Press Releases

Berger Budget Meets Same Tough Reception As Tax Plan
May 21, 2013

RALEIGH-- Senator Phil Berger took on water for nearly two weeks after rolling out his tax plan earlier this month, facing tough stories daily in North Carolina’s newspapers.  After 24 hours, it appears that Berger’s budget may be facing a similar environment.  Here’s what North Carolinians are reading about Berger’s budget:

Berger’s Budget And Tax Plans: New Taxes, More Expensive Health Care, Cuts to Education
May 20, 2013

RALEIGH-- Senate President Phil Berger released his budget last night, formalizing a vision that hurts North Carolinans  across the board, while doing nothing to create jobs or help the economy.  From cuts to public schools and universities to more than 130 new taxes to higher co-pays and fewer doctor visits for Medicaid patients, Berger plans to slash middle class investments while pushing a tax plan that hurts hard working North Carolina families.

NC Public Safety Secretary double-dips, McCrory mum
May 17, 2013

RALEIGH, NC—One of Governor McCrory’s first moves in office was to give his cabinet lush pay raises, but evidentially for Public Safety Secretary Shanahan, that wasn’t quite enough.  The Raleigh News & Observer reported last week that Secretary Shanahan continues to moonlight at his law firm.  According to the Shanahan Law Group’s website:

“Legal issues today arise in multiple venues: boardrooms, courts, Congress, administrative hearings, and before governmental agencies.  To help our clients meet these challenges, the attorneys of Shanahan Law Group offer business, litigation, and legal analysis and service, coupled with the ability to identify and address regulatory and political issues.” [accessed 5/17/13]

Another Day, Another Trial Balloon: Bush Crony Edition
May 17, 2013

RALEIGH-- It’s another day, another trial balloon reinforcing the murky and unsettled nature of the field of potential candidates against Senator Kay Hagan.  Today, it’s George W. Bush crony Jim Cain, a political insider who was George W. Bush’s state finance vice chair and was rewarded with an cushy appointment to be the ambassador to Denmark.

Tillis, Berger Peas in a Tax-Hiking Pod
May 16, 2013

RALEIGH--  With anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist in town to endorse Senator Phil Berger’s tax plan, House Speaker Thom Tillis is rolling out his own in a move that seems crafted to draw the affection of Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform.  Berger’s plan has been pilloried in the press for creating more than 130 new taxes, making North Carolina’s “sales tax base one of the broadest in the country” and resulting in a tax code that means “higher tax burdens for low- and middle-income families with several children.”

 

McCrory failing on transparency campaign promises
May 15, 2013

RALEIGH, NC—This week, Governor McCrory’s office announced that after less than 5 months in office, the Governor will walk back on his 2012 campaign promise to release a daily public schedule.  Then-candidate McCrory hammered the 2012 Democratic gubernatorial nominee for not promising to release a daily schedule if elected Governor.  On the campaign trail, McCrory was quick to score as many political points as possible while he railed against then-Gov. Perdue and then-Lt. Governor Dalton, now those same words are coming back to haunt him.

Tillis/Berger Attack on Local Government Gets Restraining Order
May 15, 2013

RALEIGH--  As Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate President Phil Berger continue to ignore jobs for North Carolinians, their over-reaching power-grab is headed to the courts.  Asheville was forced to sue the state after Tillis and Berger passed a bill stripping the city of its water system without compensation, and a Wake County judge has issued a temporary restraining order against the state.

Tillis/Berger Attack on Local Government Gets Restraining Order
May 15, 2013

RALEIGH--  As Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate President Phil Berger continue to ignore jobs for North Carolinians, their over-reaching power-grab is headed to the courts.  Asheville was forced to sue the state after Tillis and Berger passed a bill stripping the city of its water system without compensation, and a Wake County judge has issued a temporary restraining order against the state. From the Asheville Citizen-Times:

Berger’s Anti-Jobs Bill Guts Rural Economic Development
May 14, 2013

RALEIGH-- State Senate President Phil Berger voted last night to gut rural economic development, moving to force four economic development partnerships to either disband or reorganize.  Advantage West in Asheville, Southeast Regional Economic Development Partnership in Elizabethtown, Eastern Region in Kinston, and Northeast Commission in Edenton would all be shuttered if Senate President Phil Berger and his allies have their way.  From the Asheville Citizen-Times:

More Tough Coverage For Berger’s Tax Hikes on the Middle Class
May 14, 2013

RALEIGH--  The bad headlines for Senate President Phil Berger’s middle class tax hike just won’t stop.  Here’s what North Carolinians have been reading about Berger’s tax plan since last week:

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