Raleigh, NC – Action for Children North Carolina analysis of new U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey (CPS) data finds, despite a decade-long erosion of employer-sponsored coverage, the number of uninsured children in North Carolina has declined, thanks to investments in public health insurance programs like Medicaid and Health Choice. In 2000, more than six in ten North Carolina children were covered by their parents’ employer-sponsored health insurance plans; last year that number fell to less than five in ten. …
Month: September 2011
Message from Senator Richrad Burr
This was another busy week in Washington where we debated many issues of vital importance to those of you in North Carolina and Americans across the country. Thursday night, I introduced a bill, the Empowering Local Educational Decision Making Act, that will improve America’s education system by giving states and local communities the flexibility they need to meet the unique and varied educational needs of their students. State and local school districts, not Washington, D.C., are the best makers of …
Monday Open Line
In this weeks Weekly Address: Passing the American Jobs Act: President Obama discusses the need for Congress to pass the American Jobs Act to put more people back to work, and more money back in the pockets of people who are working. Still continuing to tout his American Jobs Act, the White House has realeased state specific documents regarding the benefits. North Carolina’s can be found here. We had planned to attend the High Flight 2011 air show event Saturday, but …
Despite Employment Gains, NC Unemployment Rate Edges Up in August to 10.4%
RALEIGH — North Carolina’s labor market retracted last month and even with an employment increase of 16,500 workers, the unemployment rate for August was 10.4 percent. “Since January, the data shows private sector job growth,” said ESC Chairman Lynn R. Holmes. “The Employment Security Commission continues to work with our workforce development partners to provide assistance to our customers statewide.” Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey increased by 16,500 to 3,882,500 in August. …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
Just 24 hours since Obama left NC, Vice President Biden visited Raleigh also, on Thursday, for a $5,000 per person fundraiser. Biden spoke to about 60 people at a breakfast fundraiser Thursday morning at the West Raleigh home of John and Kristin Replogle. John Replogle is chief executive of Seventh Generation, a Vermont-based company that makes nontoxic household and personal care products. You can read the full article here. Prudence commented yesterday the question of was Obama’s visit a presidential …
Representative Jim Crawford Named To Serve As Chairman Of House Appropriations Committee
RALEIGH – Rep. Jim Crawford of Oxford has been appointed a chairman of the state House’s most powerful committee, House Speaker Thom Tillis announced today. As chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Crawford will have a significant voice in the state’s budget development and oversight. The Appropriations Committee writes the House version of the state budget, in addition to handling other state spending bills. “It’s never easy to draft a budget when the state doesn’t have enough money,” Rep. …
Nurses Say Letting Uninsured Patients Die Is No Laughing Matter Following Abhorrent Audience Cheers
Nurses Say Letting Uninsured Patients Die Is No Laughing Matter Following Abhorrent Audience Cheers at CNN-Tea Party Debate The nation’s largest representative of registered nurses today expressed revulsion at the cheering by some audience members in the CNN-Tea Party Republican debate Monday night at the prospect of letting a sick person die just because they do not have health insurance. Prompting the outburst was a question from CNN’s Wolf Blitzer to Rep. Ron Paul about whether medical care should be …
Thursday Open Lines
Wednesday, President Obama visited Apex and Raleigh, NC to promote himself and the American Jobs Act. His visit to WestStar Precision Facility and Reynolds Coliseum was short, but touted Obama’s American Jobs Act of which the full text is available at that link. During his speech Obama noted that part of his bill would put construction workers back to work. As an example, bridges that need repairing. School roofs that are leaking. And ventilation systems that make people sick. Apparently …
Gov. Bev Perdue, Share Our Strength Launch ‘No Kid Hungry North Carolina’
DURHAM, N.C., Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Partnership Will Help End Childhood Hunger by Connecting Kids to Federal Food and Nutrition Programs; Pilot Program Launched At 27 Schools Statewide Aimed at Increasing School Breakfast Participation Gov. Bev Perdue joined Durham Mayor Bill Bell, Share Our Strength® and NC Serves, the lead nonprofit working with the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, to launch the No Kid Hungry® North Carolina partnership today. The public-private partnership will aim …
Vance County Schools Superintendent Message
