Category: Opinion

President Obama hopes to increase education spending to $69.8 billion in 2013, which is 2.5 percent more than the current budget of $68.1 billion. Obama’s budget proposal Monday for the next fiscal year seeks level funding or slight increases for several education programs, including competitive grants that reward public education reforms and innovation. And he wants to spend $14 billion on one-time “strategic investment” in key areas, including synchronizing education with labor needs, improving teacher quality and making college more …

If you listen to the political promises, you know that everybody is talking about jobs. We need more jobs. We have a high unemployment rate. Mr. McCory has the delightful  circumstances that the Republican party in 2010 refused to keep a half-cent sales tax that a majority of people in North Carolina said they would accept. The refusal to keep that half-cent resulted in a much reduced budget for education and a large number of teachers, teacher aids and administration …

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to maintain its opposition to proposed changes that would make the City of Kinston’s elections nonpartisan.  In 2009, Kinston, located in Lenoir County, voted to alter their election procedure by making all city council elections nonpartisan.  Butterfield believes nonpartisan elections in Kinston would reduce Black voters’ ability to elect their candidate of choice.  Since Lenoir County …

The General Assembly is scheduled to return to Raleigh next week, and I plan to attend even though we have been told that no floor votes are scheduled. Committee meetings may be scheduled and I want to be available for any of my committees that are asked to meet. I also want to be prepared to represent your interests if a vote is scheduled quickly, as happened during a recent session. The last few weeks have been tumultuous, as a …

This Week in Washington: Unemployment Benefits Reform Act This week, I introduced a bill called the Unemployment Benefits Reform Act of 2012 which would individuals who have been unemployed for six months or more to complete 20 hours of public service and 20 hours of active job search or other work related activities per week as conditions for receipt of federal extended unemployment benefits.  The United States economy is suffering, and we are experiencing record levels of sustained unemployment.  Being …

It is the human (sin) nature to declare one’s own superiority and assume authority and mastery over others weaker or less motivated than ourselves.  And it is only the ethical and moralistic values (inspired by religion) that hold back this basest of human instincts, without which no society or eco-system can long survive. What would it be like … a world without religion … a world without a future beyond our mundane human existence … a world where death leads …

Regarding the Vance County Board of Commissioners meeting on February 6th, 2012.  Brian Short and Jordan McMillen presented the Emergency Operations Hazard Mitigation Plan (Plan) for approval by the Commissioners.  This is apparently the second public hearing of this Plan.  This first was held in July 2010 according to Mr. McMillen.  Mr. Short started the presentation by referring the Commissioners to an executive summary, a summary not in the initial packet of public documents.  Commissioner Brummitt started the Commissioners’ comments …

Education Funding Shortfall Addressed My endorsement last week of Gov. Perdue’s proposal to reinstate a three-quarter-cent sales tax cut for public education has garnered both positive and negative responses.  Only one writer supported tax cuts that would result in corresponding cuts in public education.    Most citizens who oppose reinstatement of the three-quarter cent sales tax want to alternatively preserve public education without raising taxes.  They invariably propose two solutions:  Cut administration and other waste in public education; and Use revenues …

Perhaps I should not be surprised by the current events.  There is something in all of us that is always wanting more.  If you watch young children at Christmas, the list of presents they want is always growing.  Shopping is supposed to be our number one activity.  We are creatures who are not satisfied for very long with what we have. We tend to want something more or something different after we have gotten what we want.   But when …

The numbers define the tragedy across North Carolina: 1,700 classroom teachers and 2,300 teachers’ assistants GONE! Laid off because the General Assembly failed to adequately fund classroom teachers. With the layoffs, North Carolina plummets to 49th nationally in per-pupil spending. The tragedy does not stop in primary grades: Community college in-state tuition UP: 18%. On the university level, 3,000 university employees:  CUT! University tuition costs rising:  Faster than inflation! The tragedy hits our communities.  For example, Vance-Granville Community College has …

North Carolinians have long recognized that children are one of our state’s most valuable resources and their success is our success. Investing in the health, safety, education and financial security of our children are among the most important duties of our society. As the recession continues to stress North Carolinians, it is critical that policymakers focus on preserving services for children and families. Further large cuts to child and family services would undermine the health and safety of our children, …

Good afternoon, Today, I was in Michigan. Yesterday, it was Colorado and Nevada. Before that, it was Iowa and Arizona. The day after I delivered my State of the Union Address to Congress, I took off to connect with ordinary Americans around the country, talk more about our Blueprint for an America Built to Last, and get some feedback. That’s why I’m writing you. On Monday we’re going to do something a little different. At 5:30 p.m. ET, I’ll walk …

Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson were appointed co-chairs of a committee to examine the national debt and to make recommendations for solving that massive problem.  The Commission has made its report.  There are 67 pages of report and recommendations. Not long ago on N.C. Public Television  the Bowles and Simpson’s visit to Duke Univeristy was broadcast. The presentation is available on the internet now. The message is a brutal message. It steps on all the toes. It has bi-partisan support. …

A few days ago Senator John McCain was on the CBS show “This Morning” with Charlie Rose asking about the campaign between Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, and Newt Gingrich.  Senator McCain was begging the Republicans not to attack Romney about his business experiences which had some very questionable results.  Senator McCain kept saying the Romney’s was the basic bed rock of the Republican Party. Free Market. Adam Smith. Capitalism and there are always businesses that have to lose and others …

The full General Assembly is set to return to session in February, but in the meantime we remain busy with interim committee meetings and budget discussions.  In addition, I am active here at home in support of our community. An Appropriations Committee comprised of both House and Senate members met this week to get updates on the state’s budget. Committee members learned that Gov. Perdue and her administration helped North Carolina win one of nine federal grants for pre-kindergarten programs. …

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (D-NC), Ranking Member of the House Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee, today sent a letter to Subcommittee Chairman Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) requesting a hearing to review the potential impact of a proposed merger between Express Scripts Inc. (ESI) and Medco Health Solutions Inc., two of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies.  In his letter Butterfield wrote, “Given the enormity of the proposed merger and its potential to threaten fair and …

As your United States Senator, my staff and I are responsible for helping North Carolinians navigate the complex federal bureacracy. Our “constituent services” take many forms—we help resolve issues with agencies such as the VA and IRS, facilitate the passport process, nominate our state’s best and brightest students to our nation’s service academies, offer my support for federal grant applications, and assist those affected by natural disasters such as Hurricane Irene. Often times, we are contacted by people who have …

I hope everyone enjoyed time together with family and friends during the Christmas and New Year’s season. Annie and I received a special early holiday gift with the birth of a grandson, Nicholas, born Nov. 5. Help, not hinder, teachers It looks like it will be up to the courts to decide if a recent surprise late-night session instigated by the Republican majority was constitutional. During the controversial session the General Assembly—mostly along party lines—overrode Gov. Perdue’s veto of a …