley on the move
Governor Mike Easley was in DC today to address the National Higher Education Leadership Summit, then hopped a flight to NYC to give the 10th annual Abrams address at NYU Law this evening. Last Friday, the Governor was named co-chairman of Achieve, Inc., a business/ government coalition aimed at reforming US high schools. He's served on Achieve's board since 2005. Whether or not you think he's running for something, it's an interesting time for Easley to show up on the national circuit.
One billion dollars
That's the recommendation from the NC Land and Water Conservation Commission today. The panel had initially backed a billion-dollar bond to preserve the state's natural, cultural and historic resources, but they've dropped the debt language from their official findings. That may be a smart move. NC just regained its AAA bond rating, and state treasurer Richard Moore says lawmakers should limits bonds this year to 2.5 billion. School construction and mental health reform are already on the waiting list.
Looking ahead
There's no shortage of speculation about state lawmakers' agendas for the session that kicks off Wednesday. The short list for now includes tax reform, expanding health care, landfills, prison overcrowding, and mental health reform. But so far, there doesn't seem to be any one big issue (like last year's ethics reforms) topping the to-do list. The N&O offers this roundtable Q&A with state lawmakers from both chambers. And Charlotte's David Ingram had this conversation with powerful Mecklenberg Senator Dan Clodfelter.
On the upside, it looks like the predicted budget shortfall may be easing, as it usually does. The state uses a very conservative formula to estimate expected revenue, so if there's a surprise, it's usually on the side of more money, not less. Don't expect to see the real bottom line till April.
Year of the Woman?
Maybe up in DC... but here in NC, not so much. The AP's Gary Robertson says Jones Street's glass ceiling seems as sturdy as ever.
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