State Rep. Paul Stam's proposal to buy anti-fraud software for Medicaid was included in the state's budget.
Early in the legislative session, Stam, an Apex Republican, pitched the idea that buying software meant to prevent fraud before Medicaid payments are made could save millions every year.
Dome [...]
These are headlines no Democratic candidate wants to see:
A former governor under investigation for corruption, a top Senate Democrat accused of insider trading, a current governor with approval ratings in the 40s and a big tax increase to cope with the biggest budget shortfall [...]
UNCA’s Mossbauer Data Center and Environmental Quality Institute were shut down, but the reasons are unclear. University officials cited lack of student participation. The state had to balance its budget, and the university system had to make cuts. The latter tested water quality, and the latter analyzed “ancient Egyptian [...]
Earlier this week we learned state spending for Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income families, senior citizens and the disabled, is $160 million over budget so far this fiscal year.
While the demand for services continues to grow, John Tote of the Mental Health Association in North Carolina, describes [...]
While working on another assignment, I chanced upon the very official highlights from the federal government’s budget for 2010. The two most shocking things are the permeation of departmental budgets with funding to address climate change. Even HUD and the Department of Labor are not immune. The other weirdness [...]
H1N1 flu is contributing to the state's Medicaid spending running over budget.
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Lanier Cansler said a mix of forces is pushing the program's spending such that, on its present course, it would be $160 million or more over [...]
In the House, Budget Committee chairman John Spratt on Tuesday (D-S.C.) said he would not support a tax because of the recession. Spratt said a measure introduced by Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) would do so.
“We don’t want to raise taxes, especially a surcharge on income taxes in the [...]
This is only news because a famous person uttered something. State Senator Martin Nesbitt considers the state’s 1-cent tax increase and acceptance of portions of the federal deficit essential. He is claimed the state’s budget is so lean, teachers are the most expendable item. Joe Coletti, who has applied [...]
Is fiscal responsibility good if it creates a filibuster proof commission with the final say on cuts to Medicare and Social Security?
It seems that a dozen Conservadems (including Hagan) think so and signed a letter supporting the creation of a fiscal responsibility board.
...it would create budget legislation, including deep [...]
WRAL reports Medicaid spending in North Carolina is $150 million over budget in the first quarter of this fiscal year.
The reason for this, the Governor claims, is that over 8000 more people than expected signed up for Medicaid this year while unemployment still remains high and tax revenues are [...]
As reported in the Cary News on November 25th, the Fuquay-Varina Town Commission has tightened the Town’s belt with budget and staff reductions: “When Fuquay-Varina’s fiscal budget was finalized in June, it was 7.3 percent less than the year before. The town was estimated to be $600,000 behind in [...]
Yesterday Gov. Bev Perdue was talking about completing the I-485 loop around Charlotte. While talking she said: “We want you to have a reason to bring it in under budget, and done well, and done so as to last for the next 50 years,” Perdue said. “The only way I [...]
Want to know how many earmarks your U.S. Senator or Representative has requested?
Go to the “earmarks” tab of the website WashingtonWatch.com and check it out. You can sort by individual politician or by earmark request status.
The site makes for a handy tool for all you budget watchdogs out there.
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Fmr. NCGOP Chair Rouse reports on Central Committee Meeting
Tuesday, 24 November 2009 00:00
Editor's note: Former NCGOP Chair Frank Rouse sent the following email to a large group of party activists on Monday night.
Highlights of the Central Committee Meeting on Saturday:
In preparing for 2010, the budget was proposed to' [...]
Town Manager Ben Shivar’s Budget Message from this summer included some ominous wordage: “… we will need … increased revenues through fees or taxes … in the very near future.” With debt service forecast to nearly double in the coming few years, unless the Town starts tightening its belt, dramatic [...]
New and very interesting numbers from Meg Gray at the Budget and Tax Center:
Media Release
County-specific data on unemployment, poverty, wages and income, income inequality, health care, food stamps and the Living Income Standard is now available to media members, legislators and the public
RALEIGH (Nov. 24, 2009) - The [...]
First the good news: North Carolina state government has more than $600 million to close any budget hole this fiscal year.
Now the bad news: Revenues are $95 million less than what lawmakers projected when they passed a $19 billion budget last summer. Adding to the problems, the state’s unemployment rate [...]
I realize that budgets are tight all across America and all but I need someone to explain to me why taxes can't be raised on the rich, and only the rich for once, instead of cutting education funding. North Carolina has been run by Democrats for as long as I' [...]
In August, we were all told by the leadership of the General Assembly that $1.1 billion in tax increases were necessary in order to stave off massive, destructive cuts to “critical” state services.
Apparently we were lied to.
According to the Gov. Perdue’s budget director, the state has about $600 million [...]
The Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy is out with its new “Who Pays?” report, which examines what different income groups pay in the way of state and local taxes throughout the country. The media release below from the N.C. Budget and Tax Center summarizes the not terribly surprising [...]
This CNN report highlights another dog-bites-man story: the federal government is wasting billions of your dollars in improper payments and fraud:
The federal government made $98 billion in improper payments in fiscal 2009, and President Obama will issue an executive order in coming days to combat the problem, his budget [...]
There’s a group missing in the AP’s article this morning on higher-education funding and folks afflicted by tight budgets. See if you can guess who they are. From “Lawmakers consider college aid as state, family budgets dip”:
RALEIGH, N.C. — Families across North Carolina and state government felt the same [...]
