EDUCATION INVESTIGATIONS A sound, basic education Cooper aide untruthful? New consent order in Leandro A Duke Energy lobbyist said Ken Eudy case sets stage for action didn’t tell truth to investigators PAGE 12 PAGE 13

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MOVERS & SHAKERS Carolina Journal welcomes new publisher NEW YEAR, NEW LOOK John Locke Foundation Twenty-four lawmakers leaving N.C. General Assembly in 2020 gets new CEO

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he General Assembly will look a bit different Amy O. Cooke after the 2020 session. Twenty-four lawmakers — BY JOHN TRUMP, Republicans and Democrats T MANAGING EDITOR — have opted not to run for re-election. Institutional knowledge my O. Cooke is the will shrink as experienced new publisher of Car- lawmakers leave the General olina Journal. She is al- Assembly, political scientists so the new CEO for the John say. But the turnover may al- ALocke Foundation. low new issues and ideas to Cooke for 16 years filled take center stage. a variety of policy and oper- Longtime lawmakers have ations roles at the Indepen- significant institutional dence Institute, a free-mar- knowledge about issues and legislate,” said Chris Cooper, is if the majorities for either Cooper said. ket think tank in Colorado — PAGE 10: Profiles of all 24 policies, said Michael Bitzer, political science professor at parties are very narrow,” Tay- “We are going to lose some the past eight years as the in- outgoing legislators, their political science professor at thoughts, and works. Western Carolina University. lor said. expertise, and that will be a stitute’s executive vice pres- Catawba College. Power could become more If this plays out, Tay- problem, but we will get some ident. She brings to Raleigh Lawmakers, too, have over centralized with leadership lor said, it opens the door fresh ideas, too,” he said. a strong, clear voice for free time developed good working hallways of the 1960s-era as newcomers turn to senior for members — particular- And those fresh ideas could markets, limited government, relationships, which can lead Legislative Building. Next, members for direction, said ly those in the majority party bring fresh collaboration be- and individual liberties. to coordination and compro- they must craft political rela- Andy Taylor, political science — to push for decentralizing tween members, Bitzer said. “I love a challenge and mise. tionships and build alliances. professor at N.C. State Uni- power and giving more auton- But there’s a flip side. The enjoy being slightly unpre- The old guard has experi- Only then can their real versity. Established members omy to committee chairs from growth of partisanship and dictable,” she says. “And ence getting things done in work begin. have a greater claim to com- the leadership. polarization in today’s envi- who wouldn’t want to come the legislature, something “We are going to have mittee chairs or leadership People who favor term lim- ronment may limit a willing- to and John newcomers will take time to newcomers who don’t know positions than do newcomers. its and want new blood in the ness of new members to reach Locke?” learn. First, they must nav- where to find the copy ma- “But perhaps the one cir- General Assembly will see the continued PAGE 9 continued PAGE 3 igate the indistinguishable chine, much less know how to cumstance that might change large turnover as a positive,

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GET MORE CAROLINA JOURNAL 2 CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 CAROLINA JOURNAL Education and School Choice A POLL OF REGISTERED N.C. VOTERS PUBLISHER JANUARY 2020 Amy O. Cooke @therightaoc Parents v. Government EDITOR-IN-CHIEF In your opinion, who is best suited to determine Rick Henderson where a child should attend school? @deregulator ◼ PARENTS/GUARDIANS 78% MANAGING EDITOR ◼ GOVERNMENT 8% John Trump ◼ UNSURE 16% @stillnbarrel General Assembly leaves ASST. MANAGING EDITOR Kari Travis @karilynntravis town without a budget EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parental Choice Don Carrington awmakers have gone home with Cooper and uphold his budget Do you agree or disagree with the following [email protected] without raising teacher pay veto. statement: Parents should have the ability to and without passing a new Political loyalty to Cooper and choose where their child attends school? ASSOCIATE EDITORS state budget. his Medicaid expansion plan is more Julie Havlak During a session of the Gener- important than funding teacher pay ◼ STRONGLY AGREE 53% @juliehavlak L al Assembly on Jan. 14, Senate Re- raises and school construction and ◼ SOMEWHAT AGREE 28% Mitch Kokai publicans failed to garner enough paying for a new Brody School of ◼ SOMEWHAT DISAGREE 8% @mitchkokai votes to override the vetoes of two Medicine at East Carolina Universi- ◼ STRONGLY DISAGREE 6% Lindsay Marchello bills. The veto overrides for Senate ty, Berger said. ◼ UNSURE 6% @LynnMarch007 Bill 354, Strengthening Educators’ A second-year budget could in- Pay, and Senate Bill 553, Regulatory clude everything left out of the se- JOURNALISM FELLOW Reform Act of 2019, were defeated ries of mini-budgets the General As- Education and Taxation Brooke Conrad strictly along party lines. The legis- sembly passed last year. Would you favor or oppose legislative proposals lature requires a three-fifths majori- But don’t hold your breath, the DESIGNER that provide parents greater flexibility in Greg de Deugd ty to override a veto. Senate leader said. allocating how their tax dollars are spent for [email protected] The vetoed budget bill, House “I am prepared to negotiate a full their child’s education? Bill 966, didn’t come up for a vote. second-year budget with the gover- PUBLISHED BY Senate Democrats showed ani- nor as long as he drops his Medicaid ◼ STRONGLY FAVOR 36% mosity toward Republicans’ teacher ultimatum,” Berger said. ◼ SOMEWHAT FAVOR 33% pay offer during the session. When Twenty-one Democrats were ◼ SOMEWHAT OPPOSE 10% the veto of S.B. 534 came up for a committed to upholding the gov- ◼ STRONGLY OPPOSE 7% vote, the minority party stood uni- ernor’s veto, Senate Democratic The John Locke Foundation ◼ UNSURE 14% fied in opposition. Their reasons leader Sen. , D-Wake, said 4800 Six Forks Road, #220 varied. Some said the pay raises during his own news conference. Raleigh, N.C. 27609 Harper Polling, on behalf of Civitas Institute, surveyed 800 registered N.C. voters from Jan. 20 to Jan. 22. The margin of weren’t enough. Others said the bill But Blue said he’s willing to dis- (919) 828-3876 • Fax: 821-5117 error is plus or minus 3.46%. Some results may not amount to 100% because of rounding. left retirees and noncertified em- cuss Medicaid expansion separately www.JohnLocke.org ployees — like bus drivers and jan- if it means moving forward on core John Hood itors — behind. issues such as educator pay. Chairman Senate Republicans said their “Compromise is not a dirty COMMENTARY BY JOHN HOOD Bill Graham, John M. Hood Democratic colleagues had a choice: word,” Blue said. Vote for the pay raises in the bill, or Cooper vetoed the $24 billion Ted Hicks, Christine Mele, go home with nothing. Senate Dem- General Fund budget bill June 28. He Rodney C. Pitts, Paul Slobodian ocrats chose nothing. criticized the Republican-led Gener- David Stover, Edwin Thomas Competition needed With the veto override of S.B. al Assembly for prioritizing tax cuts Board of Directors 534 defeated, teachers might not over investments in public educa- ISSN 2578-8167 Carolina Journal is see raises until 2021. tion. But the lack of money for Med- in health care a monthly journal of news, analysis, Negotiations over teacher pay icaid expansion in the budget drove and commentary on state and local government and public policy issues probably won’t happen with Gov. Cooper’s veto. in North Carolina. any time soon, Senate Cooper made it clear that, with- ccording to North Carolina conditions, disagree. This is North leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, out Medicaid expansion, any nego- regulators, Mecklenburg Carolina’s certificate-of-need ©2020 by The John Locke Founda- tion Inc. All opinions expressed in by- said. tiations on moving forward with County needs 76 more system in action. Medical provid- lined articles are those of the authors “You know the definition of in- the budget are moot. hospital beds. Adding 80 would ers need a permission slip from and do not necessarily reflect the sanity. It’s doing the same thing While House Republicans reject- be excessive. Adding 72 would be the state to offer many kinds of views of the editors of CJ or the staff A and board of the John Locke Founda- over and over again,” Berger said. “I ed Cooper’s veto in a surprise vote inadequate. services. tion. Material published herein may don’t think we are going to take an- Sept. 11, the Senate waited to make I’m sure their 76-bed prediction Sound more like the workings of be reprinted as long as appropriate other swipe at that.” an attempt. was made in good faith. I’m sure it 1970s-era Bulgaria than of a free credit is given. Submissions and let- ters are welcome and should be di- Much of what was said in legis- In lieu of a full budget, the reflects their best understanding society of the 21st century? My rected to the editor. lative debate repeated news confer- General Assembly passed sever- of the data available. My problem colleagues and I at the John Locke ences held earlier in the day. al mini-budgets to fund items with is that state regulators didn’t just Foundation have long thought To subscribe, call 919-828-3876. Readers also can request Carolina Senate Republicans and Demo- broad bipartisan support. An at- offer this prediction to inform free so. We believe North Carolina Journal Weekly Report, delivered crats held dueling audiences with tempt to pass a mini-budget with choices by medical providers and should substantially modify or each weekend by e-mail, or visit the press that morning, laying teacher pay raises failed. Democrats patients. Their prediction has the eliminate CON regulations. We CarolinaJournal.com for news, links, and exclusive content updated each blame on each other for the con- rejected the offer, in part because force of law. No more than 76 beds think they fail at their stated task weekday. Those interested in educa- tinuing stalemate over a new state the measure linked teacher raises to can be added. It doesn’t matter if of controlling health care costs tion, economics, higher education, budget. an override of the governor’s veto. local hospitals, reacting to their health care or local government also see HOOD PAGE 21 can ask to receive weekly e-letters Berger said Senate Democrats own understanding of market covering these issues. have made it clear they plan to stick From Staff Reports CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 3 CAROLINA JOURNAL Carolina Journal welcomes new publisher continued from PAGE 1 Five Lessons in Leadership She arrives as the John Locke from Creativity, Inc. Foundation prepares to celebrate Amy Oliver Cooke shares lessons its 30th anniversary as the Tar Heel in leadership from Creativity, Inc. State’s most respected voice on be- by Ed Catmull. It’s hard to decide half of limited, constitutional gov- which is most important, Cooke ernment supporting economic free- admits. But here are a few: dom and personal liberty. She plans to enhance and advance that lega- 1. Give a good idea to a mediocre cy, leading — in her words — an in- team, and they will screw it up. But give a mediocre idea credible organization and its tal- to a great team, and they will ented staff into its fourth decade either fix it or come up with as North Carolina’s most influential something better. thought leader. 2. If you don’t strive to uncover She’ll crisscross the state — what is unseen and understand again, her words — meeting people its nature, you will be ill- in every corner, transforming “Mur- prepared to lead. phy-to-Manteo” from cliche to real- 3. It’s not the manager’s job to ity. Consistently promoting North

SPECTRUM NEWS/CAPITAL TONIGHT NEWS/CAPITAL SPECTRUM prevent risks. It’s the manager’s Carolina as an example of success “A STRONG, CREATIVE LEADER.” Amy O. Cooke is the new publisher of Carolina Journal. She is also the new CEO for the job to make it safe for others for other states to emulate, telling John Locke Foundation. to take them. people about “the incredible suc- 4. The cost of preventing errors is cess story that is the John Locke often far greater than the cost Foundation.” accolades from the Colorado Broad- roots in the red soil run deep. Solid, freedom in North Carolina,” said of fixing them. “JLF has a 30-year history of casters Association. tough roots that began with Amy Hood, who now chairs the board of 5. A company’s communication educating lawmakers, elected of- Baseball and radio are insepara- Abernathy Oliver. directors for the Locke Foundation. structure should not mirror ficials, opinion makers, decision ble. Jack Buck, Bob Prince, Mel Al- “I’m named after my great, great, She’s also an expert on energy its organizational structure. makers, basically all North Carolin- len, Harry Caray. All bring sounds great grandmother Amy Abernathy policy and founded the Coalition Everybody should be able to ians about the benefits of free mar- and images of a certain place. A cer- Oliver, the first woman with the last of Ratepayers, advocating for small talk to anybody. kets and limited government that tain time. name of Oliver to come into the state businesses and residential utility create an environment where ev- “That’s how I learned to love ra- of Missouri. She was born Amy Ab- customers, and was director of the eryone can thrive,” Cooke says. dio,” Cooke says. “Baseball is meant ernathy in 1786 in, you guessed it, Energy and Environmental Policy “What we see in North Caroli- to be heard on radio. I love every- North Carolina,” Cooke says. Center at Independence. She served coming-of-age as leader. He passes na are courageous elected officials thing about baseball. I love the “She was born and raised in on President Trump’s transition along some great lessons.” who took JLF research and put it in- weather. I love strategy. I’m the North Carolina and left the state team for the Environmental Pro- “I suggest anyone who wants to to practice. As a result, North Caro- person who keeps score. I love the after she married my great, great, tection Agency after the 2016 elec- help their staff achieve great things lina is enjoying an economic renais- game.” great grandfather, John Oliver, who tion and is a former senior fellow should read it,” Cooke says. “It’s hard sance. This is what happens when Cooke, a mom of three and step- was also from North Carolina. So, af- with the Independent Women’s Fo- to argue with Catmull’s success at government gets out of the way mom of two, moved to Colorado ter 200 years, I’m bringing Amy Ab- rum. Cooke has written op-eds for inspiring greatness. Also, he under- and lets people innovate. It’s a great about 1 ½ years after she graduat- ernathy Oliver’s name back to North numerous national and state news- scores one of my cherished leader- time to be in North Carolina. What ed college in 1985. Carolina. Kind of papers and has been a guest on Fox ship philosophies: We take our mis- a great job!” She moved there, cool!” News. Her husband, John, is a Colo- sion seriously, but not ourselves.” Born at Great Lakes Naval Air at least in part, be- The exclamation rado state senator and a retired Col- Cooke, an avid cyclist, has an ap- Station outside Chicago, Cooke — cause of a family points are neither orado sheriff. He’ll stay in Colora- petite for adventure, a habit of run- the youngest of seven children — at trip. What we see in superfluous nor - hy do to finish up his second and final ning head-on into challenges. She 3 moved with her family to Wiscon- The memories North Carolina perbolic. Rather, it’s term in office. overcomes setbacks and adversity sin before moving to St. Louis and of Colorado and the are courageous as if they should al- In Amy Cooke’s new office, on a with a similar tenacity, a will to nev- attending the University of Missou- Rockies remained elected officials ways sit at the end table near her desk, are several cop- er quit. A serious cycling accident ri-Columbia. It was in Missouri, St. with her. Became of her name. It’s the ies of a New York Times best-sell- Aug. 9 placed those qualities under Louis specifically, that Cooke devel- ingrained in her. It’s who took JLF perfect way to define er. It’s hard to miss. Shades of red, a bright, hot spotlight. oped a love for baseball. where she wanted research and put her passion and her starting at the bottom of the book’s “It changed how I view oppor- There is, in fact, no better place to be. it into practice. energy, which also jacket, grow brighter as they rise tunities and challenges,” she says. to fall in love with that game. Car- “It was the bi- played no small role before an unmistakable outline of “Most people don’t walk away from dinals’ fans are inherently stalwart centennial, and As a result, in a successful career Buzz Lightyear. In his left hand, be- the type of accident I had, but I did and loyal. They know the game. the entire country North Carolina in media. tween thumb and forefinger, Buzz and recovered.” They appreciate it, and they’re was looking east is enjoying At JLF and CJ, raises a thin baton high above his Enough to, well, get back on the uniquely passionate about it. to New York, Bos- Cooke will lead a helmet. It’s as though he’s ready to bike. It’s only natural that Cooke ton, and Philadel- an economic team of nearly two conduct an unseen orchestra. “In my family, there were seven would become a fan of the great phia,” she said. renaissance. dozen researchers, The book is Creativity, Inc. by Ed kids, one car, and not much money,” game. Of the competition, the in- “My parents chose writers, and out- Catmull. Cooke counts it among her she says. “When I got my first bike, tricacies, the nuances. The preter- to go west. So, they - Amy O. Cooke reach professionals favorites. it was like freedom. I had a means natural skill needed to hit a 95-mph loaded up the VW who provide nonpar- “I’m drawn to Creativity, Inc. be- of transportation that was as fast fastball. bus and took us to tisan public policy cause author Ed Catmull, found- as my legs would carry me, and I “I’ll compete in darn near any- Colorado. It was analysis to lawmak- er of Pixar, dared big.” she says. didn’t have to rely on anyone. I could thing,” she says. “I learned to love the most beautiful ers, elected and ap- “He wasn’t afraid to take calculat- just go. I’ve loved it ever since. As baseball and radio from my mother. place I had ever seen, and I vowed pointed officials, and media. Cooke ed risks and learned how to make an adult, there are few things more She went to every game of the 1944 one day to live there. So, shortly af- is one of only four people who have mistakes. As a young student, Cat- gratifying than looking at a moun- World Series. That’s how I grew up a ter graduation, I thought all I want- held the CEO position since the John mull dreamed of creating the first tain pass and thinking, ‘No way am I St. Louis Cardinals fan. I have fond ed to do is live in Colorado. I packed Locke Foundation opened in 1990. computer-animated film at a time going to make it to the top.’ But you memories of listening to Cardinal up my meager belongings and head- She follows Marc Rotterman, John when the world was still using ro- know you’ve trained and that while games on the radio on hot summer ed west on Interstate 70 until I got Hood, and Kory Swanson. tary phones. While some doubted it will be a challenge and legs are fa- nights in St. Louis.” to Denver.” “Amy is a strong, creative lead- he could do it, he was figuring out tigued, the next view is from the For 10 years, Cooke hosted the Yet coming to North Carolina is er committed to expanding the John how to make it a reality. In Creativ- top. award-winning Amy Oliver Show on a homecoming of sorts for Cooke. Locke Foundation’s influence and ity, Inc., not only does Catmull share “It’s pretty cool.” News Talk 1310 KFKA and received She hasn’t lived in the state, but her effectiveness — and to expanding the Pixar story, but also his own Exclamation point. 4 CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 QUICK TAKES

