Economy

New report ranks North Carolina 44th in spending per student

By Alanna Joyner / May 23, 2022 / Comments Off on New report ranks North Carolina 44th in spending per student

A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau ranks North Carolina 44th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia in spending per student.  According to the report, in fiscal year 2020, North Carolina provided $9,958 per student, compared to the national average of $13,494. When adjusted for inflation, The Pulse found that the…

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New Report Shows North Carolinians Pay Their Fair Share While Billionaires Skirt By

By Alanna Joyner / April 20, 2022 / Comments Off on New Report Shows North Carolinians Pay Their Fair Share While Billionaires Skirt By

Ahead of this year’s Tax Day, a report found that U.S. billionaires have gotten $1.7 trillion richer over the first two years of the pandemic, while four of the state’s billionaires got $6 billion richer, according to an analysis by Americans for Tax Fairness and Action NC. The dramatic increase in wealth comes in contrast…

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Republicans’ New Plan: Raise taxes on working people

By Alanna Joyner / March 15, 2022 / Comments Off on Republicans’ New Plan: Raise taxes on working people

While millions of Americans are recovering from the financial hardships caused by the pandemic, Republicans are pushing forth a new tax plan that will raise taxes for everyone.  Florida Senator Rick Scott, the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, released an “11-point plan to rescue America” that included a proposal for all Americans to…

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Build Back Better is a generational investment in North Carolina families

By Alanna Joyner / November 30, 2021 / Comments Off on Build Back Better is a generational investment in North Carolina families

Less than one week after President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal into law, the U.S. House passed President Biden’s Build Back Better Act, moving the bill one step closer to becoming law. The Build Back Better Act currently moving through Congress boasts an array of historic investments into child care, home care, affordable housing,…

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‘I will fight to fix its mistakes’: N.C. Gov. Cooper says he will sign state budget despite ‘missed opportunities’

By Alanna Joyner / November 22, 2021 / Comments Off on ‘I will fight to fix its mistakes’: N.C. Gov. Cooper says he will sign state budget despite ‘missed opportunities’

During a news conference Tuesday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced that he will sign the final budget presented by state Republicans, despite what he called “missed opportunities and misguided policy”.  “I will sign this budget because, on balance, the good outweighs the bad,” Gov. Cooper said. “It moves North Carolina forward in important ways,…

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President Biden signs bipartisan infrastructure bill into law, promoting benefits for Americans.

By Alanna Joyner / November 16, 2021 / Comments Off on President Biden signs bipartisan infrastructure bill into law, promoting benefits for Americans.

On Monday, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law, a bipartisan victory that will deliver a once-in-a-generation investment into the nation’s roads, broadband, utilities and more. In North Carolina specifically, this historic deal pours funding into our state’s roads and bridges, improves ports and airports, and ensures every North Carolinian has…

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Stop legislative sideshows. Get down to business, address real issues

By Alanna Joyner / September 3, 2021 / Comments Off on Stop legislative sideshows. Get down to business, address real issues

Nearly two months into the new fiscal year, North Carolina Republican legislative leaders are doing what they know best; focusing on divisive side issues while ignoring the real needs of our state. In the past few weeks, Republicans in both chambers have presented budgets that signal business as usual — controversial measures, heavy on tax…

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Ex-lawmaker David Lewis pleads guilty to felonies. Prosecutors recommend no jail time

By Alanna Joyner / August 31, 2021 / Comments Off on Ex-lawmaker David Lewis pleads guilty to felonies. Prosecutors recommend no jail time

Last week, former NC Rep. David Lewis, became the state’s latest prominent Republican to become a convicted felon.  Lewis, who funneled campaign dollars to his family farm, pleaded guilty to making false statements to a bank and for failing to file a 2018 federal tax return. Lewis will be sentenced at a later date, but…

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House budget writers adopt the extreme view that NC constitution is optional

By Alanna Joyner / August 16, 2021 / Comments Off on House budget writers adopt the extreme view that NC constitution is optional

Last week, the Republican-led state House unveiled it’s 600+ page budget that falls short of truly investing in North Carolina. House lawmakers voted 72 to 41 on Thursday to give final approval to their $25.7 billion budget plan that prioritizes tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy while ignoring the needs in education, public health…

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New poll: North Carolinians overwhelmingly oppose eliminating corporate income tax

By Alanna Joyner / July 28, 2021 / Comments Off on New poll: North Carolinians overwhelmingly oppose eliminating corporate income tax

Amid a time when corporations generated record profits during a pandemic that caused financial devastation for millions of Americans, NC Republicans passed a bill last month that would protect corporations profits further by eliminating the corporate state income tax. According to a recent poll, North Carolina voters across party lines overwhelmingly oppose such a bill,…

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