Winston-Salem offers lure to leave

Eligible workers can get $20,000 incentive to retire by Aug. 31

By Laura Graff | Journal Reporter

Published: February 27, 2009

Updated: 01:50 am

Winston-Salem officials, in an effort to save money on salaries and benefits, have offered certain city employees a $20,000 cash incentive to retire by Aug. 31.

The one-time payment is available only to employees who are eligible for full retirement benefits. At least 100 of the city’s employees are eligible, said Martha Wheelock, the assistant city manager.

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2009/feb/27/270150/city-offers-lure-to-leave/news-local/

Transfer of lottery money draws criticism

JORDAN SCHRADER • JSCHRADE@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM • PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 27, 2009 12:15 AM

RALEIGH – Some lawmakers said Thursday their intent in creating the state lottery is being thwarted by a transfer of money dedicated for school construction to the state’s general fund.

Sen. Tom Apodaca, a Hendersonville Republican, described it as a moment of “I told you so” for lottery opponents who argued at its creation that it would end up being used for purposes other than education.

“We were always scared of that,” he said.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009902270329

Foxx: No to MOre Spending

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx today voted in opposition to a massive spending bill that once again increases federal government spending at a time of record budget deficits. “The federal budget is growing by 8.3 percent, while family budgets are shrinking,” Foxx said in a news release. “At a time when Americans are tightening their belts, Washington is on a reckless spending spree. This is irresponsible.” When the spending legislation passed before the end of 2008 is factored in, federal discretionary spending will reach $1.01 trillion for 2009. This is the first time in U.S. history that the federal discretionary budget has passed the $1 trillion mark. Additionally, federal agencies lucky enough to get money from both this spending legislation and the recently-enacted stimulus bill are about to see their funding jump by 80 percent—nearly doubling some agencies’ budgets in a single year. In a related vote today Foxx voted in favor of legislation that would help to clean up the Congressional earmark system. The legislation would be a first step towards requiring members of Congress to list campaign contributions that serve as a financial interest in lawmakers’ earmark requests. posted by Newsroom # 1:04 PM

http://12403wc.blogspot.com/2009/02/foxx-no-to-more-spending.html

Steve Goss raises your rates!

 

If you live in North Carolina and you thought power was already too expensive, well get ready for it.  Senator Steve Goss just introduced a bill in the NC Senate to ban the use of 1/3 of the States power source.  So where does the good Senator suppose the rest will come from?  If the dollar didn’t hurt before, it will now!

Bill introduced to phase out use of mountaintop coal in NC
STAFF REPORTS • PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2009 10:25 AM

RALEIGH – North Carolina lawmakers introduced a bill today that would phase out state electric utility purchase of coal from mountaintop removal mines.

Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Greensboro, is the lead sponsor of the Appalachian Mountains Preservation Act in the state House of Representatives. Sen. Steve Goss introduced a companion bill in the state Senate.

Harrison introduced similar legislation last year.

According to a press release from Boone-based Appalachian Voices, North Carolina is currently the second largest consumer of mountaintop removal-mined coal. The group said that 30 percent of the state’s electricity is generated from the burning of mountaintop removal mined coal.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990226026

Democrats push $410 billion bill through House

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: February 26, 2009

WASHINGTON

The Democratic-controlled House pushed through a $410 billion bill yesterday that increases spending on domestic programs, bristles with earmarks and chips away at policies left behind by the Bush administration.

The vote was 245-178, largely along party lines.

Republicans criticized the bill as too costly — particularly on the heels of a $787 billion stimulus bill that President Obama signed last week. But Democrats jabbed back.

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2009/feb/26/democrats-push-410-billion-bill-through-house/news-nation-world/

Eight is enough for head of Forsyth Republicans

We hate to see you go Bill!

By Wesley Young | Journal Reporter

Published: February 26, 2009

Bill Miller plans to step down as chairman of the Forsyth County Republican Party after serving in the postion for the past eight years.

Miller, 79, said yesterday that it is time to bring in new leadership, but he added that he is pleased with most of the party’s efforts during his term.

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2009/feb/26/eight-is-enough-for-head-of-forsyth-republicans/news-local/

Brock’s bill would allow diners to pack heat

Good Job Senator Brock!

A bill filed recently in the state legislature would allow concealed weapons in restaurants in North Carolina.

State Sen. Andrew Brock, a Mocksville Republican, filed a bill last week that would allow North Carolinians with concealed weapons permits to take their guns into restaurants.

Under state law, it is a Class I misdemeanor to take “any gun, rifle or pistol” into any establishment that serves alcohol, unless you are the proprietor, a police officer or on-duty military.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1419602.html

Source: Matthews said ‘Oh God’ before Jindal spoke

NEW YORK – MSNBC’s Chris Matthews quietly uttered “Oh God” asLouisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal prepared to give the Republican Partyresponse to President Barack Obama’s speech to Congress. An NBC executive, who requested anonymity because the network is still looking into the matter, named Matthews as the one who made the live mike slip — it was so quiet most listeners wouldn’t be able to identify the speaker.

The Huffington Post posted a link to the comment and asked viewers to guess Wednesday who had made it: 32 percent had guessed Matthews, 35 percent said it was co-anchor Keith Olbermann, 15 percent said it was an MSNBC camera operator and 18 percent thought it was a producer.

MSNBC had no immediate comment.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090225/ap_on_en_tv/tv_msnbc_jindal_3

Gov. Jindal Reacts

Treasury’s stress test still a mystery

 

By Christina Rexrode
crexrode@charlotteobserver.com

Posted: Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009

The Treasury Department has hinged a big part of its plans for the banking industry on a so-called stress test, but has revealed almost nothing about what the test might entail.

The government’s latest lifeline for major banks, announced Monday, has one main qualification: A bank has to essentially fail the stress test, which is meant to determine if it could survive a worse-than-expected decline in the economy.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/business/story/556969.html