Move to give dental hygienists Weld, Walsh to appear on presidential more freedom to treat patients ballot, election board rules clears commission

ural patients could get less accompanied by a dentist. more access to dental care, “The unfortunate fact is that as dental hygienists can in a lot of areas of our state, there now treat patients in high-need aren’t dentists available to see areas without direct supervision, people. It became an effective bar R POOL AP the N.C. Rules Review Commis- on people in rural areas with no Joe Walsh President Donald Trump Bill Weld sion decided Jan. 16. access to dentists,” said Ben Pop- North Carolina’s rural commu- kin, a consultant with the Foun- nities are starved for dental care. dation of Health Leadership and TWO REPUBLICAN Camden, Hyde, and Tyrrell coun- Innovation. candidates are joining Presi- dia and that a “simple Google search” would prove his ties haven’t hosted a dentist for Poor dental care takes a toll dent Trump on North Carolina’s presidential ballot — point. the past decade. Almost 60 coun- not only on patients’ health, but against the wishes of the N.C. Republican Party. The elections board — three Democrats and two Re- ties have dental care shortages, also on the state’s fiscal health. The N.C. State Board of Elections on Dec. 20 unani- publicans — approved Weld’s and Walsh’s candidacies according to the N.C. Department Without preventative care, pa- mously approved former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld without discussion. of Health and Human Services tients can land in the emergency and former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh of Illinois to appear on Several other candidates whose names weren’t sub- in 2018. And only 29.7% of den- room, which racks up charges but the ballot for the 2020 primaries. Later in the meeting, mitted by their parties handed in written requests for tists accepted patients covered by usually does little to treat oral de- the board dismissed complaints against two Bladen ballot access. But none had a representative to advocate North Carolina’s Medicaid in 2016. cay. County Board of Elections officials accused of posting for them at the meeting. They weren’t added. For residents of Tyrrell County, The rule change is expected to anti-Trump sentiments on social media. In a unanimous vote, the board approved all can- the closest dentist is a 45-minute kick in this month. Bob Orr, a Raleigh attorney and former N.C. Supreme didates submitted by political parties. Those includ- drive away, and nearly half of the “It’s a few words here and Court justice who publicly opposes Trump, pushed for ed Trump, Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins, two residents reported losing at least there in the regulation, but it can the ballot additions. Constitution Party candidates, 15 Democrats, and 16 one tooth because of poor oral hy- have a really big impact,” Pop- To be added to the ballot without the endorsement Libertarians. giene. kin said. “It could be a great mar- of a political party, a candidate must be recognized by Presidential candidates can also access the ballot Dentists say the old rules ket-based solution that removes a U.S. or statewide news media. Ballot approval remains through a petition of 10,000 voters who are registered made that shortage even worse. barrier to care.” in the hands of the state board. with the candidate’s party, the board noted in a press re- Hygienists couldn’t travel to high- Jonathan Sink, N.C. GOP executive director, opposed lease. need areas and treat patients un- From Staff Reports adding Weld to the ballot, telling board members Weld’s candidacy isn’t recognized by the national or state me- From Staff Reports UNC takes concerns over budget impasse to the General Assembly

he University of North Caroli- Without a new budget, UNC’s “The University of North Caro- tuition. Elizabeth City State Uni- na’s Board of Governors is tak- leaders are feeling major disap- The board lina strongly encourages all elect- versity, UNC-Pembroke, and West- ing concerns over North Caro- pointment, UNC interim President ed leaders who support and value ern Carolina University will all feel lina’s budget impasse straight to the Bill Roper said. The mood was per- unanimously the world-class higher educational pressure. While current and incom- TGeneral Assembly — in the form of vasive throughout the meeting. approved a systems in North Carolina to move ing students will continue to pay a resolution asking lawmakers to Several members voiced uncertain- swiftly to enact House Bill 966 and the cut-rate tuition, the three affect- quit stalling and pass an updated ty about the fate of a cut-rate tui- resolution listing approve the provisions original- ed schools are worried about subse- spending plan. tion program, various construction multiple ways UNC ly included in Senate Bill 354. Fur- quent capital expansion and repair The board met Jan. 17, days af- projects, and employee raises. will suffer if state ther, we call on all boards of trust- costs that now may be underfunded ter lawmakers failed to override The legislature has dubbed UNC ees to create and approve a concur- in the absence of a new budget. Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of lawmak- the “crown jewel” of North Caroli- leaders don’t break ring resolution as soon as practi- Leaders at those universities are ers’ 2019-21 budget bill. That mea- na. But that regard isn’t apparent in their deadlock. cal,” the final paragraph of the res- wondering how they’ll cope, Roper sure — stalled due to partisan dis- the political impasse that’s now af- olution says. told Carolina Journal during a news agreement over Medicaid expan- fecting the state’s public higher ed- No new budget means no extra conference. Multiple campuses were sion — included hundreds of mil- ucation, Roper said. money for enrollment growth, Roper counting on $630 million for autho- lions of dollars for authorized con- “Please don’t make this sys- UNC board. The board unanimous- said, a big concern for three schools rized capital projects and $130 mil- struction and repairs across mul- tem collateral damage in a political ly approved a resolution listing mul- operating under N.C. Promise, the lion for repair and renovation. tiple UNC campuses, among other standoff,” Roper implored the legis- tiple ways UNC will suffer if state budding, successful program that priority items. lature during his address to the full leaders don’t break their deadlock. allows $500 per semester in-state From Staff Reports CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 5 QUICK TAKES Parents, not government, should choose where their children attend school, new poll says

orth Carolinians strong- Fifteen years ago, the answer The poll also shows broad sup- ly believe parents are the would have been different, Bryson port for school choice options like ultimate authority when said. Today, 81% sends a strong charter schools and the Opportu- it comes to educating their chil- message. nity Scholarship — the public- Ndren, a new poll from the conser- Parents, not the government, ly funded program that provides vative-leaning Civitas Institute are best suited to decide where a low-income families up to $4,200 to shows. child should attend school, 76% send their child to a private school. The poll was released during of respondents said. Eight percent More than 12,000 students received National School Choice Week, said the government is in the best an Opportunity Scholarship for the Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, featuring myri- position to make that decision. 2019-20 school year. ad events throughout the state and People enjoy choice in a lot of ar- Despite the bipartisan sup- nation. Civitas on Jan. 29 presented eas of their life, said Drew Catt, di- port for school choice, the subject its latest poll results alongside Ed- rector of state research and special is sometimes a contentious one Choice, a nonprofit school choice projects at EdChoice. They want among lawmakers. While Republi- organization. choice in education, too, he added. cans largely support charter schools Harper Polling, on behalf of Ci- It’s frightening that 8% of those and private school vouchers, Demo- vitas, surveyed 800 registered N.C. polled think the government is crats generally oppose them, albeit voters from Jan. 20 to Jan. 22. The best suited to decide where a child to varying degrees. margin of error is plus or minus should attend school, Catt said. “Gov. Roy Cooper and legislative 3.46%. “It makes me want to ask them Democrats have said they would Minority voices aren’t always who should choose which restau- defund the Opportunity Scholar- well-represented in school choice rant they go to, which grocery store ship program and put a moratori- polls, said Donald Bryson, presi- they go to, and see what their re- um on new charter schools,” Sen. MARCHELLO LINDSAY BY PHOTO CJ dent of Civitas. To address this, mi- sponse is,” Catt said. , R-Watauga, said in CHOICE. Drew Catt, director of state research and special projects at EdChoice, norities were oversampled with 300 While school choice options a news release. shared his thoughts on Civitas Institute’s latest poll on school choice. nonwhite voters. The margin of er- like private and charter schools are Education is a great equaliz- ror for this sample is plus or minus growing, a majority of students in er, the Watagua senator said, and 5.65%. North Carolina still attend a tradi- programs such as the Opportunity But there’s room to grow, Saine should be focused on the children, Parental control over a child’s tional public school. Scholarship give low-income fami- said. Horn said, instead of a constant war education is no longer a controver- If location and cost weren’t a lies the resources to choose a school “We already have proof of con- between adults over the belief that sial opinion, Bryson said. factor, 32% of respondents would that’s best for their children. cept. We’ve had success, so we need if one side wins, the other side los- An overwhelming 81% agree still send their children to a tra- North Carolina has come a long to spread the good word,” he said. es. that parents should have the ability ditional public school. But 23% way in providing a variety of ed- Rep. Craig Horn, R-Union; Sen. “That’s not the way it works to choose where their children at- would send their children to a re- ucation opportunities, Rep. Jason , R-Nash; and Sen. Jim in education,” Horn said. “We can tend school. Only 14% disagree. For ligious private school, and 20% Saine, R-Lincoln, said during a pan- Perry, R-Lenoir, joined Saine for the both win.” the minority oversample survey, would opt for a nonreligious pri- el discussion at the Civitas Insti- panel discussion. 84% agree, and 12% disagree. vate school. tute’s event. Any discussion about education From Staff Reports

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www.carolinajournal.com Breaking news, top stories and analysis delivered each morning to your inbox. 6 CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 QUICK TAKES New Hanover hospital sale talk gets attention of N.C. state treasurer

n New Hanover County, the ly recommend a plan for the hospi- eration,” Anderson said. “Spending possibility of selling the coun- tal, and the county’s five commis- much effort on value-based care is ty-owned hospital has ignited sioners. pretty much fruitless for a hospi- a storm of gossip and conspiracy “People are scared to lose con- tal. … Every insurer has a different Itheories, pitted the county’s lead- trol,” Wilmington resident Kristy metric for measuring value. And ers against one another, and mo- Maddox said. “We don’t want they don’t put much money in it.” bilized some 200 residents into at- someone coming in and taking Anderson was also skeptical of tending a Save Our Hospital pro- that away from us, where making any benefits that a sale could yield. test meeting Jan. 21. a profit is more important than tak- “The promises are that qual- But if the process sent locals ing care of people.” ity will improve, assets and ser- into a panic, it also caught the at- Hospital leaders said they be- vices will improve, and costs will tention of State Treasurer Dale Fol- gan exploring future strategies go down. In reality none of that oc- well, who spoke at the meeting. because of the uncertainty that curs,” Anderson said. “They always Folwell is a staunch opponent of clouds health care today. Their raise their rates because they can. … hospital consolidation. He spent concerns range from the possibili- If you become an essential hospital the past year battling the state’s ty of Medicare for All to North Car- system in a community, every in- eight major health systems to save olina’s push toward value-based surer has to contract with you.” the struggling State Health Plan, care — a pricing reform that re- North Carolina already hosts without success. wards or penalizes hospitals based two of the nation’s top five most He’s concerned about New Ha- on health outcomes. monopolistic metro areas, accord- nover Regional Medical Center. It “Assessments have been do- ing to a report by the Health Care might be a local hospital, but it’s ne over the years to better under- Cost Institute, a national nonprof- also a regional powerhouse that stand how we can best position it research institute with funding dominates southeastern North Car- HAVLAK JULIE BY PHOTO CJ the organization for the genera- ties to major insurers. At the meet- olina. NHRMC wields such leverage SAVE OUR HOSPITAL. As New Hanover County considers selling or partnering tions to come … to make sure that ing, Folwell blasted this consolida- over the region that Folwell imme- its hospital, some 200 people attended the Save Our Hospital meeting to we remain a strong health sys- tion and promised to continue fight- protest the process on Jan. 21. diately slammed even the possibil- tem for this community,” NHRMC ing for his Clear Pricing Project. ity of a potential merger. If the hos- President John Gizdic said. “Unfor- “We spend too much money pital joins a larger health system, tunately, in the community, sale on health care … and it is not be- its leverage could work against Fol- forms, Folwell says, it will run out conserving our resources in health seems to be the focus. That is not cause we have the highest quality well’s push for price transparency. of money in three years. care today, we’ll never be able to the only option.” in the U.S.,” said Barak Richman, Hospital mergers don’t have a Folwell tried to rescue the plan liberate the working-class citizens Gizdic also has said a merg- Duke University professor of busi- good reputation. Study after study by pushing transparent pricing, but of North Carolina. … We’re destroy- er would help the hospital make ness administration, at the meet- blasts them for increasing the the state’s major health systems ing their joy of achievement and strides toward value-based care. ing. “The reason why costs are so price of hospital services — some- boycotted his Clear Pricing Proj- their upward mobility.” But all the talk of value could be high is that we have a system of times by as much as 20% — and for ect last year. The largest of these NHRMC doesn’t share the fi- a smokescreen for the usual incen- billing that is not only not trans- squashing insurers’ ability to bar- health systems in the state, Atrium nancial woes of distressed rural tive — money, said Dr. Gerard An- parent but also underhanded. It at- gain prices down for patients. Health, has expressed interest in a hospitals. By multiple measures, derson, director of the Johns Hop- tacks individuals with bills in the The State Health Plan is already partnership with NHRMC. the hospital is in strong financial kins Center for Hospital Finance most unexpected ways they can- strapped for cash. Taxpayers spend “There are some things that shape, with more than $1 billion Management. not avoid. The second reason is $3.4 billion each year on state em- happen right before your eyes that in annual operating revenue. Its “That’s mostly window dress- that most hospitals have monopo- ployee health care, but the plan is are worth getting mad about,” Fol- future lies in the hands of the 21 ing. The costs of complying with ly power.” only 3% funded, with $35 billion well said. “The reason I’m standing members of the Partnership Advi- value-based care are relatively in unfunded liabilities. Without re- here today is that if we don’t start sory Group, which will eventual- small as opposed to the whole op- From Staff Reports

THIS IS WHAT OPPORTUNITY LOOKS LIKE.

Learn more online at: www.carolinajournal.com/series/opportunity-scholarships #SchoolChoice CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 7 QUICK TAKES Regulations making it harder to access mental health care in N.C.

orth Carolina is grappling BY THE NUMBERS Almost every N.C. county is commissioners will rule on the re- It’s not unusual for entrenched with systemic shortages in flagged for mental health care form in February or March, but even providers to oppose expanding mental health care, and reg- 15% shortages, and the state only meets if they grant their approval, writ- scope-of-practice laws, says Dr. Jef- ulations are making it worse — of- The percentage of behavioral about 15% of its need for behavior- ten objections from 10 people could frey Singer, senior fellow at the Ca- health care needs currently being Nten disproportionately hurting vet- met in North Carolina. al health providers, according to the punt the rule change to the Gener- to Institute. erans and the state’s most vul- Kaiser Family Foundation, a nation- al Assembly. “There are plenty of excellent nerable residents. But that could al nonprofit research organization. The N.C. Psychology Board therapists who are master’s level in change. isn’t just costly and time-consum- The N.C. Psychology Board backs the change, but the N.C. Psy- training, and there are a lot of be- State regulations mandate life- ing. Terminal supervision throws hopes to change that. It created an chological Association argues the havioral problems in this country long supervision for licensed psy- them out of network for many ma- avenue for LPA independent prac- board doesn’t have the authority to today, with increased suicide rates, chological associates, so retired jor insurers, including Tricare, and tice after a group of four LPAs hired lift lifelong supervision. nonmedical drug uses, which is in U.S. Marine and LPA Karen DelPi- it can block them from volunteer- a lawyer and filed a legal petition “[NCPA] supports a pathway to many cases people self-medicating lar couldn’t even volunteer to treat ing to treat veterans and hurricane with the board. independence for the LPAs. Howev- for depression or other issues,” Sing- veterans with post-traumatic stress victims. Many insured patients are Under the proposed rule change, er, the Practice Act, which is more er said. “We don’t want to stand in disorder or substance abuse prob- paying out of pocket, or not being LPAs with at least three years’ ex- than 50 years old, has always stated the way of people who are trained lems. seen at all. perience — and 4,500 hours of that master’s level clinicians have and can give behavioral health ser- “[It] felt like a slap in the face, DelPilar works six days a week, post-licensure supervised practice to be supervised by doctoral lev- vices.” with so many veterans suffer- mostly treating opioid-addicted pa- — could qualify for independent el clinician,” Martha Turner-Quest, Both social workers and counsel- ing from the effects of serving in tients. She gives some patients dis- practice. They would also need av- NCPA executive director, said in an lors already enjoy independent prac- war zones, the high rate of suicide counts. But many still cut back on erage performance ratings, and a email. “NCPA, as an organization, tice. Rachel Petrosky, New Hanover among veterans,” DelPilar wrote to treatment because, for instance, recommendation from their most supports the existing Practice Act.” program director at Coastal Horizons protest the regulation, along with they can’t find a doctorate-level recent supervisor. Hill disagrees. Center, points this out when describ- almost 80 other providers. psychologist able to bill their insur- “This is very overdue,” said “You could easily see that as ing the patients she has lost to the Master’s-level psychologists ance. This can often happen with Robert Hill, N.C. Psychology Board self-serving. doctoral-level psychol- supervision requirement. Days ago, have labored under life-long super- opioid-addicted mothers, she said. chair. “I’m supervising someone ogists, who profit from the super- she had her last session with a man vision for decades, but it could soon “It’s frustrating when people are right now who is in his early 60s, vision requirement, might be ac- who qualified for Medicare. become a thing of the past. LPAs in crisis and they can’t find a pro- who is quite competent to practice cused of trying to control the com- “I personally love supervision. I could practice independently of vider and they are crying on the on his own. … It’s an unfair waste of petition,” Hill said. “The other rea- think the fact that it is mandated is doctoral-level psychologists if the phone,” DelPilar said. “How ma- his money and time.” sons for opposition aren’t very pret- difficult,” Petrosky said. “It’s all bar- N.C. Rules Review Commission ap- ny lives could have been saved if But the reform risks running in- ty, and they’re not supported by any riers to health care that sometimes proves proposed changes to the N.C. they could have just gotten in soon- to complications. It is so contro- data. There are no safety concerns, don’t have good reasons to be barri- Psychological Practice Act in Febru- er? All they have to go do is get the versial that the N.C. Rules Review no professional misconduct con- ers.” ary or March. wrong bag of heroin laced with fen- Commission postponed making a cerns, no credible reasons to resist For LPAs, life-long supervision tanyl, and then they’re dead.” decision in January’s meeting. The this.” From Staff Reports

Public Affairs, Policy Issues & Perceptive Commentary

See refreshing, balanced conversations about timely topics facing North Carolina and the nation on FRONT ROW with Marc Rotterman. By bringing together his insider experience, keen mind and key contacts (including elected officials, policy makers and journalists), Marc and his guests explore important issues about policy and public affairs during each lively episode.

