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Tues: Odds and Ends
posted at 2010-06-09 07:36 | Last modified 2010-06-10 01:22
Plenty of goings-on today at the legislature, and I’ll get to them in a minute. But the big news of the day for me was that an old friend is coming home safe from Afghanistan.
I’ve known Sgt. Jason Robinson since he was a wanna-be NBA star at 17. All these years later (and I’m not giving a number), he's just finishing a long, tough deployment at Bagram. I’m delighted to say he’s on the way home soon in one piece. Thank you, Jason.
Testing, testing...
Today, the state House overwhelmingly approved H1669, requiring all North Carolina schools to use online software to evaluate student progress.
The software is made by Cary-based SAS. It’s called EVASS – Education value added assessment system. The licensed software analyzes each student’s test scores to evaluate his or her progress. Pitt County Democrat Marian McLawhorn says it’s one of the most advanced diagnostic tools available. "It provides reports that predict student success over time, shows the effects of teaching at particular schools, and shows patterns in student group performance."
The state already pays $847K a year to license the software from SAS. This year’s budget includes an extra million dollars to cover all classrooms. DPI already makes the software available to all districts, but many don’t use it.
Critics of the measure say the decision should be left up to local school districts. Sampson Democrat Larry Bell disagrees. "Sometimes you have to say "require." Because many times if you just leave things up to us, ordinarily it just doesn't happen. And if you know something works, then I think you need to go on and require it."
The measure now moves on to the Senate.
Easy as 1-2-3?
State lawmakers are moving forward with proposed changes to the state’s Alcoholic Beverage control system. A key committee approved the measure today. The bill would subject local ABC official to state ethics guidelines, including a ban on gifts. It would also cap local officials’ salaries, and require them to open their books for public review. The measure is a response to recent ABC board scandals in New Hanover and Mecklenburg Counties.
According to sponsor Ray Warren (D-Alexander), “The most important thing the bill does is it brings everything out in the open. There are no longer any secrets as to how the money is disbursed, what the salaries are. I think the more light that’s put upon them, the more realistic people will be.”
Openness is great, but it’s not enough for Caldwell Republican Edgar Barnes. He’s backing the bill, but he thinks it falls far short of recommendations from the ABC study commission and the PED. “That bill doesn’t have any teeth," Starnes said. "It feels good, and it’s a baby step in the right direction, but it’s not really what we need to make the big changes we need in this state.”
The measure would also give the state ABC commission the power to set performance standards for stores. Local boards would have about 20 months to meet those standards. Stores that don’t could be shut down. The bill moves on to Local Government. It could see a House vote later this next week.
On the Town
Civitas Review online got Jones St. talking today with a post featuring “Party Pic” shots of some guy who looks a lot like former House co-speaker Richard Morgan, posing with buxom beauties at the opening party for a new Raleigh nightclub.
Civitas removed the blog post, but not because it was inaccurate. Via Facebook message, Morgan confirmed he was the guy in the pics.
“The owner of the new business in our building asked us to a Private Preview last Thursday night in advance of the grand opening of his new business. I was a couple hours late but wanted to attend and certainly want him to be successful. I guess the result makes the old saying - 'no good deed goes unpunished' have merit.”
As a couple of my male reporter counterparts pointed out, the photos don't exactly look like punishment. Just saying.
"Glee" moment
State employees held a rally on the mall today, asking lawmakers to rethink “management flexibility” cuts to state agencies. According to SEANC, without direction from legislators, the cuts are nothing more than an opportunity for favoritism – managers are free to keep their friends and get rid of critics with impunity. They also say it doesn't make sense to cut thousands of state jobs to pay for tax incentives for job creation. And they're asking lawmakers to seek cost concessions for the State Health Plan from Blue Cross Blue Shield.
SEANC Director Dana Cope got the crowd fired up, saying critics who accuse him of inciting class warfare are absolutely correct. Hear his remarks here.
Listen Now!
But the best moment at the rally was when the whole crowd – male and female, black and white, young and old – joined together singing “Hit the Road, Jack,” directed at State Health Plan director Jack Walker. It was one of those moments that's so weird, you just kind of have to love it. Very Glee. Listen for yourself.
Listen Now!
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