"I wish every Democrat in the nation was as tough as Bev Perdue."
A reliable source within the Governor's office tells us that the Governor was told by DENR sometime ago that the report was accumulating substantial scientific data that would lead to a conclusion that fracking not only can be done safely but that it holds significant economic potential for the state. Knowing that Perdue's position had been the opposite we are told DENR gave her advance notice and in effect sought clearance to release the report which would have been contrary to her position.
We are told that the evidence is so overwhelming that if Perdue stuck to her position that the report would be a major contradiction of her position. So they had two choices: Either DENR could try to kill the report, somehow; or Perdue could change her position.
[...]
Moreover, another source tells us that the first source was probably correct but that another factor came into play. It is believed that the Obama Administration is on the verge of announcing a reversal of their position on natural gas exploration, not only from fracking but also in offshore drilling. "The DOE (Department of Energy) has already sent the message that if gasoline prices continue to climb that they will change their position on fracking."
Gov. Bev Perdue's move Wednesday toward fracking is putting the Democratic candidates vying to replace her on the spot.
Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton's campaign issued a statement Thursday trying to take a middle-of-the road approach. Dalton supports fracking but suggests it needs more study before moving forward to know if it can be done safely.
"There may be great benefits to and lots of jobs created from fracking, but it is unwise to rush into a decision until all the facts are reviewed," spokesman Pearse Edwards said. "For example, we need to thoroughly assess the risks that fracking may cause to our drinking water, ensure that proper regulations are in place, and determine whether exploration is economically viable. We must also hear from the people of North Carolina. The Lieutenant Governor is hopeful that working together we can find the safest way tap our state’s natural gas reserves and bring much needed jobs to the state."
Bob Etheridge's campaign initially declined to comment but issued a statement Thursday taking a similar approach supporting fracking if the water supply is protected. "We should
Jon Romano, the governor's communications director, said Perdue's trip to Pennsylvania convinced her that fracking is possible in North Carolina. "She believes based on what she saw that it can be done safely," he said.
What Perdue has done is “completely contrary to a budget that was passed, was adopted according to law and that she has a constitutional obligation to carry out,” said Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, adding she’s “acting in a way that I don’t believe a governor of North Carolina ever in the past would have contemplated acting.”
Since as early as January 2011, and perhaps before then, Gov. Bev Perdue’s press office has received access to confidential employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics hours if not days before its scheduled release, quite likely in violation of federal law. The governor’s staff used its early access to massage the monthly employment press release that reported jobs data to the public.
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This is no small matter: A conviction for breaching the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 carries a fine of up to $250,000, up to five years in prison, or both.
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“BLS does not support the release of employment and unemployment data before the established dates and times,” said Janet Rankin, BLS regional commissioner for the southeast office in Atlanta in an email.
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CJ initially suspected Perdue was receiving employment information that was under embargo in August, when she discussed information in the jobs report at a meeting of the Rotary Club of Asheville the day before the data were released to the public.
“I think we ought to suspend, perhaps, elections for Congress for two years and just tell them we won’t hold it against them, whatever decisions they make, to just let them help this country recover,” Perdue said at a rotary club event in Cary, North Carolina, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. “I really hope that someone can agree with me on that.”
The North Carolina House has voted to cancel out Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue's veto of the two-year state budget.
The vote Wednesday just after midnight was 73-46. That's just enough to meet the three-fifths majority required to override a veto.
Two Cape Fear region lawmakers who are key figures in the state budget battle say they will vote to override Gov. Bev Perdue's budget veto.
Rep. William Brisson and Rep. Dewey Hill are among the five Democrats in the House who voted for the budget. Four are needed to override the veto.
Studying Gov. Bev Perdue's proposed budget cuts has Gary Pace of Saluda sensing the smell of fear. “The state is trying to put it all back to the counties to pay for things, and you know what that means. It's going to fall back on property owners,” he says. “Homeowners, especially senior citizens, can't bear much more. When you get to a point you can't work much, it's even harder to make ends meet. You have the same bills, but your income doesn't get any better. What needs to be studied is the size of government. It's way too big and costing us dearly.”
If the governor election were held today, neither Gov. Bev Perdue nor three other top-level Democrats could beat former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, Democratic pollster Public Policy Polling said today.
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In potential matchups with the former Charlotte mayor, PPP’s numbers:-- Perdue 36 percent, McCrory 50 percent-- Blue 28 percent, McCrory 48 percent-- Cooper 35 percent, McCrory 43 percent-- Dalton 27 percent, McCrory 47 percent
“Big government Democrats in the Tar Heel State have become so toxic that even the Democrat pollsters can’t slant numbers favorably for Governor Perdue and her liberal allies,” he said in a written statement. “This poll is proof that the people of North Carolina overwhelmingly object to the big government, big spending policies of Governor Perdue and her liberal allies and are ready to take their state back.”
Governor Bev Perdue has come to Charlotte many times since the economy soured to make jobs announcements, presenting new companies to the community like gifts.But those companies also get gifts to come here, and now the Republican-controlled Senate wants to take away Perdue's incentive money in order to fill a $3.7 billion budget hole.
...Perdue's camp says doing so will kill the state's job-making machine, sending companies to other areas.
Will [Bev Perdue] agree with Republican preferences to cut $3 billion to $4 billion, casting an eye back on November's elections and the big GOP victory? Her political strategy in that case would be to curry favor with conservative voters in anticipation of a re-election run in 2012.
Or will she propose to cut less, demanding that schools and other human services be protected by extending expiring taxes or by raising other taxes and fees? This course would be chosen to shore up her support with Democratic voters, making a "last stand" fight for preserving educational and social-service programs established over the past several decades.
Gov. Bev Perdue's office announced Wednesday that the company plans to create 100 new positions in North Carolina and will invest $36 million as part of the project, which was made possible in part by state grants from the Job Development Investment Grant program and One North Carolina Fund.[emphasis mine]
The cuts are expected to come from every corner of government.
However, the one area Perdue says she wants to protect is education despite it making up nearly 60 percent of the state budget.
If Perdue proposes a budget that does not include a revenue increase, it reframes the debate and hands the Republicans a powerful rhetorical tool to pursue their agenda of shrinking government and slashing budgets of education and human services.
I guess a budget deficit of between 3 and 4 billion is close enough for government work; is it for you?A new report from the National Conference of State Legislatures on budget conditions in the 50 states and Puerto Rico puts the hole North Carolina is facing at more than $3.8 billion, or 20.3 percent of current budget. NCSL collected information for its report from legislative fiscal offices.
BusinessWeek
[Bev Perdue's] administration directed agencies this week to offer ways to cut spending by up to 15 percent in the fiscal year starting next July 1.
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In a memo dated Thursday to departments and agencies, State Budget Director Charlie Perusse asked for options on how they would cut 5 percent, 10 percent and 15 percent from their offices.
"Across-the-board reductions have already been taken," Perusse wrote. "This budget cycle we need to focus on supporting mission critical services and eliminating programs that have outlived their usefulness."
BusinessWeek
[Bev Perdue's] administration directed agencies this week to offer ways to cut spending by up to 15 percent in the fiscal year starting next July 1.
...
In a memo dated Thursday to departments and agencies, State Budget Director Charlie Perusse asked for options on how they would cut 5 percent, 10 percent and 15 percent from their offices.
"Across-the-board reductions have already been taken," Perusse wrote. "This budget cycle we need to focus on supporting mission critical services and eliminating programs that have outlived their usefulness."