Catch FRONT ROW— Five Times a Week! UNC-TV: Fridays, at 8:30 PM • Sundays, at Noon North Carolina Channel: Fridays, at 9 PM • Saturdays, at 4 PM Sundays, at 9:30 AM Online anytime at unc.tv/frontrow 8 CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 HIGHER EDUCATION Lawsuit over transparency no guarantee UNC changes its approach toward records

BY BROOKE CONRAD Open Government Coalition and AND KARI TRAVIS Sunshine Center. Much of the defense argument he plaintiffs in a lawsuit chal- will come down to splitting hairs. lenging the University of With regard to the closed meeting, North Carolina System over the lawsuit notes board members transparency issues hope their case had copies of the motion to be con- Twill pave the way for greater open- sidered in their folders. ness and accountability at UNC. But that motion wasn’t record- But even if UNC loses the case ed in the minutes. Instead, the min- — which could take months or lon- utes say the board held a closed ger to resolve — there’s no guaran- session, pursuant to various open tee the administration will change meetings law provisions. its approach to public records and “You can see anyone challeng- open meetings laws, some experts ing this throwing their hands up say. saying, ‘I can’t tell anything you did DTH Media Group, publisher with that kind of description,’” Bus- of UNC-Chapel Hill’s student-run sian said. “That has to violate the newspaper The Daily Tar Heel, sued open meetings law because no one the UNC Board of Governors on Jan. knows what’s going on.” 7, citing a violation of the state’s North Carolina law allows the open meetings law. winning party in a court proceeding The case is an outgrowth of con- to recover legal expenses from the troversy that escalated in August losing party. 2018, when protesters illegally top- But if DTH wins, it’s unclear pled Confederate monument Silent whether UNC would respond to the

Sam on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus. PHOTO FILE POOL, AP loss by urging transparency among More than a year later, five mem- PUBLIC MEETING TRANSPARENCY. People gather around the remainder of the Confederate monument known as Silent members of the BOG. bers of the UNC System’s board Sam. The UNC Board of Governors made deals with a veterans group to take possession of the monument, but those An example is the academic struck a deal with the Sons of Con- deals are now the subject of a lawsuit. The pedestal has since been removed. fraud scandal of the past decade, in- federate Veterans to take posses- volving athletes who received cred- sion of the monument. it for phony classes they never at- The university agreed to put tended. The Raleigh News & Ob- $2.5 million into a trust for the Press Association. Martin’s law firm sonnel exemption. server pushed repeatedly for ac- group to maintain the monument. ­— Stevens, Martin, Vaughn, and Ta- He said the exemption didn’t ap- cess to court records regarding the In another agreement — which dych — represents DTH Media in The case is an ply to the entire performance re- courses. wasn’t revealed until weeks after the case. outgrowth of view and the university was obli- After losing the case, UNC used the Silent Sam deal with SCV was “The university has lost or set- controversy that gated to release the parts of the re- money from its athletic endow- closed — the BOG paid an addi- tled multiple cases and does not view that clearly are a public re- ment fund to pay the legal fees. The tional $74,999 to prevent the group seem to change its ways,” Martin escalated in August cord. funds were not tax dollars, UNC ar- from displaying its banners or flags said. “But if there’s some chance 2018, when protesters UNC still hasn’t complied with gued. on UNC property for five years. public pressure could be brought to illegally toppled CJ’s request. But that’s just “political smoke Both deals with the SCV were bear, that might be different.” In the Silent Sam dispute, UNC’s and mirrors,” Bussian said. What- blocked from public view, the law- DTH has sued UNC before, and Confederate monument lawyers choreographed settlement ever the fund was, it was dedicated suit claims, and should be voided Bussian is confident the media Silent Sam on UNC matters down to the letter, Bussian to education, not paying off a law- due to violations of public meetings company won’t back down any time Chapel Hill’s campus. said, from the handling of meeting suit. law. soon. minutes to the sequencing of time “People will bend over back- Public records and meetings In another transparency case between the lawsuit’s filing and the wards to argue they’re not using cases take priority over others at pending before the state Supreme judge’s approval. tax dollars,” he said. “They’ll go all the trial level, and it’s likely the Court, DTH argues man Josh Ellis said in an emailed The BOG defended its Nov. 27 the way to say, ‘If you obstruct the case will be heard by an Orange UNC should be required to dis- statement to Carolina Journal. closed meeting, saying the SCV public, it won’t cost the public any- County Superior Court within the close names of students and em- “The University is committed to had threatened the board with a thing.’” next 60 days, said John Bussian, an ployees found responsible for rape, the spirit and purpose of the Open lawsuit. The problem was, they Florida’s laws are superior to attorney who specializes in media sexual assault, or related offenses. Meetings Act, and UNC Board of emerged from that meeting with a North Carolina’s when it comes to litigation and whose firm has repre- DTH lost that argument in Wake Governors meetings are conduct- lawsuit filed only 45 minutes after- transparency incentives, Bussian sented Carolina Journal. County Superior Court, only to have ed in full accordance with all state ward and a signed settlement fewer said. Not only does the losing party But if the case is sent to the N.C. the state Court of Appeals reverse laws,” he wrote. than 10 minutes after that. pay legal expenses, but they’re also Court of Appeals and the N.C. Su- the decision. Notably, CJ has been in a public “I’ve never seen it done in such subject to criminal penalties. preme Court afterward, the process Notably, that Superior Court rul- records dispute with UNC since late a surreptitious fashion,” Bussian “When public officials go to jail, could take more than a year due to ing was handed down by Judge Al- 2018, when the university refused said. “It’s breathtaking the way in it’s a powerful deterrent,” he said. an excessive case backlog. len Baddour, the same judge who to release a performance review of which secrecy was secured here.” “We need North Carolina to add As the case slogs its way approved the settlement between the then-chancellor of East Caroli- Complicating the matter is criminal penalties. It would put this through the courts, the power of UNC and the SCV. But that ruling na University. whether the BOG can cite attorney/ ball in a different court right way.” public opinion — which has been is no indicator of what will happen Lawyers for UNC said the record client privilege. If the meeting in- If UNC wins the case over DTH, prolific since news broke of UNC’s with the present DTH lawsuit re- fell under a legal exception that volved consulting with lawyers for meeting transparency probably deal with SCV — is “tremendous- garding the Silent Sam settlement, shields personnel information from the purpose of settling a legal ac- won’t improve, Bussian concluded. ly important” to the lawsuit’s out- Bussian said. the public. Bussian, who represent- tion, then closing the meeting to “Right now, the Daily Tar Heel come, said media attorney Aman- UNC plans to respond to plain- ed CJ in the matter, challenged the the public would be acceptable, said lawsuit is the public’s best hope to da Martin, who represents the N.C. tiffs’ claims in court, UNC spokes- university’s broad use of the per- Brooks Fuller, director of the N.C. restore its right to know.” CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 9 STATE GOVERNMENT

Twenty-four lawmakers leaving POLITICS AND ELECTIONS N.C. General Assembly in 2020 Eleven former lawmakers want their old gigs back continued from PAGE 1 isn’t as attractive as it used to be, BY LINDSAY MARCHELLO Cooper said. across the aisle. The General Assembly is a part- “Each side may enforce party loy- time gig for its office holders. Law- hile some lawmakers alty on their new members,” Bitzer makers are paid a yearly salary of are leaving the General said. $13,951, plus per diem. For some, Assembly in 2020, oth- In any case, the influx of fresh- working part time in Raleigh while ers are aiming for a comeback. men lawmakers will be a boon for maintaining jobs in their districts is WThe 2020 general election bal- lobbyists, Cooper said. a balancing act. lot will include 11 former law- “They are the ones who do know “Pay hasn’t gone up, and neither makers looking to reclaim a spot where the copier is, and they do party is getting much done,” Cooper at the General Assembly. know how to get bills passed,” Coo- said. Returning lawmakers have per said. “New legislators have to “Sometimes people think they some advantages over an average lean on somebody for expertise.” can make it work in theory, but challenger, said Christopher Coo- The number of lawmakers when they get to the General As- per, political science professor at choosing not to run again is sub- sembly they realize how difficult Western Carolina University. stantial, but there are several moti- it is, particularly to deal with their “They have a name advan- vations for their respective exits. professional lives outside of poli- tage, certainly name recogni- Redistricting likely played a role tics,” Taylor said. “It puts a strain tion,” Cooper said. “They al- in some lawmakers’ decision, Coo- on them.” so know how to run a campaign. per and Taylor agreed. After a series One such lawmaker is Rep. They’ve run and, in most cases, of court proceedings necessitated Chuck McGrady, R-Henderson, who won.” PHOTO FILE POOL. AP new maps, the General Assembly served five terms in the House and Five of the 11 candidates will FACE OFF, AGAIN. Former Rep. Bill Brawley, R-Mecklenburg, is redrew districts. Some Republican championed less burdensome regu- face off again with the person challenging Rep. , D-Mecklenburg, who defeated him by 68 lawmakers ended up in more com- lations for craft brewers and distill- who beat them in 2018. votes. The race was one of the closest of the Nov. 6, 2018, election. petitive fields. ers, among other priorities. • Former Sen. Wesley Mere- While some lawmakers left be- “Lots of things contributed to dith, R-Cumberland, is chal- cause of redistricting, others have my decision to not run for re-elec- lenging Sen. Kirk deViere, defeated Brawley by 68 votes. involved because of the high- opted to leave the General Assem- tion,” McGrady said. “Chief among D-Cumberland. It’s better for a party to nomi- ly partisan way it’s being oper- bly in pursuit of higher office. them are a sense that I’ve accom- • Former Sen. Michael Lee, nate a candidate who just recent- ated,” Wellons told the News & With Lt. Gov. Dan Forest run- plished many of my goals, and I feel R-New Hanover, is challeng- ly lost than a candidate new to Observer. “We were good friends ning for governor, the seat will be jaded because of politics and less ing Sen. , politics, said Andy Taylor, politi- with each other. We worked to- open after 2020. Several lawmak- patient than I was when I was first R-New Hanover. cal science professor at N.C. State gether on a lot of different bills. It ers, Democratic and Republican, are elected.” • Former Rep. Bill Brawley, University. doesn’t seem that way anymore.” vying for the position. Other lawmakers CJ spoke with R-Mecklenburg, is chal- “At least they have some The other former lawmakers Even though the job has lit- cited myriad reasons for retiring. lenging Rep. Rachel Hunt, knowledge of the district, and looking to return to the General tle power, it’s typically viewed as a For some, redistricting was a factor, D-Mecklenburg. district voters have some knowl- Assembly include: stepping stone on the path to the pushing them out of their districts. • Former Rep. , edge of them, so they don’t have • Former Rep. Grey Mills, governor’s mansion. For others, the allure of higher of- R-Swain, is challenging Rep. to start at the ground floor,” Tay- R-Iredell A few Council of State seats are fice was a call worth pursuing. , D-Haywood. lor said. • Former Rep. Mark Hollo, up for grabs come 2020, prompting But for those tired of the poli- • Former Rep. John Bradford, Only one of the former law- R-Catawba at least one lawmaker to enter the tics, the job isn’t what it used to be. R-Mecklenburg, is chal- makers looking to make a come- • Former Rep. , ring for a position. Rep. Josh Dob- “That in itself might be a bad lenging Rep. Christy Clark, back is a Democrat. Former Sen. R-Buncombe son, R-McDowell, is running for sec- thing,” Taylor said. “It means you R-Mecklenburg. Allen Wellons, D-Johnston, is • Former Rep. Roger Younts, retary of labor rather than seeking are perhaps reducing the pool of The race between Brawley running to take back the seat he R-Davidson another term in the House. smart, capable people who would and Hunt was one of the closest held from 1996 to 2002. • Former Rep. , But for some lawmakers, the be interested in serving in the state of the Nov. 6, 2018, election. Hunt “A lot of us want to get back R-Davidson idea of staying in the legislature legislature.”

A power-hungry president, a constitutional crisis, and a democracy in peril…

President Jerome Elliott was elected with overwhelming support from the American people. His populist platform and soaring promises captivated voters. But now, after a series of increasingly unorthodox policy decisions and suspicions of sinister motives, a shadow gathers over the White House. When thirty-four state governors call for a constitutional convention to reform the federal government, Elliott fears losing control. In a desperate attempt to maintain power, he orders the revered 82nd Airborne Division to march on the convention and arrest its participants as domestic insurgents. The Georgia National Guard mobilizes to stop them, and the two forces clash in the small town of Madison. These actions echo across the nation, polarizing the populace and threatening to erupt into violence between the people and their government. Meanwhile, television reporters Nicole Marcel and Luke Harper race to discover the truth behind the president’s actions, while United Nations investigator Percy Leach digs deep into Elliott’s past. Chasing facts and whispers alike, they uncover the roots of dark truths that, if realized, risk sundering the very fabric of American democracy. Available from Ingram Book Group. For orders call 800-937-8000. Also available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers. www.AperturePress.net 10 CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 LAWMAKERS LEAVING IN 2020

Debra Conrad Michele Presnell Craig Horn Linda Johnson Chuck McGrady HOUSE DISTRICT 74 HOUSE DISTRICT 118 HOUSE DISTRICT 68 HOUSE DISTRICT 82 HOUSE DISTRICT 117 HOUSE DISTRICT 72

Republican Republican Republican Republican Republican Democrat Terms served: 4 Terms served: Terms served: 5 Terms served: 10 Terms served: 5 Terms served: 1.5 4 Committees chaired: Committees chaired: Vice Committees chaired: Vice Committees chaired: Senior Committees chaired: Committees chaired: None Chairman, Banking; Vice Chairman, Appropriations; Chairman, Appropriations; Chairman, Appropriations; Chairman, Alcohol Beverage Reason for leaving: Running for Chairman, Commerce; Chairman, Appropriations- Chairman, Appropriations- Vice Chairman, Appropriations- Control; Chairman, the 6th Congressional District Chairman, Finance Transportation; Chairman, Education; Chairman, Education; Chairman, Appropriations; Vice Chairman, Greatest accomplishments: Reason for leaving: Conrad Transportation; Vice Chair, Education K-12; Co-Chair Joint Education, K-12; Co-Chair, Joint Appropriations-Agricultural “As a child, my grandmother has served as a public official Joint Legislative Transportation Legislative Education Oversight Legislative Education Oversight and Natural and Economic taught me there was no greater for 25 years, combining her Oversight Committee Committee; Co-Chair, Joint Committee Resources; Vice Chairman, measure of a person’s character work for both the county and Reason for leaving: Presnell Legislative Program Evaluation Reason for leaving: Johnson Appropriations-Transportation; than their service to community. the state. She plans to remain and her husband have spent Oversight Committee plans to devote her attention Vice Chairman, Environment; I took that to heart. In 2009, in politics, potentially as a state a combined total of 24 years Reason for leaving: Running to family, service in her church, Co-Chair, Environmental Review I was elected to serve on the lobbyist. as county commissioners for N.C. superintendent and community volunteering. Commission City Council while I was still a and state legislators for their Reason for leaving: “Lots Greatest accomplishments: Greatest accomplishments: Greatest accomplishments: college student. As a member mountain district. She looks of things contributed to my “We were finally successful in “Early in my first term, I “I am most proud of the of the City Council, I fought for forward to spending time with decision to not run for re- repealing the Map Act, which was able to pass legislation Comprehensive Articulation nearly a decade for affordable her family and no longer living election. Chief among them are took four or five years. I think dealing with what at the time Agreement, a statewide housing, economic opportunity, out of a suitcase. a sense that I’ve accomplished it was a great win, particularly was an epidemic of artificial agreement governing the and criminal justice reform. In many of my goals, and I feel for landowners in my county Greatest accomplishments: cannabinoids — K2, Spice, and transfer of credits between N.C. 2018, I began my tenure as a jaded because of politics and because there were major bath salts. … I also drafted community colleges and N.C. state legislator and fought for Transportation was an less patient than I was when I groups who owed substantial Kilah’s Law, which dealt with public universities. It applies to universal pre-K, full funding for important issue, Presnell said, was first elected.” funds to the Department of citing numerous road projects child abuse. It significantly all 58 community colleges and education, increases in teacher Transportation.” in Madison County. New school increased penalties, and 16 university campuses.” Greatest accomplishments: salaries, affordable housing and Lower corporate tax rates and funding in the vetoed 2019 it developed protocols on Johnson also contributed “My chief accomplishments a single-payer health care system several pro-business bills related budget was also a landmark handling child abuse cases. to pay raises for teachers include passage of the Coal that provides affordable, quality to banks and auto dealerships achievement, she told CJ, with That law was taken up over the past eight years, in Ash Management Act, leading health care for everyone.” were also important. new school allocations of $12 by [Republican U.S. Rep.] addition to teacher training the successful effort to Raise million in Yancey, $10 million Robert Pittenger and passed and incorporating awareness the Age, significant changes in Madison, and $12 million in and signed into law by U.S. of genocide and the Holocaust supporting craft brewers and Haywood. Presnell also noted Congress.” into the student curriculum. distillers, gaining insurance achievement assisting in five Wireless broadband internet coverage for autistic persons, consecutive teacher pay raises in every state classroom was and additional funding for the and pay boosts for Highway also a major accomplishment, Clean Water Management Trust Patrol and correctional officers. Horn said, citing a “number Fund, the Parks and Recreation of education initiatives that Trust Fund, and DuPont State have really taken off in North Recreational Forest.” Carolina and nationwide.”

