Posted on 10/27/2004 11:29:39 PM PDT by Prospero
NEWS SUMMARY
SPECIAL SESSION: Gov. Mike Easley has announced a special legislative session for next week so lawmakers can consider an incentives package for a Dell Inc. computer plant in North Carolina, a company official said.
Easley sent a letter to legislators asking them to return Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. to consider economic incentives for "projects that would provide the state with significant jobs and investments in computer manufacturing." Easley spokesman Ernie Seneca declined to identify the target of the potential incentives except to say it was for a "major computer manufacturer."
Dell spokeswoman Cathie Hargett confirmed it was her company. "It is about a potential expansion for Dell in North Carolina," Hargett said. A legislative package is needed to "make that possible," she added.
State and local industrial recruiters in North Carolina have been competing with several states trying to attract Dell, based in Round Rock, Texas, to build a plant. Forsyth County officials have said the plant eventually would bring 1,900 jobs.
The session would take place two days after the Nov. 2 election, but would involve House and Senate members from the 2003-04 session.
Sen. David Hoyle, D-Gaston, the co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee that would consider any incentives package before it went to the full Senate, said Dell is interested in building a plant in the Triad.
Sen. Linda Garrou, D-Forsyth, wouldn't name the plant being discussed but said she was "excited to go to Raleigh and to vote to bring some jobs to my community."
The Golden LEAF Foundation, which receives half the proceeds from the state's tobacco settlement, has received a proposal from Winston-Salem Business Inc. seeking $41 million in grants over 10 years for training for an unnamed company.
The incentives package could be worth "hundreds of millions of dollars," and could go beyond the incentives tools currently available to the governor, Hoyle said.
"I'm sure it's going to be very substantial," he said. "I'm sure to have a special session, it's going to be special." ( Gary D. Robertson, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 10/27/04).
Easley defining charity as generosity with your tax dollars... and announcing this for two days after the election, five days before the election.
A secret deal to provide incentives, direct payments and tax breaks no regular business enjoys in North Carolina.
Along with a hint he plans to break open the tobacco settlement monies supposedly reserved for court approval, or so he says.
God save North Carolina, hopefully on election day.
Don't you bet on that being the only issue discussed, if the legislature shifts signficantly.
Since it's only two days after the election, the special session would presumably be a lame duck session. The newly elected legislators would not be eligible.
Ballentine isn't any better. In fact, he's worse - more liberal then Easily (not just saying this I actually researched this). I voted for Barbra Howe (libertarian).
That's the point. If there is significant change in that body, and the gov signs it, it's still law even if the legislature's lame duck. Could be all kinds of screwy crap flying.
Just plain silly nonsense. Here I am ticked off at the composition of the GOP in the legislature, and the remarkable gamesmanship going on, and thinking of becoming a libertarian, and a Howe voter pops up and makes an unsupportable statement like that. If you'd called Ballantine a RINO, I'd let it slide. If you wanted to vote for Howe, so be it. But even Hugh Webster and Fern Shubert wouldn't let such a statement go unanswered.
Ballantine more liberal than Easley? Poppycock.
Personally, I find this to be just ANOTHER use of the media for a 'free' political 'ad' by a politician up for re-election. "look at me, look what i did, re-elect me, see I've got a company coming here that will be good for all you guys. Uh, forget I'm using your tax dollars as grants and that they won't have to compete with other industries on the same tax level, pay the same fees all you businesses did to come here and open your offices...'
Wonder what that kind of ad would have cost?
Which suggests to me that the governor is planning on there being significant change. He's gathering his eggs while he can still hatch them...
This should outrage the taxpayers. But they probably will fall for it hook line and sinker.
Well good ol NC fell for the Thomas bus scam no reason to think this is any different.
Any time!
He may not be more liberal but he's not much more conservative than Easley. Doesn't matter which one gets in, both are promising to waste my tax dollars on funding more government programs.
The reason I said I had investigated is because people always object when a Republican is crticized. I vote for the Conservative Candidates, not the Republican Candidate.
Ballentine has been endorsed by the State Employees union. Easly has been endoresed by the NRA. Other Dems back Ballentine. Ballentine has supported an anti-poverty plan that is right out of the New Deal, with a state funded account starting at birth. He is hiding this, but he broadcast a commercial on PBS (where dems are) supporting it. Notably, Easily is broadcasting commercials on Rush (never heard Ballentine there).
From the Charollote Observer:
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/9795967.htm
Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, praising Snyder's proposal for Retirement Security Accounts. Snyder proposes the state invest $700 in an investment account for every child born in North Carolina. That amount would give each youngster $450,000 at retirement, or an even $1 million if they chip in another $7 per month.
"Your proposal ... could free every child born in our state from the burden of poverty in his or her senior years," Blue wrote.
Marc Farinella, a spokesman for Democratic Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, said Perdue "respectfully disagrees" with Blue and called Snyder's retirement accounts a "government giveaway" better used now to help young people with college and job training.
In the past debates Ballentine always bashes Easily for cutting programs. I swear he talks just like a dem. Just some examples:
PATRICK BALLANTINE (R): I DO NOT SUPPORT VOUCHERS AND LET ME JUST GO BACK TO THE LAST QUESTION. HE'S RAIDED THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND $450 MILLION. HE'S GETTING SUED FOR IT TOO BY A DEMOCRAT WOULD FOUNDED THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND.
