NCDOT Deserves Scrutiny
February 28, 2008
Of Roads and Kicked Dogs (Us!)
By Scott Mooneyham
The Pilot
February 26, 2008Some goings-on in the capital city are reminiscent of the fellow who appeared before a judge on charges of kicking his dog.
Faced with the prospect of a few days in jail, the fellow calls his neighbors to testify on his good character.
“Yes, sir,” one neighbor says to the judge, “that dog was always howling, night and day. I don’t blame him one bit for kicking that ole thing. And mostly, he treated that dog mighty fine. Why, he even fed him — at least once a week.”
The moral to the story: Sometimes it’s good just to hush and take your punishment.
Lately, though, Gov. Mike Easley and the state Democratic Party have been playing the role of kindly neighbor to that dog-kicker of state government, the Department of Transportation, and its governing board.
Easley recently rejected criticism that the Board of Transportation shouldn’t be involved in political fundraising. He said it would be hypocritical to ask its members to refrain from political fundraising when others in state government are permitted to do so.
The state Democratic Party then weighed in regarding an audit of the Department of Transportation which found $150 million in road-building waste because of construction delays. Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek accused Republican State Auditor Les Merritt of partisanship. …
Apparently Meek didn’t notice that the dog had begun yelping again.
Just as Merritt issued his audit, top DOT officials were explaining why they ignored an agency engineer’s warnings in 2003 that asphalt on the state’s newest stretch of interstate, I-795 from Wilson to Goldsboro, would be too weak. Sure enough, the asphalt has begun cracking and repairs could cost as much as $10 million. The problem follows a botched paving job on I-40 in Durham County which cost $22 million to correct. …
Still, until the agency gets its act together, it hardly deserves some kind of collective “you poor old, picked-on thing.”
Oh, by the way: That dog that’s been kicked around? If you haven’t figured it out by now, it’s you, the taxpayers of North Carolina.
NCGOP Elects New National Committeeman
February 27, 2008
RALEIGH—At a North Carolina State Republican Executive Committee meeting held in Raleigh on February 16, 2008, the North Carolina Republican Party elected a new National Committeeman to represent the NCGOP with the Republican National Committee. State Representative David Lewis will fill the position recently vacated by Ed McMahan. Lewis will represent the NCGOP at the Republican National Convention to be held September 1-4, 2008 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Rep. Lewis is currently serving in his second term in the N.C. House of Representatives District 53. He is, or has been, a member of the Committees on Agriculture, Education, Education Sub-Committee on Community Colleges, Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform, Finance, Insurance and Transportation, and the Aging Commission.
The North Carolina Republican Party congratulates Rep. Lewis on his election. He won with 152 of the 235 votes cast in the election by the State Executive Committee. The NCGOP also thanks Kieran Shanahan, who received 72 votes, and Marcus Kindley, who received 11 votes, for their service.
Rep. Myrick Signs onto Military Freedom Act
February 16, 2008
(Washington,
“The men and women in the military protect us and our freedoms. They did not deserve the unbelievably poor treatment they received in Berkeley. This legislation will makes towns like Berkeley think twice before they disrespect our military and their recruiters,” said Rep. Myrick.
The Military Freedom Act would deny Federal funds for any state, city, county, or other political subdivision of a state that prohibits or restricts the establishment or operation of a military recruiting office. It covers all Federal funds, whether made available by appropriation, grant, award, contract, or any other means to a state or a political subdivision of a state.
Terry Glesias Elected Secretary Union County Republican Party Executive Board
February 6, 2008
Please join me in welcoming Terry Glesias to the Union County Executive Board as Secretary. Terry was voted to the position in the February 7th Executive Committee meeting. We look forward to working with him in this very important and critical election year. The following information should help you get to know Terry a little better.
Terrence (Terry) Glesias has been a resident of Union County since July 2004. Previous to moving his family to the Union County, he lived in Fredericksburg, VA.
He is employed by Maersk, Inc. in Charlotte as General Manager, Finance and has been with the Maersk organization for nearly 18 years.
As a life long Republican Terry is committed to the ideals of the Party including limited government, free enterprise and market-based solutions to many of the party policy challenges that our communities face. He’s been active in the Union County Republican Party for about two years has served as a precinct officer and Board of Election Judge. Terry is a member of the RNC and the NC Republican Party.
Raised in Marlborough, MA Terry holds an MA in International Commerce & Policy from George Mason University with a BA in Political Science from Framingham State College.
Besides being active in Republican Party organizations he is active with First Baptist Church of Weddington and enjoys reading, cycling, outdoor activities and family time. Terry also holds an Amateur Radio License.
Terry has been married to Linda for 17 years and has two daughters, Emily and Erin. They currently reside in Waxhaw.
Terry, congratulations on your new role in the Union County Republican Party!
Joe Pomykacz, Chairman
Burr Introduces State Sales Tax Relief Bill
February 1, 2008
Alternative To Rebates Designed To Boost Consumer Spending, Stimulate Economy In April
Press Release
January 29, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) today introduced legislation encouraging states to suspend their sales tax as an alternative economic stimulus to the current rebate proposals being debated in Congress. The Sales Tax Holiday Act of 2008 would establish a national sales tax holiday for ten days beginning April 3rd to provide an economic boost for small businesses and consumers. Under the bill, states participating in the voluntary program would receive significant financial assistance from the federal government.
“The buying power of the American consumer is the best means we have for creating economic stimulus,” Burr said. “Tax holidays have a strong track record of increasing consumer purchases and sparking economic growth. By giving people the incentive to shop, more money will be pumped in our economy, giving it the boost it needs.”
The tax holiday would run from April 3rd through April 14th. The ten day period spans two full weekends of shopping before the April 15th tax deadline. The legislation encourages consumer spending to stimulate the economy at a time when the heavy federal tax burden is looming large on the minds of Americans. By temporarily removing the sales tax, the overall cost of goods and services would be reduced from 2.9% to 7% depending on the state sales tax percentage, increasing purchasing power and encouraging spending.
Under the measure, states could voluntarily suspend sales tax collection for ten days. The federal government would share the cost of lost tax revenue with participating states. States would be required to notify the Secretary of the Treasury by March 1, 2008 in order to qualify for federal assistance. The U.S. Department of the Treasury would pay participating state governments a total of sixty percent of lost tax revenue by July 1, 2008.
Click here for the full release
For more on Senator Burr’s ideas to strengthen the economic stimulus package, click below
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