Chaz Beasley Josh Dobson MaryAnn Black HOUSE DISTRICT 92 HOUSE DISTRICT 38 HOUSE DISTRICT 85 HOUSE DISTRICT 20 HOUSE DISTRICT 3 HOUSE DISTRICT 29

Democrat Democrat Republican Republican Republican Democrat Terms served: 2 Terms served: 4 Terms served: 4 Terms served: 2.5 in House Terms served: 4 Terms served: 1.5 in House Committees chaired: None Committees chaired: Vice Committees chaired: Committees chaired: Committees chaired: Vice Committees chaired: None Reason for leaving: Running Chairman, Regulatory Reform Chairman, Appropriations; Chairman, Banking; Chairman, Chairman, State and Local Gov- Reason for leaving: N/A Vice Chairman, Appropriations- Elections and Ethics Law; Vice ernment; Chairman, Homeland for N.C. lieutenant governor Reason for leaving: Running Greatest accomplishments: Health and Human Services; Chairman, Homeland Security, Security, Military, and Veteran Greatest accomplishments: for N.C. lieutenant governor Chairman, Health; Vice Military, and Veteran Affairs Affairs “I am pleased with the “My single biggest Greatest accomplishments: differences I have made in Chairman, Pensions and Reason for leaving: Running Reason for leaving: Speciale accomplishment is writing a “I sponsored a housing the General Assembly. I have Retirement; Co-Chair, Jt. Leg. for N.C. governor will continue to influence policy part of the bill that created the affordability study bill that worked with both Democrats Oversight Committee on Health behind the scenes through the largest rewrite of our sexual passed the House. We still Greatest accomplishments: and Republicans to pass and Human Services Coastal Carolina Taxpayers assault and child protection really need to look at that. “As a state representative, I am legislation that is important to Reason for leaving: Running Association and a developing laws in a generation. A lot of We started a work group most proud of the legislation the people of North Carolina. for N.C. commissioner of labor conservative PAC. times, people talk about a that was multi-chamber and I have sponsored to support Examples of bipartisan bipartisan effort where they bipartisan. ... I also worked on Greatest accomplishments: first responders, our military Greatest accomplishments: legislation include my work had maybe two people from a food desert bill, which would “It wasn’t a headline grabber, veterans, the National Guard, Defending freedom, especially on a Safety Committee bill the other party, but this bill provide nutrient-rich foods in but I sponsored House Bill 403, active-duty military, and by killing legislation that that ensures that our School got passed unanimously in convenience stores and corner which integrated care for the their spouses. I also brought threatened individual Resource Officers are well- both chambers.” stores.” Medicaid population, both stakeholders to the table to privacy, is Speciale’s greatest trained and understand behavioral and physical. We work on free-market solutions accomplishment, the lawmaker the importance of diversity had to bring a lot of differing that will lower health care costs told CJ. Speciale remembers a when working to protect our opinions together, and it wasn’t and close the coverage gap particular bill — that he shot students in our public schools.” easy to do. But we got the as a primary sponsor of the down after several attempts legislation passed unanimously Association Health Plan bill, — in which the state proposed and the governor signed it.” which became law in 2019.” installation of license plate cameras on state highways. Note: Members’ comments have been edited for clarity and length. CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 11 LAWMAKERS LEAVING IN 2020

John Fraley Rick Horner Erica Smith * HOUSE DISTRICT 95 SENATE DISTRICT 49 SENATE DISTRICT 24 SENATE DISTRICT 11 SENATE DISTRICT 3 SENATE DISTRICT 39

Republican Democrat Republican Republican Democrat Republican Terms served: 3 Terms served: 3-plus Terms served: 5 Terms served: 2 Terms served: 3 Terms served: Appointed Oct. Committees chaired: Vice Committees chaired: None Committees chaired: Committees chaired: Committees chaired: None 2; 2 in House Chairman, Appropriations; Reason for leaving: Running Appropriations on Agriculture, Appropriations on General Reason for leaving: Running Committees chaired: None Chairman, Appropriations-Ed- for N.C. lieutenant governor Natural, and Economic Government and Information for U.S. Senate Reason for leaving: ucation; Chairman, Education- Resources; Commerce and Technology; Education/Higher Greatest accomplishments: Greatest accomplishments: “Ultimately, after much prayer Universities Insurance Education; State and Local and many conversations, I just “I came to the General “My biggest accomplishment Reason for leaving: Fraley Reason for leaving: “The Government felt like it was the best decision Assembly inspired by two was delivering significant plans to continue his work with opportunity to realize a dream Reason for leaving: The for my family for the next year.” events in my life. One, the appropriations and investments myFuture NC and seeks oppor- working with my two sons redistricting process put his support my autistic son got to rural parts of North Carolina Greatest accomplishments: tunities with UNC boards and in a new business venture house outside his district. from public school teachers that had not been seen in “Since I was appointed, I had other higher education entities. developing urgent-care centers who made it possible for him Greatest accomplishments: 10 years. I was a primary few votes this session. When I in Virginia and North Carolina.” Greatest accomplishments: to graduate high school and “My background was sponsor on appropriation bills served in the House, I passed Among his greatest achieve- go on to college. I believe that Greatest accomplishments: education, and when I got for Hurricane Matthew and the Opportunity Scholarship ments in office, Fraley told public school education is how “I will leave proud of initiatives there, it seemed like I was Hurricane Florence recovery. bill, and I’m still excited about CJ, was always being “accessi- we make life better for our kids. like regulatory and tax putting out fires. … I walked I’ve worked with Sen. Don Davis the school [choices] it provides ble and responsive to constit- … And I met people who fell in reform, along with work force right into the class size issue. It [D-Greene] to get funding for families regardless of their uents in my district and every- the health care gap and saw development legislation and was very contentious and more for rural eastern N.C. health income. In the Senate, I have one involved in the legislative how they suffered because they funding, that have made North complicated than it appeared. systems, cooperative and been able to help on a bill [to] process.” couldn’t afford to go to the Carolina the No. 1 state for We ended up spending millions innovative high schools (early protect foster children, getting Fraley worked with fellow leg- doctor. I have been a tireless business. But assisting small to fix it. I tried to meet with colleges), the Brody School them into permanent homes islators to change the original advocate, and I will continue businesses and entrepreneurs any group, anywhere, to find of Medicine at East Carolina sooner. It passed in the House, 2016 House Bill 2 legislation, to be a tireless advocate for turned out to be my most common ground. ... I would University, and manufacturing and in the Senate Judiciary the “bathroom bill,” which pre- education and health care, passionate focus, especially like to think I had a lot to do business incubators. … My work Committee that I serve on. I vented people from using pub- regardless of the outcome of when it came to modernizing with the leadership of the State experience as a former engineer am hopeful it will pass in full licly funded restrooms that this election.” North Carolina’s antiquated Board of Education focusing in the high-tech industry led me during the short session.” didn’t match the gender on alcohol policies. [This has on Senate Leader Phil Berger’s to promote short- term work * Appointed to fill the seat of their birth certificates. He de- been] a game-changer for our ‘Read to Achieve’ initiative.” force training, CTE curriculum, Dan Bishop, who was elected to veloped and passed “larger and wineries, craft brewers, and and manufacturing incubators Congress responsible” education bud- especially our craft distilleries, like RAMP East for promoting gets each term, he said. He al- allowing consumers the chance the advanced manufacturing so worked to ensure firearms to change their preferences to industry and retooling the work were not allowed on education local product, with regulatory force.” property except by law enforce- control still in place. And the ment. He developed myFu- ‘Brunch Bill’ [Sunday alcohol tureNC, an initiative dedicated sales before noon] will be to achieving a postsecondary talked about for decades degree or credential for 2 mil- to come and pay economic lion North Carolinians by 2030. dividends for entrepreneurs and our state.”

Lisa Stone Barnes Andy Wells Floyd McKissick Jim Davis John Alexander Harry Brown HOUSE DISTRICT 7 SENATE DISTRICT 42 SENATE DISTRICT 20 SENATE DISTRICT 50 SENATE DISTRICT 18 SENATE DISTRICT 6

Republican Republican Democrat Republican Republican Republican Terms served: 1 Terms served: 3 (1 in House) Terms served: 6-plus Terms served: 5 Terms served: 3 Terms served: 8 Committees chaired: None Committees chaired: Pensions Committees chaired: None Committees chaired: Committees chaired: Committees chaired: Reason for leaving: Running and Retirement and Aging; Reason for leaving: Appointed Appropriations on Appropriations on General Chairman, Appropriations/Base for N.C. Senate Appropriations on Agriculture, to the N.C. Utilities Commission Department of Transportation; Government and Information Budget, Vice Chairman, Rules Natural, and Economic Greatest accomplishments: Greatest accomplishments: Transportation Technology; Commerce and and Operations Resources; Agriculture/ Insurance; State and Local “I am proud to have supported “I passed the first legislation Reason for leaving: Running Reason for leaving: “After Environment/Natural Resources Government a balanced budget that that automated expunctions for U.S. House, 11th District nearly 16 years in the Senate, Reason for leaving: Running keeps taxes low and controls for certain offenses. ... I am a Greatest accomplishments: Reason for leaving: “It’s time I feel like it’s the appropriate for N.C. lieutenant governor to turn another page in life.” time to focus on my family and spending while still increasing primary sponsor on a pending “The fiscal health of North Greatest accomplishments: businesses,” Brown said in a our rainy-day fund. As a bill called the Second Chance Carolina. I was among the Greatest accomplishments: November press release. member of the Agriculture “I voted for the bill to stop Act, which would open the majority that got us back on “I concentrated on working Committee and a conferee on sanctuary sheriffs. But [Gov. door even wider. And I think track by lowering tax rates to keep Falls Lake and the Greatest accomplishments: the 2019 Farm Act, it was an Roy] Cooper vetoed it. I back to those election bills that and regulatory burdens so Neuse River clean by fighting “Brown lists among his honor to work on important voted for the constitutional I have been a part of, such as businesses could flourish. Our anything that was going to proudest achievements legislation for our agricultural amendment, which voters a recent bill that restored and revenue has increased, and we compromise water quality — transformative budgeting community, particularly the overwhelmingly approved, to expanded Saturday voting. have budget surpluses ... I was sometimes playing defense practices that have helped provision for the branding require Voter IDs. When I was I also fought redistricting the primary sponsor of the more than offense. I also fund school construction and marketing of N.C. sweet elected, North Carolina had that was gerrymandered. STOP Act … that reduced the worked to promote transit projects in struggling districts, potatoes. I also secured the highest tax rates in the Lastly, I sponsored legislation limit of pills that prescribers around Wake County. I helped common-sense regulatory critical funding for broadband Southeast, and unemployment that regulates how firms like could prescribe.” to get the Dorothea Dix deal reform, expanding economic expansion for the rural regions was through the roof. We cut Uber and Lyft can operate in done. I was the go-to person opportunities in rural North in my district.” taxes, a lot and turned our our state — which protects for Wake County, the city of Carolina, and controlling economy around. Now, it’s operators and consumers.” Raleigh, N.C. State University, government spending,” booming and creating jobs.” and the N.C. Wildlife Resources according to the news release. Commission.” 12 CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 EDUCATION New consent order in Leandro case sets stage for action BY LINDSAY MARCHELLO But an order mandating the Gen- eral Assembly spend more on educa- he long-running Leandro case tion could spark a constitutional cri- hasn’t led to a constitutional sis, some experts say. Such an order bombshell — as some experts clearly would fall outside a judge’s feared — but, after years of waiting, power, Kokai said. Lee can’t compel Tpresiding Judge David Lee has final- lawmakers to spend anything. ly set the stage for action. It’s uncertain how far Lee will go Lee issued a 34-page order Jan. in making sure the state complies 21, during a meeting with the par- with Leandro. ties in the decades-old case. Leandro, “I’m bound by the laws of this a court battle that started in 1994, case. I believe that means I’m cemented the state’s constitution- bound by what the Supreme Court al obligation to provide a sound, ba- said back in 1997, that if somebody sic education to all N.C. students. For doesn’t do it then the court has to years, the case remained in limbo. do it, ill-equipped though it may be,” Now, after the public release of a Lee said. court-ordered report from research “I think I would be dodging my nonprofit WestEd, Lee is finally constitutional duty if I didn’t push moving things forward. Parties in this and do what needs to be done. Leandro should use WestEd’s find- I’m not afraid to do that.” ings to make a plan that will meet Republican lawmakers recent- short-, mid-, and long-term educa- ly raised concerns over their exclu- tion goals, the order says. sion regarding research for WestEd’s In its findings, WestEd recom- report. The only lawmaker consult- mended that North Carolina spend POOL AP ed was Rep. Craig Horn, R-Union, MEAT ON THE BONES. Amar Majmundar (pictured), an attorney representing the state, said that “WestEd has made a $8 billion more on education over Susan Mundry, a WestEd represen- skeleton. Our job is to put meat on the bones.” Judge David Lee gave lawyers 60 days to submit short-term goals. the next eight years. Constitution- tative, told Carolina Journal. Horn al experts, such as Jeanette Dor- is the House Education Appropria- an, president of the N.C. Institute tions chair. for Constitutional Law, expressed ucation over time. Lee’s order out- Lee’s uncritical approval of the ernor, can obtain the support nec- Horn told CJ he had no “con- concern over a constitutional over- lines seven areas the defendants WestEd report was disappointing, essary from the General Assem- scious role” in developing the West- reach if the court mandated the need to implement “expeditiously” said Terry Stoops, John Locke Foun- bly and other public institutions to Ed report. General Assembly spend more on and “without delay.” Subjects in- dation vice president for research implement and sustain the neces- “If an informal conversation public education. clude teacher and principal develop- and director of education studies. sary changes to the State’s educa- over dinner or a casual conversa- Lee sidestepped those fears. In- ment and providing a system of ear- “While the judge, plaintiffs, and tion system and deliver the consti- tion with colleagues is considered stead, his order gave basic instruc- ly education for all at-risk students. defendants in the case may be sat- tutional guarantee of Leandro to ev- ‘consulted,’ then yes, I was consult- tions for how to move forward with- The parties agreed to move for- isfied with the report, the court ery child in the State,” Lee wrote. ed,” Horn said. “But, in my view, the out crossing constitutional lines. ward with the report’s findings. should ask independent research- Lee’s desire for teamwork is re- word consulted rings more of a se- Lee gives lawyers 60 days to “WestEd has made a skeleton. ers and policymakers to evaluate it,” assuring, as the report falls outside rious and in-depth conversation fo- submit plans on how to implement Our job is to put meat on the bones,” Stoops said. a judge’s power, said John Locke cused on a subject. I have no recol- short-term goals. That includes re- said Amar Majmundar, an attorney The General Assembly isn’t a Foundation Senior Political Analyst lection of nor do I recall ever being vising the state’s school funding representing the state. party to the case, but any recom- Mitch Kokai. ‘consulted.’” formula to ensure students with the “We are at a historic point where mendations calling for increased “If he continues along that path, “If the courts order the Gener- greatest needs are getting the most all parties agree that historic and spending or statutory changes then the WestEd report and its rec- al Assembly to pour billions of dol- resources, as well as granting dis- current data show that systemic would require legislative involve- ommendations will serve an appro- lars into public education, then law- tricts greater flexibility in spending work is necessary to provide the Le- ment. Lee’s order acknowledges as priate role: WestEd’s findings simply makers have a responsibility to hear decisions. andro right to all children,” said Mel- much. will inform lawmakers during the multiple perspectives on the costs The phase also calls for a boost anie Dubis, a lawyer for the plain- “The Court … is hopeful that the next round of state budget debates,” and benefits of doing so,” Stoops in overall investment in public ed- tiffs. parties, with the help of the Gov- Kokai said. said.

