The Most Backward Legislature in America

[octoberlib]

I realize many of you in states like Texas, Indiana, Wisconsin, Florida, and Tennessee could tell similar stories, but the North Carolina General Assembly, with its GOP super-majority and leaderless Governor, who is also a member of the Republican Party, have managed to destroy the reputation of a state. Once known for having the most innovative and progressive public school system in America, North Carolina is now a trajectory of backwardness.

This legislature has put North Carolina in a race to the bottom on per pupil expenditures. This legislature chose to cut education by a half a billion dollars--even though the state had more resources available than in previous years. North Carolina will lose over 5,000 teachers, counselors, and school psychologists. A reading program that provided teaching assistants for K-3 classrooms was decimated by the elimination of almost 4,000 positions. Cuts to textbooks and instructional supplies exceeded $120 million. This is backward.

This legislature had plenty of funds to provide generous tax cuts to the wealthy. Ninety percent of the individual tax cuts go to the wealthiest 5 percent in NC. To show their disdain for the poor and middle class, state lawmakers eliminated the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) as well as the tax holiday on back to school clothes and supplies, which has been an economic driver for our retail merchants. Everyone knows that tax relief for the poor and middle class are better economic drivers because the neediest people spend their money---unlike rich people who have the luxury of saving tax benefits. This is backward.

This legislature also had plenty of funds to provide generous tax cuts to corporations, many of them headquartered in other states. North Carolina has always been rated as a great place to do business because of its renowned universities, research and innovation, and strong public schools. However, this legislature has cut the institutions that prepare North Carolina's workforce. This action is more about rewarding friends and donors than it is about economic development and recruitment of new employers. This is backward.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/john_wilson_unleashed/2013/07/the_most_backward_legislature_in_america.html?cmp=ENL-EU-VIEWS2

[bowens43]

1. we don't need none of your dang libral book learnin....we just need jeebus and guns

[John2]

2. The Republicans

are not going to last long in power, in North Carolina. I know they are trying to fix it that way, but watch what happens in the next elections. People are just biding their time right now. The Governor has no way to fix his own election. They are also fighting the Demograhics in North Carolina, because the population keeps growing. It is getting more diverse and can't be reversed. The more those cities get congested, the rural areas will have new citizens.

[CRK7376]

3. I hate what

McCroy and his General Assembly has done to my state. Now we look and act like TX. Women's Rights shot, Education Shot, helping the less fortunate shot. Makes me crazy!