To the Parents of Students in the Vance County School System: The Vance County School System is committed to educating all students to prepare them for lifelong learning and productive citizenship. The mission of the State Board of Education is that every public school student will graduate from high school, globally competitive for work and post-secondary education and prepared for life in the 21st Century. Each of the 16 schools in our school system functions daily to carry out the …
Wednesday Open Line
In the the first state primary of 2012 ballots, North Carolinians will have a question. [ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. Today, Obama is flying to the Raleigh-Durham region to promote his jobs plan. His itinerary includes a job-related stump speech at North Carolina State University and meeting with local high-tech firm WestStar …
Henderson, NC plans to break the new “Carry in Parks” law
According to Grass Roots North Carolina, Henderson plans to break the new “Carry in Parks” law. See their press release listed below: It has come to GRNC’s attention that the town of Henderson, NC is planning an “end-around” on HB 650, the recently-ratified “Castle Doctrine/Carry in Parks” law that we all fought so long and hard for. • Henderson, NC has decided that they don’t want permittees lawfully defending themselves and families. • They are currently working to pass a …
NC DOT Seeking Public Comments Via Online Survey
he N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) wants you to help plan North Carolina’s future transportation system by being part of the development of the updated Statewide Transportation Plan, also called the 2040 Plan. The plan serves as a blueprint for transportation planning and investment over the next 30 years. Because transportation projects can require years to plan, design and build, NCDOT must look ahead 25-30 years to identify the transportation needs of our state. NCDOT will use the input from …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery
The following is a summary from my personal notes of the Vance County Commissioner’s September 12, 2011 meeting from my perch in the peanut gallery. These are the points of most interest to me. 1. Public Hearings: Three public hearings tonight, only one had a formal signup sheet requesting permission to make public input. Could this be because no one is aware of the public hearings? Where are public hearings posted? A Commissioner told me in the newspaper. Why not …
Cops on Top September 16, 2011
The Henderson Police Department, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, and Chick-fil-A of Henderson will be holding their annual Cops on Top fundraiser on Friday, September 16, 2011, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Chick-fil-A on Dabney Drive . This fundraiser is to raise money for the Special Olympics of North Carolina. Law enforcement officers will be on the roof at Chick-fil-A as well as on the ground raising funds. They will have t-shirts and hats available for a monetary …
Tuesday Open Line
We will hopefully have some reports later regarding some of the meetings last night. Stay tuned for that, but you may in the meantime come up with your own conclusion as always below on our open lines! In the state level, drama unfolded in our house legislature, the end result being it looks like for a referendum vote on the May 2012 ballots regarding marriage in North Carolina. The House and Senate came to agreement about the amendment language. The …
Monday Open Line
This evening holds an eventful meeting session with the Henderson City Council, the Vance County Board of Commissioners and the Vance County Board of Education all holding sessions. Over the weekend, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) made the following statement regarding the President’s speech to a joint session of Congress: “I believe that the President is on the right track, and I am pleased with his proposal to make crucial investments in education and infrastructure; investments that must not be …
9/11 Message from Obama
Good morning, Today, on the tenth anniversary of the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001, we will mourn the innocent lives lost, honor the heroic first responders who rushed to the scene, and pay tribute to our troops and military families who have served over the past ten years to keep us safe and strong. But, I also hope you’ll remember how the worst terrorist attack in American history brought out the best in the American people. From giving blood, …
Message from Senator Richard Burr
This year, like every year that has passed since, our nation reflects back on the horrific attacks that cost the lives of 2,977 men, women, and children in New York, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon, and on the brave men and women who have laid their lives down since then in defense of the freedoms and security we so often take for granted. These coordinated attacks on our nation had such a profound impact on our society and our world …
High Flight 2011
High Flight 2011 September 17, 2011 Triangle North Executive Airport Triangle North Executive Airport (formerly Franklin County airport) will host a fantastic weekend of aircraft and automotive displays, education, activities and rides along with plenty of food and fun for the entire family. HighFlight 2011 is becoming one of the most popular airport open house events in the Southeast. Open to the general public; there is no admission charge. See you there! Here is a partial list of all you …