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BY DON CARRINGTON ing a decision related to the pipe- line. Duke Energy lobbyist said On Oct. 31, 2017, using a non- Gov. Roy Cooper’s senior pol- government Google email account, icy adviser, Ken Eudy, wasn’t Eudy sent a request to eight top truthful when making statements Cooper administration officials and Ato a legislative committee investi- Cooper’s political consultant, Mor- gating the Cooper administration’s gan Jackson. role in the Atlantic Coast Pipeline The email said Cooper was go- project and an associated $57.8 mil- ing to make a decision, but it didn’t lion discretionary fund. Eudy told specifically say what that decision Carolina Journal the lobbyist got it was. The only known decision was wrong. whether the state would issue envi- Eudy was the governor’s key ne- ronmental permits for the pipeline. gotiator in creating the discretion- “Please REPLY ALL with your ary fund. Lobbyist Kathy Hawkins questions about the pipeline. We’re represented Duke Energy, a partner aiming to give the governor the best in the ACP. rationale for his decision that we Eudy denied to the legislative can. If possible, please send your committee that he had asked Duke questions by the end of the day to- Energy to provide a letter saying day. We’re deputizing Jeremy Tarr to creation of the $57.8 million fund get your questions answered in the CJ PHOTO BY DON CARRINGTON DON BY PHOTO CJ was a voluntary initiative from ACP NOT TRUTHFUL. Ken Eudy, center, before he testified at a Nov. 8 meeting of the Joint Legislative Commission on Gov- next week or so. Then we’ll regroup partners. But, Hawkins said, Eudy ernmental Operations, Subcommittee on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. and try to craft sharp pros and cons did ask her for such a letter. for the governor’s consideration,” She also told investigators Eu- Eudy wrote. dy wasn’t truthful in his statements into how Cooper’s administration Nov. 8 testimony at the ACP sub- ing, ACP Subcommittee Co-Chair- Eudy’s complete about Cooper’s role in the permit- handled a water-quality permit, the committee and noted inaccuracies man Sen. Harry Brown, R-Onslow, ting process. Hawkins said Eudy creation of the $57.8 million fund, in his statements. asked Eudy if he asked Duke to responses to CJ told her Cooper would make the fi- and the settlement of a dispute be- On Jan. 26, 2018, the N.C. De- provide a statement regarding the questions nal decision on a water-quality per- tween solar developers and pipeline partment of Environmental Quality voluntary status of the MOU and mit for the project. Eudy told inves- partner Duke Energy. The subcom- announced it issued the water-qual- fund. “No, sir,” Eudy responded. On Dec. 5, Eudy responded to tigators he didn’t say that. A doc- mittee hired Eagle Intel. Eagle In- ity permit for the ACP. On the same Hawkins told investigators Eudy CJ‘s questions about his testimony. ument recently uncovered by CJ tel investigators are former FBI and day, Cooper’s office announced ACP was untruthful. CJ: “Did you ask Duke for a state- mentions Cooper would be making Treasury Department agents. Eagle partners would create a $57.8 mil- Also, according to the report, ment regarding the voluntary sta- a decision about the project. Intel presented its findings to the lion fund that could be used for mit- on Dec. 19, 2017, Hawkins and Eu- tus of the MOU and fund?” Hawkins made her comments Governmental Op- igation, economic dy discussed the evolving MOU Eudy: “I have no recollection of Nov. 18 to private investigators erations Commis- development, and document. During the conversa- asking Kathy for Duke Energy to is- from Eagle Intel Services, a firm sion on Nov. 20. renewable energy. tion, Eudy told Hawkins that Coo- sue a statement. But I want to be hired by the legislative committee. The 600-mile A “Memorandum per, not DEQ Secretary Michael Re- clear. As I said in my testimony be- She is no longer a registered lobby- natural gas pipe- An investigative of Understanding” gan, would make the final decision fore the General Assembly, when I ist for Duke Energy. line, now tied up agency with between ACP and on the water-quality permit. and the administration refer to the In a final report issued Nov. 20, because of legal is- the governor’s of- The report referenced a text fund as ‘voluntary,’ we mean that is- the investigators said it would be sues unrelated to the authority fice stated the fund message from Hawkins to Duke suance of the water-quality permit reasonable to conclude Cooper used Cooper, would run to compel would be controlled CEO Lynn Good the same day stat- in no way depended on the creation the power of his office to pressure from West Virgin- cooperation and by Cooper. ing, “KE said Gov will make this of the fund. Duke has confirmed that ACP developers into creating a fund ia to Robeson Coun- According to the decision versus Regan.” KE is Ken is the case. However, as Bruce McK- as a condition for getting an envi- ty, passing through the production Eagle Intel report, Eudy. A copy of that text message ay of Dominion said in an interview, ronmental permit. The report also Virginia. ACP part- of documents on Feb. 8, 2018, at was included as an exhibit to the ACP viewed the fund as part of what concluded, “the information sug- ners — led by Duke could potentially a legislative com- report. was ‘mandated by FERC [Federal En- gests that criminal violations may Energy and Domin- obtain additional mittee meeting, At the Nov. 8, 2019, meeting, ergy Regulatory Commission].’” have occurred,” and “an investiga- ion Energy — need- Cooper’s director of Brown asked Eudy about the gov- CJ: “Did you tell Hawkins that tive agency with the authority to ed environmental information legislative affairs, ernor’s involvement: “Did Duke be- the governor would be making the compel cooperation and the produc- permits from the to identify Lee Lilly, was ques- lieve the governor was making the decision on the 401 Certification tion of documents could potential- federal government violations of tioned about the re- decision on the 401 Certification [water-quality permit]?” ly obtain additional information to and each state be- lationship between [water-quality permit]?” Eudy: “No. Kathy and I had ma- identify violations of criminal stat- fore beginning con- criminal statutes. the MOU and the Eudy responded: ‘I cannot an- ny conversations. She may have utes.” struction. - Legislative water-quality per- swer what Duke believed, but I can misunderstood my answer to a Cooper’s office said the report A Duke Ener- investigators’ report mit. Lilly said the tell you that the governor and ev- question, or it’s possible that I mis- “relies on inaccuracies and bad gy statement deliv- MOU was a vol- erybody I know in the governor’s understood my answer to a ques- facts to reach illogical conclusions.” ered to Eagle Intel untary agreement office repeatedly said, that was a tion she asked. But from the very It maintains that no one in the gov- on April 26, 2019, made by the ACP decision that DEQ would make on first discussion on the Atlantic ernor’s office interfered with the is- stated ACP officials project developers the basis of science, technology, Coast Pipeline, Governor Cooper suance of the ACP permits. believed North Car- and was separate and the law, and nothing else.” said that the permit would be decid- On Nov. 21, Lt. Gov. Dan For- olina would issue the water-qual- from the water-quality permit pro- Brown asked again: “Did you ed by DEQ. The governor and mem- est called on the FBI’s Public Cor- ity permit, but ACP officials were cess. inform anyone that the governor bers of the administration were ruption Unit to investigate the ACP concerned the delays would inter- The Eagle report said Eudy would be making the decision on consistently clear about that. issue. FBI spokeswoman Shelley fere with the January-to-March called Hawkins after that meet- the 401 Certification?” “As a reminder, the Republican Lynch told Carolina Journal she is tree-felling season, knocking the ing and requested that Duke Ener- Eudy responded: “No, sir.” Haw- report conceded that no one in the unable to confirm or deny that her entire project back a year. gy prepare a letter saying the $57.8 kins told investigators Nov. 18 that governor’s office interfered with the agency has received a request con- Hawkins played a key role in million was voluntarily provided by Eudy’s answers weren’t accurate. issuance of the ACP permits, that cerning the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. trying to facilitate the water-qual- ACP. Governor’s decision Duke did not think their permits In 2018, the General Assem- ity permit. Eagle investigators first With support from her superi- were contingent on the mitigation bly’s Joint Legislative Commission interviewed Hawkins on Sept. 9 and ors, Hawkins informed Eudy that fund or solar settlement, and that on Governmental Operations cre- then again Nov. 18. Hawkins told Duke would not provide a letter. A document recently discovered the governor did not stand to bene- ated an ACP subcommittee to look investigators she listened to Eudy’s At the Nov. 8, 2019, meet- by CJ shows Cooper would be mak- fit from any of this.” 14 CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 POLITICS New group challenges Democratic dominance among African-American voters

MK: So, first of all, what is its to our communities, it’s BLEXIT? just like a flier, something put up on the door: “Vote DR: BLEXIT is the black this way.” Well, why? Does exit from the Democrat- it benefit me? No one has ic Party. That’s how our stopped to ever, you know, organization started, and create the space for us to the founder was Candace engage in those conversa- Owens. She started with a tions. It’s always been, “Do YouTube series that explod- this because we’ve always ed on the scene called “Red done it.” Pill Black,” and that kind And right now, BLEXIT of birthed the movement of is kind of pulling people BLEXIT, which was in the back from that and saying, form of Brexit. The idea was “We have the information if the British were making to help you make those their exit, then the blacks, decisions and when you we need to make our exit make those decisions.” from core values that no And when you make those longer are in line with what decisions and find out that we believe. it wasn’t what you thought, there’s a whole community MK: Danielle Robinson You mentioned “red of people that have broken State Director pill.” I’m guessing this is a CAROLINA NORTH BLEXIT COURTESY away and made that shift, BLEXIT North Carolina reference to “The Matrix” DANIELLE ROBINSON: “Look at your values. Look at what’s important to you. If you find yourself and we’re here to kind of [movie] and the characters not in alignment with what you believe is important, there’s a safe space to break away.” encourage you and support Headlines in recent years often in “The Matrix” sort of you through it. figuring out what the real have focused on “Brexit,” MK: Great Britain’s long-discussed world was? first person who really got next? I’m guessing some ment with what you believe It sounds as if your this ball rolling. Now it has people are saying, “So are is important, there’s a safe group is willing to do departure from the European DR: Union. Now, some African- Yeah, if you guys check come to North Carolina. … they all going to now jump space to break away,” and some work to learn more American voters are touting a it out, it’s really dynamic Tell us about that. to the Republican Party?” that’s what we’re trying to about the issues. But also, because when she took Or is it a case of now encourage. anyone who is trying to movement dubbed “BLEXIT.” DR: Danielle Robinson, state that lead of saying, “Hey, It’s something really to weighing your options? We are excited about the approach your group to get what’s going on here with be proud of because, pretty rallies that we’re having. their support is going to director of BLEXIT North DR: Carolina, explained the concept the black community, and much, North Carolina is OK. So, the key thing We’re excited about the have to work hard in terms during an interview with Mitch how we vote, and what our leading the way when it that we are looking to do educational programs that of providing accurate Kokai for Carolina Journal values are,” it was really comes to this black exit. with BLEXIT is actual- we’re having. We’re excited information. This is not Radio. kind of groundbreaking. It’s And the idea behind it is ly create more civically to just have the forums of going to be an easy thing. what drew me in as well. … with the left no longer informed people. And when being able to ask the ques- Anyone who is going to be representing our values, it’s I mentioned the Super tions of: “How do we do taking part in this is going MK: What is it about still, over the last 30 years, Bowl, it’s the idea that the this? How do we see if we to have to work hard to the message that the they could count on 80% of left always engaged us need to switch, you know, show that they have the community has been our vote. So, the question with propaganda, never who we support, or what right answers. receiving from the became, “Why is that?” any facts. They never said, we represent, or where DR: Democratic Party that And it’s because we didn’t “OK, let’s take a look at we’re going?” That’s the … That’s right. I mean, makes you think that realize that we were stuck how these policies have conversation that BLEXIT on both sides, it’s work. … it’s time to have an exit, in a pattern. We never did a affected our community.” is creating the safe space to One of the reasons why, a BLEXIT, from the reconciliation. We never did And BLEXIT is going to kind of have. as BLEXIT, we appreciate Democratic Party? sort of like a systems-check really shed light on that the John Locke Foundation MK: to say, “For who we are because we’re going to put It sounds as if you and [is] because, right now, we DR: Yeah, it’s a great ques- right now and where we’re the propaganda aside. And others who are working want to take good research tion, Mitch. So, the idea is going, does this line up?” then what we’re also going on this want to get a lot of and data and get that in the that black people — we are So, the fact that North to do is give a fair approach good information before hands of our community. increasing in our property Carolina BLEXIT is starting to conservative values that you make decisions, rather That’s not always been ownership. We’re increas- here, we’re leading that black people tend to have than just say, “We’re going done, or even ever been ing in the number of college charge. And I like to think inherently. to vote for this party, or done. There have always graduates. We are increas- of it as, you know, with So it’s the idea that, you we’re going to switch our been slants that have been ing in our small business the way the left engaged know, on one hand, we’ve allegiances and vote for prioritized toward — you property ownership, even us, think of it sort of like traditionally voted Dem- the other party. We want know, we talk a lot about legal gun ownership. And a Super Bowl commercial: ocratic without thinking. to know what both parties, identity politics in the also, the fact that for many all hype, no substance. You But at the same time, we’ve or all parties, stand for news. We talk a lot about of us, our Christian values know, their principles, they not had anyone kind of give before we give anyone our things that, when you think are still important to us. are increasingly poor. They a safe space to just kind of allegiance.” about it, we don’t get the When we took a look at have an increasingly poor have us look at our values facts behind it before we’re DR: that, we started realiz- product, and pretty much and see where our values Yeah, very much so be- pushed to vote for it. ing — or it became readily the black community is no line up. And I think one cause if you look at it, even So, we’re getting this apparent that the left no longer buying. So, to have thing right now, with the right now, with the idea of information out. People are longer stood for those val- North Carolina kind of lead extremes that we find our fake news, it’s pretty much partnering with us to get ues that were traditionally that, it’s a really big deal society on, we need some- an information war. It’s the good information out, important to us, or where because in our community, one that just can kind of how do we get the informa- to have the forums and the blacks were going. So they this is pretty much the say — which our organiza- tion to people in a way that community events. Even no longer represented that, equivalent of a revolution. tion will do — “Here. Take aids them to make a deci- school choice. I think a lot and it was time to go. a list here. Look at your sion without the bias? Our of people do not even real- Listen to this and other MK: We get the point. It’s values. Look at what’s im- community has been … it’s ize that within the black interviews online: MK: You mentioned that the black exit from the portant to you. And if you just like every time there’s a community, educating our www.carolinajournal.com/radio Candace Owens was the Democratic Party. What’s find yourself not in align- visit to our churches or vis- children is so important. CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 15 COMMENTARY An agenda for the next state superintendent

quantity of tests don’t necessarily education, an enterprise not men- address quality. tioned in the federal constitution Many parents and teachers but a feature of all 50 state con- remain incredulous about the state stitutions. Regardless of wheth- accountability system. According er a Republican or Democratic to the 2016 Teacher Working Con- president is elected later this year, DR. TERRY STOOPS ditions Survey, 57% of the more our next state education leader VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH than 92,800 teachers who respond- should oppose efforts to use federal JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION ed to the survey question did not funding as leverage to strengthen believe state-developed assess- Washington’s involvement in state ments accurately gauge students’ systems of public education. n November, Mark Johnson understanding of state learning The new superintendent of pub- announced he would not seek standards. (The question was lic instruction should redefine the re-election as superintendent removed from the 2018 survey.) debate over resources. of public instruction and instead At a minimum, the new super- The General Assembly controls Iwould compete for the Republi- intendent of public instruction the purse strings, so the super- can nomination for lieutenant should investigate the perceived intendent of public instruction governor. That means voters will mismatch between standards and doesn’t have much say in deter-

select a fresh face to lead the N.C. PHOTO FILE POOL, AP state tests. Ideally, they would mining the total amount of state Department of Public Instruction MARK JOHNSON OUT. What should our next state education leader do to champion the adoption of an funding that flows to schools. and work with the State Board of improve North Carolina’s public schools? independent, field-tested, and But the state superintendent can Education for the next four years. credible national test of student champion a student-based funding What should our next state edu- performance, such as the Iowa system that allocates state dollars cation leader do to improve North Test of Basic Skills, the California based on the needs of individual Carolina’s public schools? this passage is “direct.” While the influences public opinion and Achievement Test, or the Stanford children, rather than the current The superintendent of pub- State Board of Education estab- draws attention to the needs and Achievement Test Series. The use system that distributes funding lic instruction has two primary lishes general policies, priorities, difficulties schools and districts of one or more of these tests would based on the characteristics of functions. The N.C. Constitution and standards — subject to laws encounter. allow North Carolinians to compare schools. And they can further assigns the state superintendent enacted by the General Assembly One recurring complaint is stan- the achievement of students in our assess whether school boards the role of secretary and chief — the Department of Public In- dardized testing. state to those taking the tests else- spend the money efficiently and -ef administrative officer of the State struction works with school boards Amid widespread discontent where, which can’t be done with fectively through educational pro- Board of Education. In this capac- and superintendents to ensure with the state accountability our current battery of state-writ- ductivity or return-on-investment ity, the superintendent serves as a proper implementation of state program, which is almost entirely ten tests. An independent testing analyses that compare spending nonvoting adviser to the lieutenant and federal mandates. Naturally, directed by the Department of program may also restore teachers’ inputs to multiple performance governor, state treasurer, and 11 this can lead to quarrels with state Public Instruction, Republican law- faith in state tests that are required outcomes. appointed members of the board and federal officials dissatisfied makers have passed a number of to be administered under the feder- I’m not courageous enough to that supervises and administers with the implementation of their bills designed to reduce standard- al Every Student Succeeds Act. predict which of the five Democrat- North Carolina’s system of public preferred laws or initiatives. ized testing on the state and local Speaking of federal mandates, ic and two Republican candidates schools. The authority of the state super- levels. Most recently, the General the next state superintendent will win their primaries in March or State statute directs the superin- intendent may be limited by the Assembly passed the Testing Re- should be a vocal opponent of the general election in November. tendent to organize and establish legal and regulatory supremacy of duction Act of 2019. Beginning in them. In 2016, Mark Johnson captured a Department of Public Instruc- the State Board of Education, Gen- the 2020-21 school year, the state The promise of federal funds 50.6% of the vote and defeated tion and “have under his or her eral Assembly, and various federal must eliminate N.C. Final Exams, encourages most state education incumbent June Atkinson by only direction and control, all matters entities. Still, the superintendent and school districts will be required leaders to keep quiet and fall in around 56,800 votes. I expect an- relating to the direct supervision is the most visible representative to review local standardized tests line. But even the Trump admin- other tight race that is influenced and administration of the public of North Carolina’s public schools. and explore new assessment op- istration has questioned the role by high-profile races at the top of school system.” The key word in In this way, the superintendent tions. But measures to address the of the federal government in K-12 the ballot.

