Category: News

Surprising new research shows it’s not because they have babies. They have babies because they’re poor. Delivering the commencement address last weekend at the evangelical Liberty University, Mitt Romney naturally stuck primarily to “family values” and religious themes. He did, however, make one economic observation that intersects with some fascinating new research. “For those who graduate from high school, get a full-time job, and marry before they have their first child,” he said, “the probability that they will be poor …

Governor Bev Perdue is proclaiming Wednesday, May 16, 2012, as Tourism Day in North Carolina, celebrating travel and tourism as a major industry that is vital to the economic stability and growth of the state. For the first time, state tax receipts as a result of visitor spending topped $1 billion in 2011 and have increased more than 50 percent in the last 10 years. “Tourism means jobs in North Carolina,” said Perdue. “Our beautiful beaches, majestic mountains, small towns …

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) reacted to today’s announcement that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would move forward with its realignment proposal for FAA Airport District Offices, causing North Carolina airports to report to the FAA’s Memphis, Tennessee office instead of the FAA’s Atlanta, Georgia office.   “I am deeply disappointed by the FAA’s decision to shift support for North Carolina’s airports from the FAA’s Atlanta regional office to the FAA’s Memphis regional office,” Butterfield said.  “The North …

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman G.K. Butterfield (NC-01) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved an $810,000 loan and a $50,000 grant to aid in the rebuilding of the aging Sanoca Rural Fire District facility in Wilson, North Carolina. “I commend the USDA for recognizing the importance of public and fire safety to the Wilson area community,” said Butterfield.  “Firefighters and other first responders play an integral role in the safety and security of residents and we …

Gov. Bev Perdue has presented her 2012-13 budget for Investing in Our Future, a plan to guide North Carolina toward expanded economic growth and opportunity for its citizens. Budgets reflect our priorities and who we are as a state, and Gov. Perdue has focused investments in education, jobs and military families and veterans.  “This budget invests in the priorities that all North Carolinians share,” Gov. Perdue said. “We must strengthen our ability to educate and prepare North Carolina’s children for …

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today announced that the U.S. Department of Education has granted continued funding for programs that support underserved students at three colleges in North Carolina’s First Congressional District. The grants will fund Upward Bound programs at Elizabeth City State University, Chowan University and Wilson Community College. “Upward Bound has enriched the academic development of many deserving students throughout the state of North Carolina,” said Butterfield.  “I applaud the Department of Education for helping …

Last Friday, the Treasury Department posted this infographic to their blog and we wanted to make sure you didn’t miss it. Today, millions of Americans who are current on their mortgage payments cannot refinance at historically-low interest rates. The President is proposing legislation that would allow more homeowners to refinance. Under the President’s plan, they would have two refinancing options. Click the below graphic to see the full size:

RALEIGH — A $3 million contract has been awarded by the N.C. Department of Transportation to improve 10 bridges over I-85 between Durham and Oxford. Taylor & Murphy Construction Company Inc. of Asheville was the low bidder for work on eight bridges in Granville County and two in Durham County. Preservation work is scheduled in Granville County for bridges on: Gate #2 (Exit 189); N.C. 56 (Exit 191); U.S. 15 (Exit 202); N.C. 96 (Exit 204); U.S. 158 (Exit 206); …

WASHINGTON, DC, – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) has introduced H.R. 5713, the Talk Before You Toll Act of 2012, which would ensure that the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) fully consider public opposition to tolling of Interstate 95 in North Carolina. The bill would require the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and FHWA to make public opinion the top criteria before implementing tolls. Under the bill, the FHWA would also be …

The N.C. Special Olympics Law-Enforcement Torch Run will be held Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at 9:00 A.M.   The run will start at the Henderson Police Department located at 200 Breckenridge Street. Officers from the Henderson Police Department, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, and the District Attorney’s Office, will be participating in the event. The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is an international series of relays by law enforcement officers to raise money for …

The Obama Administration gave a tremendous boost to the tourism industry today by making tourism interests a national priority in the first-ever National Travel and Tourism Strategy. The Administration’s action recognizes travel and tourism as making a critical contribution to the U.S. economy and provides an opportunity to establish travel and tourism as fundamental to America’s prosperity. Since the job recovery began, the tourism industry has created more than 260,000 new jobs, far outpacing job growth in the rest of …

This week, in an interview with ABC News, President Obama said, “I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.” With that one statement, he made it clear that he believes that it’s wrong to prevent couples who are in loving, committed relationships from getting married. Obviously, the President has spent time giving this issue serious consideration, and his view has been shaped by conversations with his family, his friends, neighbors, and the people who work with him at …