Joe Hackney is hitting up Barack Obama for money.

On Nov. 12, the speaker of the state House wrote a letter to the incoming president asking for an economic stimulus package to include funding for states.

“As you know, 49 states have requirements to balance their budgets each year,” he wrote.

“During uncertain economic times, the decisions that state legislatures and governors have to make to keep their budgets balanced — cutting spending, raising taxes or both — can have the pro-cyclical effect of deepening and prolonging any slump.”

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1309799.html

Stokes: ‘No’ to school-land purchase

By Kim Underwood

JOURNAL REPORTER

Published: November 26, 2008

DANBURY – Stokes County commissioners did not authorize the purchase of land for a new elementary school or set aside money for school-capital projects at a meeting Monday night.

That means that the next step in determining the fate of Nancy Reynolds Elementary School and a new elementary school for the King area will be a joint meeting between the Stokes County commissioners and school-board members.

Foxx proposes cutting bailout in half

By Sean Mussenden

MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

Published: November 21, 2008

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-5th, introduced a bill Wednesday to cut in half the $700 billion Wall Street bailout package.

Under the program, which was designed to shore up the financial system by allowing the government to buy toxic mortgage-backed securities, the Treasury Department has injected nearly $290 billion into troubled banks.

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/nov/21/foxx-proposes-cutting-bailout-in-half/news-ncpolitics/

Basnight suggests a favorite to lead DOT

Comment on this story

Senate leader Marc Basnight said Thursday that he has told Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue that Lanny Wilson, a member of the state transportation board, would be a good pick for transportation secretary.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1303703.html

N.C. taxman might watch odometers

Mark Johnson, Staff Writer Comment on this story

Imagine your car’s odometer as a taxicab meter.

A special transportation committee on Wednesday approved a package of money-raising proposals, including a tax on North Carolina car owners based on the number of miles their vehicle travels each year.

http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1302282.html

State Democrats’ leader says his job is done

Jerry Meek, who for the past four years has presided over a resurgent state Democratic Party, said he plans to step down as party chairman at the end of his term in January.

“It’s unlikely I could do anything in six years that I didn’t do in four,” Meek said.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1302235.html

Foxx Pushes Bill to Cut Wall Street Bailout in Half

Wed, November 19, 2008 – 5:15 PM

Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., introduced a bill Wednesday to cut in half the $700 billion Wall Street bailout package.

Under the program, which was designed to shore up the financial system by allowing the government to purchase toxic mortgage-backed securities, the Treasury Department has injected nearly $290 billion into troubled banks.

http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/herd_washington/index/foxx-pushes-bill-to-cut-wall-street-bailout-in-half/2171

Rumor has it – Jerry Butler

Rumor has it – that Jerry Butler attended a republican party meeting in Alexander County yesterday.  The Boone dentist announced that he was planning on returning to the political fray to run against state Senator Steve Goss again in 2010.   According to our sources Butler made an anthem of a speech to the local republicans asking them to expel “fringe” conservatives from the party and move in a more progressive direction.

Since this is a rumor and we don’t know if its true, someone please tell us it isn’t so!  This mindset is exactly what lost Republicans the election.  Moderate Congressman in the Midwest lost overwhelmingly to their democrat rivals, and where Conservatism was truly on the ballot it was victory!  If Dr. Butler wants to be a progressive, maybe he should run against Goss in the primary.  Either way we think this helps Goss raise money.

Surry Commissioner hangs on.

Congratulations to Paul Johnson, Surry County Commissioner.  He managed to win in final recount yesterday by  only 38 votes.   Time to get started on that re-election campaign now.

http://www.mtairynews.com/articles/2008/11/13/news/local_news/local01.txt

State budget could go $3B in red in fiscal 2010

Raleigh, N.C. — State agencies have already started trimming their budgets to deal with the struggling economy, but an independent analyst said Tuesday that officials might have to make deep cuts next year.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/3941433