THIS IS WHAT OPPORTUNITY LOOKS LIKE. Learn more online at: www.carolinajournal.com/series/opportunity-scholarships #SchoolChoice 16 CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 EDUCATION The secrets of success: More sadness, anxiety in high achievers

Prevalence of Any Mental Illness Among U.S. Adolecents — economic shifts, technological areas. Other steps: Close that change, globalization. Getting grade portal sometimes. Cap the 20% 20% into prestige colleges, the golden number of advanced classes kids 18.5% chalice at high-achieving schools, can take. Promote service: helping 17.2% 16.9% 16.9% 16.3% is harder to do. others builds resilience, notes the 15% Other pressures vary, depending American Psychological Associ- KRISTEN BLAIR 13.8% 14% on kids’ behavior. Social media can ation. And it’s good medicine for COLUMNIST promote unhealthy comparison. the soul. 11.8% 11.3% 10% Online grade portals can fuel hy- Interjecting sanity into college 9.5% pervigilance. Sports, with increas- admissions is critical. The Turn- 8.8% stack of studies chroni- ing skill, can amplify performance ing the Tide initiative, intent on cles worrisome trends in 6.8% pressures. One pediatrician told de-escalating pressure, recently adolescent mental health. 5% 4.8% me, “You’re not competitive if you published a letter of commit- Over a decade, youth depression haven’t specialized by age 12.” ment from nearly 140 admissions Ahas increased significantly. Nearly What can parents say? What deans —promising students they one-third of high schoolers report they don’t say matters most. “We wouldn’t be penalized if high depressive symptoms, according 0% say this all the time: ‘Bad is stron- schools limit the number of ad- to the Centers for Disease Control. ger than good.’ Those interactions vanced classes kids can take, and Male Black Asian White Age 17 Age 13 Age 12 Age 15 Age 14 Age 16

Other federal data show 13% of Female around harshness and strong crit- saying two to three “meaningful” 2+ Races adolescents experienced a “major” Hispanic icism affect kids more deeply than extracurriculars are sufficient. The Amer. Indian Amer. depressive episode in 2017. Trends SOURCE: National Institute of Mental Health, 2017 those interactions that include project is also promoting more eq- are easy to spot, hard to explain. affection and warmth. Getting rid uity in admissions, since students But consensus is coalescing of the negative is better in a lot of at lower-performing schools often around a lesser-known, rising risk: these situations than just pushing lack access to advanced classes. intense achievement pressure, Zillmer, in a new paper in American six to seven times national norms. forward the positive,” says Kumar. Finally, it’s essential to debunk concentrated in high-achieving Psychologist. The “excessive pres- Pressure is pervasive. “It comes Most encouraging for parents: cultural myths with data. A white schools. sure to excel,” they write, is now from everywhere,” says Kumar, They’re powerful stress-busters. paper from Challenge Success These are schools with sparkly acknowledged by policymakers CEO of Authentic Connections, a “The single most important factor provides evidence that attending test scores, rich course offerings, as a “top four” high-risk factor for nonprofit helping schools promote in fostering resilience is having a a prestige college isn’t linked with and graduates who matriculate adolescent mental health, along well-being. “It comes from the kids good relationship with the primary job satisfaction or well-being. En- to elite colleges. Sounds like high with poverty, trauma, and discrim- themselves. It comes from parents. caregiver,” Luthar and Kumar gagement and fit matter most. school’s version of the American ination. It comes from coaches. Everybody write. The pursuit of excellence is, Dream, right? Evidence shows why. Luthar’s is putting this pressure with the Sometimes therapeutic inter- well, excellent. But not like this. Yes. But no. Kids at these data from nine top-performing pri- best of intentions. Everybody vention is necessary. What else? Stop the treadmill. It’s making kids schools are suffering. Risk is vate and public high schools reveal wants what’s best for their kids. Schools can help by improving sick. being recalibrated, according to students experienced “clinically Sometimes it’s too much.” school culture. Authentic Connec- psychologist Suniya Luthar and re- significant” elevated symptoms of Life is a treadmill. Run, run, run. tions works with schools to survey Kristen Blair is a Chapel Hill-based searchers Nina Kumar and Nicole anxiety and depression at a rate Some pressures are inescapable students, then pinpoint actionable education writer.

The mostThe influential most influential thinkers thinkers in our in our educationeducation schools schools are radicals are radicals who who adhereadhere to a collectivist, to a collectivist, utopian utopian vision.vision.

Read ourRead latest our latestreport: report: The PoliticizationThe Politicization of University of University SchoolsSchools of Education of Education Download at go.jamesgmartin.center/researchDownload at go.jamesgmartin.center/researchor call 919-828-1400 to request a hard copy. or call 919-828-1400 to request a hard copy. CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 17 EDUCATION Job skills students need that colleges don’t teach

to know what a personal brand is pending on the industry. If banking group once you graduate. Be sure and what it isn’t. is your field, you might want to to introduce yourself to the group Personal branding is the practice The job for you, the dress up, while if you’re in tech, a manager. of marketing yourself and your enterprising student business-casual look may be best. career as a brand. It involves an preparing for life Once you have the killer image Take it a step further ongoing process of developing and for your profile, take special care CHLOE ANAGNOS maintaining your image. Person- after college, is to with your introduction. On Linke- Remember: Alumni love meeting COLUMNIST al branding isn’t about creating develop some job dIn, the intro is where someone current students and recent gradu- a version of yourself, but about gets a good idea of what you do ates. Don’t be afraid to be proactive. exploring your best qualities, skills colleges won’t without seeing all the specifics. It shows potential employers traits very college student knows passions, and work experience to give you. Think of it as your full profile at a that are useful in the workplace. that, once they graduate, develop your own unforgettable glance: Write it in the first person, As you approach graduation, landing the job of their online image. keep it short, include keywords connect with the alumni chapters dreams isn’t going to just happen. Artists should create portfolios that are connected to your indus- in the cities where you’re job hunt- EYet students still downplay the to show off their work, writers listing the experience that is rele- try, and make sure it’s accurate. ing. Scouting out local networking difficulties they’ll face, either should have an online blog or vant for a particular job first. Base Then, it’s time to add your con- events for young professionals on because they don’t understand the Medium account, and aspiring mu- your resume content on what the nections. Add as many people from Eventbrite or in the “Events” sec- job market or because they put too sicians should feature their best employer wants. your email and phone contacts as tion of Facebook — and attending much stock in their skills, think- work on SoundCloud. possible. On LinkedIn, you want to them — show potential employers ing the competition won’t stand a Networking the right way add people you know first so you that you’re willing to put yourself chance. Your resume matters more on LinkedIn can write a couple of lines about out there. The reality is that in a world than your grades their skills if they ask you. Follow up with each person you shaped by the internet, students Professionals know LinkedIn With a solid network of former meet within 24 hours with 1) a must learn some basic self-mar- What you put on your resume is an essential tool for network- colleagues, classmates, teachers, connection request on LinkedIn keting skills to stand out in their will be more important for landing ing. Unfortunately, many college and others who can vouch for and 2) a short email thanking each field. an internship or a job rather than students and graduates miss an you, growing your network with new acquaintance for the conver- So, the job for you, the enterpris- being an A-plus student. The opportunity to build their network people who might be interested in sation. ing student preparing for life after best way to craft a resume that by assuming that LinkedIn works your skills will be an easier task. If Taking your personal brand- college, is to develop some job will catch a recruiter’s eye is to like other social media platforms. you’re reaching out to industry pro- ing into the real world will show skills colleges won’t give you. get work experience as early as First, think of how your LinkedIn fessionals for an internship or job, potential employers and colleagues possible. profile looks to a recruiter. Does check the “How You’re Connected” you have the skills outside of a Building a personal brand While irrelevant details should your picture set the right tone? tool to see if you are connected to four-year degree to be a stellar be left out, employers want to Does it build trust? members of the industry first. employee. Creating a lasting first impres- know if you have experience as an Before getting a photo taken, Another area you might want sion is essential in any line of employee — no matter the indus- keep in mind that you want to look to explore is your alumni com- Chloe Anagnos is the publications business. To do that online, you try. Whatever you do, don’t draft like the dream candidate. Pick the munity. The “alumni” tool shows manager for the American Institute must develop and establish your one general resume for different appropriate attire and figure out where fellow alums live and work. for Economic Research, a profession- personal brand. But first, you have positions. Tweak your resume by how formal you should dress de- Or join your university’s alumni al writer, and a digital marketer. Loosening social justice’s iron grip on academia

as Randall. In his report, Social • removing social justice require- dential life activities. That idea der victimology, otherwise known Justice Education in America, Ran- ments from undergraduate particularly poses a challenge to as ‘diversity.’ The diversity cult is dall catalogs the ways in which general education and intro- those conservative students who destroying the very foundations social education has “captured” ductory college courses, sometimes hide their opinions for of our civilization.” the academy. Randall dives • removing social justice posi- fear of receiving a bad grade. But In her talk, Mac Donald argued into course curricula, universi- tions from higher education Randall encourages them to boldly that diversity and social justice SHANNON WATKINS ty-sponsored conferences, student administration, refuse social justice advocates’ ideologies have been able to take COLUMNIST orientations, and all the “training” • eliminating the “co-curricu- demands. Randall told the Martin over every aspect of colleges and sessions or workshops students, lum,” Center that: universities because they fail

faculty, and administrators are • eliminating expe- 1 “If young Ameri- to teach students essential core SOCIAL JUSTICE In the last twenty years a body of “social justice educators” has come to power in American higher education. These professors and education — required to attend. rientialadministrators are transforming learning higher education into advocacy for cans don’t have the knowledge — which, she argues, progressive politics. They also work to reserve higher education jobs for social justice advocates, and to train more social justice advocates for careers in nonprofit organizations, K-12 education, and social work.

which teaches young people to “Social justice education — courses, and Social Justice Education in America courage to stand for is a central role of education. She Social Justice Education in America draws upon a close examination of 60 colleges and universities to show how social justice educators have taken over higher education. The report includes recommendations on how to prevent colleges and universities from substituting activism for view the world through the lens of compulsive, coercive, and bullying • removinglearning. social liberty and freedom, emphasized that when people oppression and demands unques- — replaces the academic’s search justice criteria then they deserve forget what education’s purpose tioning conformity — pervades for truth with the activist’s search from accredita- not to be free. If is, any number of alternative and nearly every nook and cranny of for power,” Randall wrote. Accord- tion. you’re simply going harmful ideologies fill the void. higher education: the administra- ing to Randall, the words referring Furthermore, he to go along forever In the end, the day’s event,

tion, general education require- to social justice include: diversity, writes that those re- DAVID RANDALL and do nothing and although sobering, provided ments, extracurriculars, university inclusion, equity, multicultur- forms should happen merely stolidly ac- insightful discussion and analysis mission statements, and academic alism, sustainability, and civic at both the federal cept your fate, then of how colleges and universities

departments. engagement. andSJCover.indd 1 state levels. 12/3/19 9:41 AM you will lose all of have lost their way. Yet there’s On Dec. 6, the National Associ- During his talk, Randall said In Randall’s view, Social Justice Education your freedom.” hope true reform of higher educa- ation of Scholars co-sponsored an higher education has no easy the most promising in America by David After Randall, tion is possible. But, as indicated event with the Martin Center to solutions to rid itself of social way to combat social Randall Heather Mac Donald by the panel participants, that introduce a report on the spread justice ideology. Indeed, he said he justice education took to the podium reform can — and must —come of social justice education in the “preaches alarmism” and isn’t op- is through what and explained why from multiple sources: from academy. The first speaker was timistic about it ever being rooted he calls “student the academy and the within academic departments, report author David Randall, out of colleges and universities. noncooperation.” He encourages culture have fallen prey to social the legislature, and university research director at NAS. Nevertheless, in the conclusion students not to cooperate when justice ideology: governing boards. While extensive reporting has of his report Randall offers recom- they’re required to toe the social “Social justice education is covered social justice’s perverse mendations on how to eliminate justice line — whether it be in a merely a symptom of an even Shannon Watkins is senior writer effects in the academy, few have social justice education. His ideas class assignment, attending an deeper perversion of academic at the James G. Martin Center for provided as comprehensive a guide include: event, or participating in resi- values: The cult of race and gen- Academic Renewal. 18 CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 COMMENTARY People of North Carolina, don’t despair: We have a budget