PATRICK BALLANTINE (R): I DID TRY TO PUT AN AMENDMENT ON HIS BUDGET TO GIVE TEACHERS AND STATE EMPLOYEES A PAY RAISE AND IT GOT SQUASHED. YOU NOTICE HE DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE TEACHERS AN STATE EMPLOYEES A PAY RAISE. YOU HAVE TO PRIORITIZE, AS C.E.O. OF THE COMPANY YOU HAVE TO TREAT YOUR EMPLOYEES WELL.
Perhaps its wrong to call him more liberal in all areas. In some he's just as liberal.
http://www.indyweek.com/durham/2004-10-13/news.html
And in a few he's more conservative. He supports raising the cap on charter schools, he claims he wants to cut income taxes. But Easily wants to cut corporate taxes.
All and all, I am of the opinion that I would rather have a Dem gov then a Republican masquerading as a Republican and giving us all a bad name. That's why I went with Howe. You gotta love her page on school choice. Tell me if this doesn't sound great:
http://www.votehowe.com/education.php
I voted for Bush and Burr, but couldn't vote for Ballentine. Hopefully this answers your objections.
What Thomas Bus scam?
I didn't object, I just wanted the links to the information :)
Let me see if I can address each of your points, because I appreciate your having spelled them out.
I sure didn't become a Republican to "eat the same hamburger on the other side of the street." When a R is just a D with an R on his belt, well... I'm a conservative American first, so I don't think we can disagree on that.
Ballantine has been endorsed by the State Employees Association, but it's hardly a Union. We're a Right to Work state, and, as a Union, they sure haven't been effective in getting Basnight & Easley to raise their pay for more than three years, and he's robbed their retirement fund and failed to make any contributions. It's more an anti-Easley/Basnight thing than a pro GOP thing.
Now if you're talking about his interest in Jim Snyder's idea of putting $700 away for every child born in NC, that's all it has ever been is interest.
Is Jim Snyder a liberal?
Ballantine not advertising on Rush means nothing. Easley had $6 million to Ballantine's 1.6, and a radio strategy just didn't fit into his budget. Good idea, bad idea, who knows... but Easley's advertising on Rush is no more telling of his political philosophy than the money spent there advertising for Amendment One, taking your right to vote away.
The NRA endorsed Ballantine in every state Senate race for ten years, but the national NRA always plays it safe.
Ballantine has, however, been endorsed by Grass Roots of North Carolina, and I'll take that endorsement with regard to Second Amendment protection over the NRA any day.
And how do you advertise on PBS? Don't you have to part of their "Corporate Circle?" They ought to call it "Taxpayer Supported Television."
I'm sorry but I don't believe giving state employees a raise makes a politician a liberal. I don't follow.
Ballantne does not support vouchers for the same reason a lot of conservative don't. All it takes in one Judge to rule that, because X Christian Academy gets public money, than they can't pray, or talk about Jesus. Public money comes with strings.
Easley has had four years to cut taxes, and he has raised taxes three years straight, on everything in your shopping cart. He's robbed state reimbursements to local governments, without warning, forcing them to raise your property taxes, too.
As I said, I lean to the libertarian wing of the GOP, and it may be a losing battle. We'll know soon enough. If the GOP can't build a ruling coalition this year, under these circumstances, then perhaps it is finished. But, I have a vested interest in civilization, and I want it said I did all my conscience demanded to prevent the D's from subverting the Republic before I started oiling my guns.
And, I like Barbara Howe, a lot, and the rest of the good hearted Libertarians. This election is a test of the People, and Democracy, however. If the Republicans fail, than I'll be among the first to shrug and begin the process of stopping the engine that runs the world.
And, BTW, it's Ballantine, not Ballentine, like the ale.
Really and truly, you have a good day. This is written intending the upmost respect.
well, I think we both have very similar political views, if we get right down to the issues I don't think we would disagree on much. You make a number of good points and I didn't write out a very clear response.
Your right on the voucher thing, being against that isn't a big deal. And raising the charter school limit is good.
And you are also right about PBS, it wasn't PBS, I don't remember what it was, it was a show like PBS that I was disgusted with while I was watching it and then lo and behold there is a Ballentine Adverstisement lauding this anti-poverty plan. I've only seen this Ad once, but I've seen this pattern of him adversitsing in liberal medians for some time.
The point I was trying to make about the advertisement is that (as far as my experience has shown, and I am a news hawk) was that Ballantinte has been advertising on Liberal leaning shows/radio and that Easily has been advertising on the conservative ones. It just shows whose votes they are trying to get. This fit with my assessment of watching the debates. If I hadn't known who they were I would have labeled Easily the Republican and Ballantine the Democrat. Ballantine accussing him of cutting funds for everything... etc..
And I believe that North Carolinas Budget is too big. Raising state employees pay by 'finding savings' in the budget without describing any cuts you are going to make is pure pandering. Unions generally already keep their wages above market value to begin with. If they are pissed at Easily for not being a typical Democrat and bowing to their wishes then it makes me think better of him.
Has Easily raised taxes so much? I admit I don't know exact figures or much about his raiding local govs. I know that Ballantine has a subpar record in the taxes area too.
Don't get me wrong, I don't support Easily at all, but Ballantine didn't show me ANYTHING to make me want to vote for him. I think he will loose big time and the next time around people will realize the reason for his loss and maybe put up a real Conservative candidate.
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