recovery (S.L. 2019-224) and Raise no luck getting the one Democrat Despite claims the Age (S.L. 2019-229). vote the Republicans needed. The The General Assembly passed Senate called for a Jan. 14 session, to the contrary, additional mini-budgets between after the filing period for the 2020 North Carolina August and November, which election. has a full and legal would have increased teacher pay With the Senate’s required 24 BECKI GRAY (Senate Bill 354), raised communi- hours’ notice, three vetoed bills SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT budget, which just ty college and University of North were calendared: 2019 Appropria- JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION happens to be the Carolina pay (House Bill 231), low- tions Act (H.B. 966), Strengthening same budget as last ered the franchise tax (S.B. 578), Educators’ Pay Act (S.B. 354), and and funded Medicaid transforma- Regulatory Reform Act of 2019 on’t despair, North Carolina, year, with some tion implementation (S.B. 578). (S.B. 553). As lawmakers gaveled despite continuing cries the modifications from Cooper vetoed them all. in, it was clear the one necessary state is without a budget the ‘mini-budgets.’ Olive branches and offers were Democrat vote was missing. Votes — even after months of conster- extended. Bojangles’ biscuits were to override the other two vetoed Dnation, frustration, accusations, brought in. It seemed no matter bills weren’t there, either. Both political wrangling, and dead-end what lawmakers offered, the gover- failed along party lines, 28-21. negotiations. the Senate, 33-15. It was sent to nor dug in, unwilling to negotiate Lawmakers adjourned. We do, indeed, have a budget. the governor. health care issues separately and They’ll return for the short Granted, it’s not one either On June 28, Cooper vetoed the calling the sixth and seventh session April 28, about two months side — the governor or General budget plan with this objection: consecutive teacher-pay increases before the end of the fiscal year. Assembly — necessarily wanted, growth in spending, teacher pay, This is a bad budget with the “paltry.” Cooper was unwilling to The budget veto remains eligible but it works. And it will continue and Medicaid expansion that set wrong priorities. We should be move on the budget without Med- for override consideration until to work until they’re more inclined the stage for the next 10 months of investing in public schools, teacher icaid expansion or larger increases the end of 2020. If the legislature to work together. often-heated discussion, ending in pay, and health care instead of for teachers — it was never clear and governor fail to agree on a new For now, the budget we have is a stalemate. more tax breaks for corporations. how much would be enough. As budget bill before the next fiscal legal, fully funded, and leaves a The General Assembly passed Because there was no new meaningful negotiations stalled, year begins July 1, the current surplus of $2.4 billion. its $24 billion budget in June. It in- budget enacted at the start of the legislative leadership’s efforts budget, as revised this session, The N.C. Constitution requires cluded a 3.5% increase in spending fiscal year July 1 — pursuant to turned to a veto override. remains in force. that the governor prepare and rec- — within the fiscally responsible a 2016 amendment to the State Because the budget originated Despite claims to the contrary, ommend a budget to the General measure of inflation plus popula- Budget Act — last year’s budget in the House (House Bill 966), the North Carolina has a full and legal Assembly for consideration. On tion growth. It included tax cuts, continued, and spending stayed at effort to override the veto started budget, which just happens to March 6, Gov. Roy Cooper proposed an average 4.9% salary increase — 2018-19 levels, saving taxpayers there. Three-fifths of members be the same budget as last year, a $24.5 billion General Fund bud- plus $1,000 bonus for teachers — more than $2 billion. present are needed to override. On with some modifications from get that increased spending more funding for the current Medicaid On Aug. 1, the General Assembly the morning of Sept. 11, Speaker the “mini-budgets.” The General than $1.3 billion, or 50% faster program to transition from a fee- began a series of “mini-budgets,” Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, took ad- Assembly has exercised its consti- than the 3.6% expected growth in for-service model to managed care, pulling provisions out of the big vantage of a scarce crowd and few tutional authority to enact revenue population and inflation. He called and a way to provide $4 billion for budget. Many of these received Democrats, calling for a vote and and appropriations bills. Our for expanding Medicaid to 643,000 construction without new debt. bipartisan support, and Cooper overriding the budget veto, 55-15. constitution says, “The budget as additional North Carolinians, Legislative leaders also offered a signed them into law, including Attention turned to the Senate enacted by the General Assembly which would cost $6 billion over special session to discuss health bills to increase the standard and weeks of behind-the-scenes shall be administered by the Gover- the first two years and create new care issues, including Medicaid deduction for even more taxpayers negotiations and alleged threats nor.” It may not be the budget that taxes to pay for it. Cooper proposed expansion. (Session Law 2019-246), provide by the governor, including intro- many wanted, but it’s the budget an average 9% pay increase for On June 27, the final compro- pay raises for most state employ- ducing members of his caucus to we’ve got. It’s fiscally responsible, teachers after two years. He also mise budget passed the General ees (S.L. 209-208, 209, 210,211), their primary challengers. The veto reins in spending, and fully funds proposed borrowing $4.1 billion Assembly with bipartisan support. and fund school and prison safety override was on and off the Senate core functions of government. for school construction. It was the The House voted, 66-51, in favor; (S.L. 2019-222, 223), disaster calendar Oct. 29, 30, and 31, with It works.

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“Plaintiff explicitly charges De- dered, tumultuous, or even violent fendant with the failure to provide that the student is denied the the Minor Plaintiffs with the very opportunity to receive a sound ‘nature, extent, and quality of basic education.” the educational opportunities’ to “This is precisely what Plaintiff which all public school students has alleged in the instant case,” MITCH KOKAI are constitutionally entitled pur- Zachary added. “At this stage in SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST suant to Leandro,” wrote Zachary, the proceedings, Plaintiff’s allega- JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION mentioning the high-profile Le- tions must be taken as true, and andro decision. The N.C. Supreme the trial court did not err by allow- rguments about school Court’s 1997 decision in that case ing her the opportunity to produce choice often focus on confirmed the state’s responsibili- a forecast of evidence tending to academic outcomes. ty to provide students with access prove the same.” That makes sense. But the case to a sound basic education. The dissent goes on to suggest Afor increased parental access to “Plaintiff’s complaint reveals that state government itself choice involves more than just that the hostile classroom envi- should be added as a defendant in academics. ronment at Lakeforest Elementary the case. That’s because the state In some cases, parents seek al- School was such that there was a bears the ultimate responsibility ternatives to schools where their CAROLINA NORTH OF STATE persistent, two-year-long inter- under Leandro to provide access to “EXTREMELY DISTURBING.” The sad case of three abused elementary children face ongoing safety and students offers another reminder of the importance of promoting parental ruption of the Minor Plaintiffs’ a sound basic education. security risks. school choice. The students’ attorneys argued that teachers and principals daily test-taking, assignment, Since Deminski produced a split A recent ruling from the N.C. failed to take any action against ongoing abuse. and instructional opportunities,” ruling from the Appeals Court, the Court of Appeals highlights the Zachary added. “Due to Defen- students could pursue their claims importance of ensuring easy dant’s indifference to this environ- to the N.C. Supreme Court. It’s un- parental access to educational ment, the ‘academic performance clear how North Carolina’s highest alternatives. In Deminski v. The subjected to this sort of harass- that the constitutional claims of all three Minor Plaintiffs fell court would rule. State Bd. of Educ., a 2-1 majority ment at school or anywhere else,” could proceed against the local ... with the Minor Plaintiffs each Regardless of the case’s consti- of judges agreed that our state according to the majority opinion. school board and State Board of suffering substantially adverse tutional merits, Deminski reminds constitution does not protect The students’ attorneys argued Education. Eighteen months later, educational consequences.’” us that some school settings do students from “alleged ‘deliber- that teachers and principals failed the Appeals Court’s Jan. 7 ruling “Taking these allegations as not work for some students. If ate indifference’ to the ‘hostile to take any action against ongo- overturned that initial decision. true, as we must, Plaintiff’s claim those looking out for the welfare academic environment’” at a Pitt ing abuse from four classmates. The majority opinion relied on falls squarely within the consti- of the three students in the case County elementary school. “School personnel’s only response previous court rulings. Those in- tutional deprivation that was had easier access to an accessible, More specifically, the majority was to insist that the ‘process’ cluded a case in which a Mecklen- contemplated in Leandro,” she affordable alternative, it’s unlikely agreed that three students could would ‘take time’; meanwhile, ‘no burg County high school student concluded. they would have been forced to not argue in court that “repeated” substantive changes” were made, argued her education rights Zachary challenged her col- endure two years of abuse before and “severe” bullying and ongoing and ‘the bullying and harassing had been violated because of an leagues’ assertion that a guar- making a move. sexual harassment at school conduct continued unabated,’” inappropriate sexual relationship antee of a sound basic education One can’t help but think that violated their state constitutional according to the majority opinion. with a band teacher. Courts had would not include freedom from similar concerns about school rights. Plaintiffs’ lawyers had con- After as much as two years of rejected that case. “repeated abuse.” learning environments motivate tended that the abuse deprived abuse, the targeted students even- The Appeals Court majority’s “[I]t would be credulous to dif- many parents. Those concerns the students of access to a sound tually transferred to a new school. bottom line in Deminski: “Nei- ferentiate, for constitutional pur- likely influenced some of the basic education. By that time, their academic ther this Court nor our Supreme poses, between a student whose thousands of N.C. parents who I’ll spare you details of the lewd performance “fell as a result of the Court has recognized abuse, even teacher refuses to teach math and have enrolled their children in conduct spelled out in the court perpetually chaotic school envi- repeated abuse, or an abusive a student whose teacher fails to public charter schools, private opinion. It goes far beyond nasty ronment.” Their lawsuit sought classroom environment as a viola- intervene when other students’ schools, and homeschools. playground taunts and pulling of money damages. It also called for tion of the constitutional right to harassing and disruptive behavior The sad case of three abused pigtails. Even the judges ruling the school to bring its personnel education.” prevents her from learning it,” Pitt County elementary students against the students labeled into compliance with the state One dissenter, Judge Valerie according to the dissent. “In the offers another reminder of the the alleged behavior “extremely School Violence Prevention Act. Zachary, offered an alternative latter instance, the instructional importance of promoting parental disturbing.” “[N]o child should be A trial judge ruled in July 2018 view. environment may be so disor- school choice. NORTH CAROLINA

BUDGET IN PICTURES ONLINE NOW AT JOHNLOCKE.ORG

A visual exploration of the current N.C. budget: How does state government get its money? How does it use that money? How has that changed over time? And how might that change in the future? 20 CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 EDITORIAL Partisan battle extends beyond suburbs

veryone knows North Caroli- targeted races largely overlap. Swing voters also live dispro- na is a closely divided purple Most operatives, activists, and portionately in suburban neigh- state. Everyone knows that journalists agree Democrats have borhoods of urban and commuter in 2020, many statewide races a solid shot of picking up GOP- counties. Eand control of the state legislature held Senate seats in Mecklenburg But a close look at the 2016 will be hotly contested. Everyone and Wake but will face highly election results reveals species of also knows that with Democrats competitive rematches in two split-ticket voters whose natural increasingly dominant in urban Senate seats, in New Hanover and habitats lie elsewhere. areas and Republicans in rural Cumberland counties, that Demo- Democrats, Republicans, and areas, the only real battleground crats picked up in 2018. the independent-expenditure will be in the suburbs. Just focusing on urban seats groups who will be spending gobs On that last point, everyone can won’t get Democrats to a Senate of money on the 2020 cycle have a be wrong. There will be compet- majority. They’ll need to pick up much-tighter focus than counties itive races in every corner of the eastern N.C. seats such as District or even districts. state, and statewide contests may 11, spanning Nash and Johnston Using the latest databases and well turn on split-ticket voters in counties, and District 1 in the technologies, they’ll micro-target urban and rural counties. northeastern corner of the state. neighborhoods and certain homes Let’s begin with the General As- Similarly, to reach a House within neighborhoods. BEYOND THE SUBURBS. Candidates are courting voters who live in urban sembly. Republicans hold a 65-55 majority, Democrats will certainly They’ll spend millions crafting townhouses, rural ranch houses, and everything in between. majority in the House and a 29-21 have to defend their 2018 gains in and sending messages to poten- majority in the Senate. Wake and Mecklenburg and pick tially persuadable voters that Democrats need a net gain of six up other urban seats in Guilford, the rest of us will probably never seats for a House majority and five Cumberland, and Pitt. see — messages about issues that for an outright Senate majority — But they’ll also need to win may look narrow or peculiar to us or a four-seat Senate gain com- seats such as Alamance County’s but are highly likely to resonate bined with a victory in the race for District 63 and avoid losing seats with the micro-targeted audience. lieutenant governor to achieve a in places such as the Sandhills To be sure, Democrats are hop- voting majority. (House Districts 47 and 66) and ing for a broad anti-Trump voter While state politicos have long the High Country (District 93). turnout they can channel into viewed the House as more in As for statewide races, every tipping dozens of other N.C. races. play than the Senate, the latest vote counts the same regardless of Republicans are hoping for a back- set of legislative maps and other where the voter lives. lash among right-leaning voters to developments have changed that Yes, there are fewer true “swing” a national Democratic brand they calculation in the minds of some voters than there used to be in view as increasingly extreme. observers, including Cook Political North Carolina — they can be But neither is content simply Report. It rates the Senate as “lean counted in the single digits today to clasp coattails, and both are Republican” and the House as rather than the 15% to 20% of courting voters who live in urban “likely Republican.” the electorate that once fit that townhouses, rural ranch houses, GOP and Democratic lists of definition. and everything in between.

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www.carolinajournal.com Breaking news, top stories and analysis delivered each morning to your inbox. CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 21 COMMENTARY BY JOHN HOOD

Competition Busing not making a comeback

needed in lthough Kamala Harris people place a high value on di- exited the Democratic verse student enrollments, they presidential field weeks care about other values, too. In health care ago, I can think of two ways the particular, parents reasonably AHarris campaign could still leave desire a sense of control over the continued from PAGE 2 a significant mark on the politics circumstances of their children’s of 2020. education, including its loca- while restricting competition and One is that the California tion. Calling them names won’t individual liberty. senator might end up on the na- change their minds. While CON wasn’t invented by tional ticket. The second effect Most polls show widespread Bulgarian commissars, it did have is less speculative. In one of the support for school-integration its origins in the 1970s. After the most compelling and conten- remedies such as building low- creation of Medicare and Medicaid tious exchanges of the 2019 de- er-income housing to diversify in 1965, the share of the nation’s bate season, Harris attacked Joe neighborhoods and creating health care spending financed by Biden on school desegregation — magnet schools in low-income the federal government began to and in the process demonstrated areas to attract other students grow rapidly. Federal regulation a large gulf between the prevail- KAMALA HARRIS TO JOE BIDEN. “Do you agree today that you were with the promise of academic inevitably followed. ing sentiments of progressive wrong to oppose busing in America?” rigor or unique offerings. Busing In 1974, Congress passed the activists and those of the general fares poorly in those same polls. Health Planning Resources De- public. Harris seemed initially to pre- velopment Act. One of its provi- At a televised debate in June, economic disparities in school reacting against the frequent vail in her exchange with Biden sions required states to initiate Harris criticized what Biden had populations and believe invol- reassignment of their children. on the subject. As it lingered in certificate-of-need systems. The said back in the 1970s, when he untary student assignment is Diversity had been only one of the news for a while, however, rationale went something like was a young senator from Dela- an essential tool for combatting the causes — many students the Harris balloon deflated. this: Health care is fundamen- ware, about large-scale busing as them. were reassigned simply to fill Did she really mean the tally different from other service a remedy for school segregation. Here in North Carolina, the new schools in the fast-growing federal government should try sectors. Because of the prevalence “Do you agree today that you issue has special resonance. The county — but for many parents, to reinstate busing? Most voters of third-party payment, originally were wrong to oppose busing in Charlotte-Mecklenburg school it was the most objectionable. seem disinclined to refight that private insurers but by the 1970s America?” she asked. system was the birthplace of They demanded change. battle. very much including governments, “I will tell you that on this court-ordered busing. Much later, The Republicans prepared an North Carolina school dis- competition among hospitals and subject, it cannot be an intellec- after race-conscious assign- alternative assignment policy tricts can and will continue to other providers doesn’t have the tual debate among Democrats,” ments became legally problem- but lost control of the school promote diversity in a variety of usual salutary effects. It doesn’t Harris added. “We have to take atic, Wake County pioneered the board before it could be imple- ways. But the days of involun- push prices down. It pushes prices it seriously. We have to act use of socioeconomic-based stu- mented. Notably, however, when tary assignments and cross-dis- up. swiftly.” dent assignment as a substitute. Democrats regained the major- trict busing to accomplish it are The idea that controlling the Progressives cheered. They In 2009, Republicans won con- ity, they didn’t simply revert to long gone. Inadvertently, Harris number of state permission slips are greatly troubled by the trol of the Wake school board by the prior policy. confirmed this reality of educa- to offer medical services would persistence of racial and socio- attracting the votes of parents That was prudent. While most tion policy in the 21st century. control the cost of those services wasn’t just a theoretical proposi- BUDGET AND TAXATION tion. It was a testable one. After the 1974 legislation, it didn’t take long for the test to produce grades. Researchers found that, for the Selective tax cuts are unwise most part, CON didn’t have its in- CONSERVATIVE NORTH tended effect. It wasn’t an effective Carolin- doing well. It’s evolved to just the erage, although their study does cost-control device. There were ians believe lower taxes translate If you look back at the opposite.” show that. The study documents even studies showing that restrict- into higher levels of economic Scholarly studies generally a trade-off between incentives ing competition in health care had growth and personal freedom. history — the reason reach two conclusions. First, and overall tax rates — between a more traditional effect: harming So, they like the declines in both incentive programs targeted tax incentives don’t depth and breadth, in other consumers by boosting prices and income- and sales-tax burdens were created — it was produce much in the way of net words. “High-incentive states limiting choices. that have occurred since 2011. job creation, despite exaggerated have higher tax rates on average,” Having digested the findings, in Progressives, of course, strongly to really help the poor claims to the contrary. Second, Slattery and Zidar write. “The 1987 Congress repealed its 1974 disagree. parts of the state. tax incentives flow dispropor- social cost of higher taxes grows mistake. States were no longer re- While the partisan and ideo- tionately to places with lower quickly with the size of the tax, quired to use CON regulation. Many logical lines are easy to see on unemployment rates and higher and the benefits of incentives states subsequently abandoned it. this issue, it’s hardly the only devotee since his days as state average incomes. diminish with the size of incen- Alas, North Carolina didn’t. tax-policy dispute in state poli- Senate majority leader. In a new study to be published tives.” JLF analysts argue the General tics. Another one concerns depth A vocal critic of North Caroli- this year in the Journal of Econom- For decades, I’ve criticized Assembly should get rid of the vs. breadth. na’s incentive programs, at least ic Perspectives, economists Cailin targeted tax incentives. I’ve system, either outright or in stages. To maximize economic growth as currently structured, is Re- Slattery of Columbia University supported their abolition, by A Winston-Salem physician, Gajen- and job creation, some argue publican lawmaker Harry Brown, and Owen Zidar of Princeton Uni- whatever means proved practica- dra Singh, has also filed a lawsuit North Carolina should focus any the current Senate majority versity provide additional support ble. I haven’t changed my mind. asking the courts to strike down tax relief on key companies or in- leader. He’s tried without success for these propositions. While But if we’re to be stuck with this CON as a violation of Article I, dustries. Others argue North Car- to pass legislation limiting the incentives may sometimes influ- substandard tax policy, I’d at Section 34 of the N.C. Constitution, olina’s economy will fare better amount of incentives routed to ence location decisions for recip- least like to see North Carolina which states that “monopolies if policymakers favor across-the- companies in fast-growing urban ient companies, “we do not find policymakers restrict the size are contrary to the genius of a free board tax policies over targeted counties. strong evidence that firm-specific and scope of incentives along the state and shall not be allowed.” incentives. “If you look back at the history tax incentives increase broader lines Brown has proposed. Planning is essential in a capi- In this dispute, opinions range — the reason incentive pro- economic growth at the state and At a bare minimum, I’d take tal-intensive field such as health across philosophical boundaries. grams were created — it was to local level,” Slattery and Zidar more candor and consistency on care. But it shouldn’t be centralized One of the most vocal proponents really help the poor parts of the write. the part of public officials. If Coo- in a state agency and coupled with of large tax cuts aimed at specific state,” Brown told WRAL-TV’s It isn’t just that incentive deals per truly believes North Carolina’s the power to shove people around. corporations is Democratic Gov. Tyler Dukes. “It wasn’t to help tend to happen in places that are tax burden is too low, shouldn’t he Roy Cooper. Indeed, he’s been a the counties that were already already growing faster than av- stop making incentive deals? 22 CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 COMMENTARY ‘It’s always something’: Alcohol industry always preparing for the worst

But in an ironic sort of way, gains overall, where each point of alcohol producers are still running market share is worth $740 million and hiding from the revenuers. The in supplier sales revenue.” retooled NAFTA, the U.S.-Mexi- But some officials and lawmak- co-Canada Agreement, is good for ers, to riff off an old album title, liquor makers, in that it maintains have an appetite for destruction. JOHN TRUMP duty-free trade in spirits, and, says North Carolina resists selling MANAGING EDITOR DISCUS, reaffirms commitments alcohol on Sunday through its concerning the internal sale and state-controlled monopoly, which distribution of distilled spirits. restricts consumers on myriad istilleries, wineries, and This is not to say the current levels. It refuses to call bars, breweries are growing at an administration has been friendly well, “bars,” instead entangling exponential rate. All with to distillers. The White House, as restaurants and “private clubs” in an eye on Washington, D.C., and, in part of ongoing trade wars, has complex regulations, leaving en- Dour case, Raleigh. threatened increased tariffs on forcement uneven at best and, at North Carolina has well more European countries, including worst, eliminating any perception than 300 breweries, for instance, Ireland, Scotland, and Belgium, of fairness. The state disallows yet burgeoning entrepreneurs on things such as cheese, olive oil, “happy hours,” forcing restaurants seemingly have little fear of a com- president has signed, legislation proof gallon, wrote the Distilled brandy, whiskey … and whisky. to offer specials all day, again ing glut. New breweries continue extending the Craft Beverage Mod- Spirits Council of the U.S., an in- DISCUS last year wrote that, hampering business and limiting, to open in all the usual places — ernization and Tax Reform Act, at dustry trade group in Washington. in turn, retaliatory tariffs “had a by default, consumer choice. Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh, etc. least for another year. That would have badly hurt measurable impact on American It comes to this: Brewers, vint- — as well as some unusual ones, The act, S. 362, originally part of distillers, who have expanded staff, whiskey exports, particularly to ners, and distillers want nothing meaning smaller, more rural towns the omnibus tax bill the president bought new and more equipment, the European Union, the largest more than the freedom to produce in search of an economic lift. Same signed into law in 2017, lowered and expanded partnerships. market at $675 million. a legal product in a thriving mar- goes for wineries and distilleries, the federal excise tax on distillers “This bill supports small busi- “In fact, American whiskey ket, sans restrictive regulations which, I must admit, is sometimes to $2.70 per proof gallon of spirits nesses and helps craft distillers exports to the EU for the first half and arcane rules. Lawmakers have, a bit tough to understand, consid- on the first 100,000 gallons pro- reinvest in their employees, their of [2018] were growing at a brisk in fact, proposed and passed leg- ering the state’s restrictive laws duced or imported annually. businesses, and their communi- 33% but took a sharp downturn islation toward that outcome, yet and lawmakers’ sometimes out- The bill, among other provisions, ties,” the Distilled Spirits Council following the imposition of tariffs, the alcohol industry, while enjoy- right prejudice against hard liquor. also greatly eases tax burdens on says. “Because of the president’s declining 8.7% compared to the ing the best of times, constantly But, to borrow a line from N.C. breweries and wineries. It was set support, more than 2,000 craft same period in 2017.” prepares for the worst. distillers, rising waters lift all to expire at year’s end, effectively distillers no longer have to worry Consider this: In 2018, DISCUS In the words of the great Gilda ships, right? What they need on resulting in a 400% increase in about waking up to a huge tax says, spirits gained market share Radner, spoken so eloquently Jones Street is a virtual tsunami, federal excise taxes on that first increase. … Instead, they can focus versus beer and wine with sales through the irreverent yet hilari- but, as far as this column goes, let’s 100,000 proof gallons of liquor pro- on creating more jobs, buying more comprising 37.4% of the total ous SNL correspondent Roseanne save that bottle for later. duced – an effective increase from grains from farmers, and stimulat- beverage alcohol market. “It is the Rosannadanna, “It’s always Congress has passed, and the $2.70 per proof gallon to $13.50 per ing local economies.” ninth straight year of market share something.”

LOGIC | FACTS | HUMOR | COMMON SENSE LOCKE HEADA JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION PODCAST A no-holds-barred discussion on individual liberty and free markets.

Listen at www.johnlocke.org/podcast CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 23 COMMENTARY Ten economic lessons for 2020 In making this decision, parents times. Usually that’s not the case. must decide which helps children Statistics show more than half of more — extra household money or new restaurants fail in the first extra parental time. year. The reason is people’s food 6. Pursue your passion, but have preferences often change. Technol- MICHAEL WALDEN a backup plan. I originally wanted ogy is also constantly shaking up COLUMNIST to be an architect and build cities. the business world. At any point Yet after a year in design school in time, our economy is a shifting I found I had little design ability. mix of old and new. t the beginning of a new My backup plan was to study the 9. Pay for small risks; insure year, it’s common to give economics of cities, which led to for big risks. Life is full of risks. “top-10” lists for various several degrees in economics. I Accidents, injuries, and illnesses activities and objectives. In the still enjoy admiring well-designed happen all the time. It’s just that Aspirit of such lists, here are my top- buildings, but I found my talent we don’t know when they will 10 useful economic lessons. was in economics. occur. We can pay to handle risks 1. We can’t have everything. If 7. Use diversification, low fees, by buying insurance. Yet all risks what we desire is unlimited, but and long-run thinking in investing. aren’t created equal. Small risks what we have to spend is limited, Investing is often thought to be that don’t cost much should be then we can’t have everything. We hard, but it’s not if three principles paid out of our pockets. Spending have to make choices, like between are followed. First, invest in mul- on insurance is best reserved for a new car or college savings, or a reward for delaying gratification. the loan over six years. You’ll be tiple investment categories, such big risks that can cost us a lot. big house with a long commute or Money saved for future use can charged an interest rate to do this. as domestic stocks, international 10. Track your personal econo- a smaller dwelling minutes from earn a return. Through the magical Using a rate of 3%, you’ll repay a stocks, bonds, commodities, and my. My mother was a big planner, work. Trade-offs aren’t fun. power of “compounding,” con- total of $86,250; $6,250 more than real estate. Second, use low-fee especially with money. She kept 2. Dollars change in value. The sistently saving relatively small the car’s price. mutual funds to invest in the our family on a strict budget. This rise in the general cost of living amounts can turn into big future 5. Lost earnings are the cost categories. Third, keep your eyes helped my parents track their (inflation) is a fact of economic amounts. of time away from work. Time on the long run. Avoid making big spending and meet financial goals. life. Any inflation reduces what 4. We pay to have more now. In has many uses. For parents with changes when particular invest- Fortunately, today’s technology dollars can buy. For example, a contrast to the previous lesson, if young children, a good example is ments rise or fall. makes this easier. dollar today buys 17% less than it you want more now, you’ll have spending time working and earn- 8. Recognize that change, not Putting these lessons to use did a decade ago. to pay for it. Let’s say you need ing, versus spending time with the stability, is the nature of the could make for a better 2020! 3. We’re paid to delay gratifica- $80,000 to buy the luxury vehi- kids. The cost of an extra 10 hours economy. My wife worries that tion. Most of us would rather have cle of your dreams. You borrow per week with the kids is what a when she reads of a local restau- Michael Walden is a Reynolds things now than later. Yet there’s a the $80,000 and agree to repay parent could earn in that 10 hours. rant closing, it’s a sign of bad distinguished professor at N.C. State. No more water’s edge: All politics are domestic

mate Accord, the Iran nuclear deal, but in many ways to further liberal Democrats, not least because they country to be more flexible. The UNESCO, and NAFTA — which values like self-determination and enjoy almost unanimous support parties have opposing positions is now admittedly replaced by individual freedom Democrats em- from Muslim-Americans, increas- on North Korea. Both are wary of the USMCA. He implicitly rejects braced. President Obama had sim- ingly support Palestinian interests. China; Republicans because of its the notion that America’s foreign ilar lofty goals, but also a practical Some have called for boycotts of economic might, Democrats for policy is value-driven, holistic, and and steely side — as his frequent Israel. political and cultural reasons. ANDY TAYLOR continuous. This is a product of his deployment of drone strikes in the Republicans have supported Beyond nation-states, Republi- COLUMNIST experience in the business world, Middle East demonstrated. Britain in the Brexit saga, Dem- cans see promotion of American where personal relationships are Now the parties have taken a ocrats the European Union — business and dealing with large valued and decisions are therefore more political and tribal approach Obama famously warned the U.K. foreign corporations as crucial to MOST PRESIDENTS HAVE an idiosyncratic, transactional, and to foreign policy. They are conspic- it would have to get to “the back of foreign policy. Democrats support intelligible foreign policy. For some short-lived. uously associating themselves the line” in any trade deal with the nongovernmental organizations to it’s bold enough to earn a grandiose But much of the difficulty in with countries or groups that share U.S. upon departure. Since the Iraq affect other policies, such as global name — think George H.W. Bush’s identifying Trump’s foreign policy their ideology. These allegianc- War — in which Britain was Amer- migration and climate change. “New World Order” — or at least be comes from broader trends in es can have the added benefit ica’s sole meaningful European ally The transformation of American labeled “doctrine.” James Monroe’s American politics. It used to be of winning votes at home. To — the GOP has considered France politics from one of broad pragmat- was to keep other powers out of that politics stopped “at the wa- understand Trump’s foreign policy and Germany “old Europe,” to use ic parties and campaigns focused the western hemisphere, Harry ter’s edge,” meaning that although is not to search for a philosophy, then-Defense Secretary Donald on candidates rather than ideolo- Truman’s to counter the expansion the two parties disagreed on let alone principles. It is to think of Rumsfeld’s derisive term. It has gies is complete. The last holdout of communism. President Trump domestic matters, they generally it as a series of bilateral relations often supported former Warsaw was foreign affairs, where the has called his “principled realism,” shared a foreign policy. This was with countries, some of which the Pact countries such as Poland in parties had tactical differences but but, befitting such a fuzzy term, necessitated by the threat of com- president wants to improve, others intra-continental disputes. The loosely shared common values and there’s no consensus on what munism and, after 9/11, Islamic he’s happy to see deteriorate. By Democrats are naturally drawn to often a common policy. drives the current approach. Some terrorism. If there were partisan way of a response, many Demo- European countries with progres- Overseas events and interna- say the administration has abdi- differences, they were relatively crats have come to see American sive politics. tional strategy could bring sworn cated U.S. global leadership, others minor and principled. The Republi- foreign policy the same way. It’s Trump’s election and presidency political enemies together for the that it has acted consistently and cans were more hawkish and tend- just that Trump and the Repub- have revealed Democrats’ deep good of agreed-upon American resolutely to promote political and ed to define American interests licans’ friends are their foes, and hatred of Vladimir Putin’s Russia. interests. Now the parties seek economic freedom. narrowly. Democrats were interest- vice versa. Some Republicans, particularly out countries, groups, and causes Trump has certainly rejected ed in promoting liberal values such More than ever, strong support the president, prevaricate and, as to support, snatching them up as many of the most important tenets as democracy and human rights. for Israel is a feature of Republican impeachment shows, sometimes if building an electoral coalition. of modern American foreign policy. This started to change after foreign policy. Much of this is ex- point fingers at Ukraine in the There is no water’s edge anymore. He eschews multilateralism. The the Cold War. But even in the first plained by Trump’s friendship with conflict with its huge eastern All politics are domestic. president has been deeply critical 15 years of the century, partisan Israeli premier Benjamin Netanya- neighbor. As the Qasem Soleimani of institutions such as the United commonalities endured. The neo- hu, but it’s also a recognition of the killing illustrates, Republicans’ Andy Taylor is a professor of political Nations and NATO and pulled out conservatives in the Bush admin- views of evangelical Christians enmity toward Iran is great; Dem- science at the School of International of agreements such as the Paris Cli- istration prosecuted the Iraq war, and influential Jewish-Americans. ocrats want U.S. policy toward the and Public Affairs at N.C. State. 24 CAROLINA JOURNAL // FEBRUARY 2020 HEALTH CARE The two fronts of health care reform on making insurance more afford- the insurance market much more ance was used for unpredictable, able and easier to use. The second affordable and accessible for all catastrophic events. The lesson emphasizes patients paying directly Paying for health care Americans. here is that despite the contem- for much of their health care, without insurance The second front describes porary reliance on insurance, an without an insurer. I believe with may seem like a emphasizing a direct-pay model of affordable direct-pay model was proper reform in these two areas, buying health care, which excludes once very common. It’s now making JORDAN ROBERTS a health system will exist that foreign concept in health insurance. Market processes a comeback, and it’s scalable to the HEALTH CARE POLICY ANALYST provides meaningful alternatives to present times. But are already guiding this innova- entire industry. JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION Americans. there was a time tion. For example, direct primary We lean on health insurance The first front describes making care practices are sprouting up all so much that we miss the bigger the status quo — individuals ob- direct-pay models over the country. In exchange for a picture — health insurance may be s a health policy analyst, taining health insurance from work, were the norm in monthly fee, a patient has around- why health care costs so much. The I often get asked, “When the government, or themselves health care and the-clock access to a primary care more we rely on health insurance and how are we going to — work much better. Everyone doctor, one of the most critical to pay for health care, the less fix the health care system?” The knows the current problems with insurance was used phases of care. In the absence of sensitive we are to prices that drive Aanswer to that question is compli- the health insurance system: It’s for unpredictable, dealing with health insurance, up demand, and the more it ends cated for two reasons: There is so too expensive compared to the re- catastrophic events. the doctors have more time to do up costing all of us. Patients have much wrong to start with, and no ceived benefits, health insurance is what they are trained to do: care ceded all consumer power to the in- one can agree on the result. difficult to understand and use, and for patients. What about treatment surance companies. No one, includ- I believe the reason there’s such your health insurance may leave system without insurance, but outside of primary care? One hospi- ing those involved in the process little consensus on what the future you with substantial out-of-pocket insurance is so expensive, many tal has already made the direct-pay of purchasing health care, knows of health care should look like is costs. But many people like the idea can’t afford it. This is a direct result model work. The Surgery Center the true price. Consumers pay a that people’s ideas of health “cover- of having all medical risk covered. of regulating the parity and ro- of Oklahoma works like a direct monthly premium to access health age” vary so widely. Some believe How can we make this type of bustness of health insurance plans primary care office in that it doesn’t care via insurance and are therefore every medical procedure should health care purchasing work better? through such things as Obamacare accept insurance, and instead pa- shielded from any idea of costs. This be fully insured and paid for by an One place to start is deregulation at and state-level insurance man- tients pay a flat up-front cost before creates a strange world where the insurance company or the gov- the federal and state levels. dates. Insurance regulations add surgery — a much lower rate com- consumers aren’t the ones directly ernment. Some believe there is far With the goal to extend “com- layers of costs and interfere with pared to using insurance. Customers purchasing the product, and the too much emphasis on the idea of prehensive, affordable insurance” free negotiations between insurers know the price of the procedure, firms in the market aren’t directly “health insurance” while we ignore to all Americans, our country has, and providers. This is a significant and surprise bills don’t exist. responsive to consumer demands a more logical way to pay for health in essence, rendered the health reason insurance is so expensive Paying for health care without — the perfect recipe for a nonfunc- care. I fall into the latter camp. insurance market unworkable and and so difficult to understand and insurance may seem like a foreign tional market. Health care in this I believe that reform in our health unattainable for many. This conun- use for many Americans. Letting concept in present times. But there country will become more function- care system needs to take place drum will leave your head spinning: market forces dictate the proper was a time direct-pay models were al when patients start buying their on two fronts. The first focuses It’s hard to access the health care consumer protections would make the norm in health care and insur- health care themselves. POLITICS • SCHOOLS • GROWTH • TAXES • HEALTH TRANSPORTATION • BUSINESS • THE ENVIRONMENT North Carolina’s longest running TV talk show SPINs again!

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