• Media Sue Gov. Mike • 2008 Legislative Easley, Page 4 Preview, Page 5 Debbie Crane Speaks, Page 8 C A R O L I N A Smart Metering, Page 16 Statewide Edition A Monthly Journal of News, Analysis, and Opinion from May 2008 • Vol. 17, No. 5 the John Locke Foundation www.CarolinaJournal.com JOURNAL www.JohnLocke.org UNC Latino Program Pushes ‘New Immigration’ nity plan,” she said. “They are required Initiative makes no to come back and put into place a plan on how they can work with this new distinction between population. How can they keep them there as workers, and then as thriving legal, illegal immigration members of their community.” The Latino Initiative Program is By KAREN WELSH careful not to differentiate between legal Contributing Editor and illegal immigrants residing in North RALEIGH Carolina. Instead, the program’s admin- or 10 years, a behind-the-scenes istrators, who say they are “planning for program, the Latino Initiative at change,” cater to a movement deemed UNC, has taken hundreds of key as the New Immigration. Fleaders, business owners, and policy- “The center is part of the university makers from 38 counties in North Caro- system. We are educators, not lawyers lina on trips to Mexico in order to find or policymakers or law enforcement ways to incorporate “new immigrant” officials,” Edwards said. “We do not populations into the fabric of the state’s advocate a certain position or tell people communities. what they should think or how they The program received almost should feel about immigration. We $750,000 of $1.4 million, or 53 percent of Officials from Mecklenburg County regularly visit Mexico as part of the Latino Initiative’s provide information and experiences to “Study in Mexico” program. (UNCC photo) its budget, from state appropriations in help North Carolinians reach their own 2007 alone. Former Gov. Jim Hunt started Carolina. the Latino population, said Melissa conclusions and solutions about what the organization in 1998. Since then, it Once the key officials take the trips Edwards, the Latino Initiative Program needs to happen locally to strengthen has helped the 300,000 to 400,000 illegal to Mexico, they are expected to return manager. immigrants whom the Pew Hispanic to North Carolina and make changes in “When they come back they are re- Center estimates are living in North their policies and procedures to benefit quired to address and develop a commu- Continued as “UNC,” Page 2 Document Shows Watson Had Conflict Backing Parton Project By DON CARRINGTON Edenton, when participate. ness plan for the theater. According Executive Editor the Parton The- Roanoke Rapids borrowed $21.5 to e-mail messages obtained from the RALEIGH atre project was million to build the Randy Parton Northeast Commission, the document ormer state-funded economic proposed. Re- Theatre and turned the theater over to was completed April 15, 2005. CJ was developer Rick Watson was the cords show Wat- Parton to operate. His show debuted in unable to determine what organizations business manager for Randy son began work- July, but attendance was low. Unhappy or individuals received a copy of the FParton’s company at the same time ing with Parton with Parton’s management, the city document. he was recruiting Parton on behalf of in August 2004 severed all ties with Parton earlier this Under a section entitled “Expe- North Carolina, according to documents or before, in his year. Now, the city is struggling to find rienced Management,” the document obtained by Carolina Journal. capacity as an the right acts and management to make explained Watson’s role. “Rick Watson Watson was president and CEO economic de- Rick Watson enough revenue to repay the debt on the is a seasoned business owner and de- of the state-funded Northeast Commis- veloper. Watson has acknowledged 1,500-seat theater. sion, a regional economic development that he was responsible for the theater Parton’s company, Moonlight organization that has its headquarters in concept and for recruiting Parton to Bandit Productions, prepared a busi- Continued as “Document,” Page 3 To help stimulate the economy, it is 80more important to: The John Locke Foundation NONPROFIT ORG. Contents 200 W. Morgan St., #200 U.S. POSTAGE Raleigh, NC 27601 PAID RALEIGH, NC North Carolina 3-5, 8-10 PERMIT NO. 1766 Interview 7 Education 11 Higher Education 12 Cut taxes 73% Local Government 16 Increase state spending 14% Not sure 13% Books & the Arts 20 Opinion 24 Parting Shot 28 % RespondentsCivitas Institute in June Poll, Civitas April Institute 2008 Poll CAROLINA C A R O L I N A North Carolina JOURNAL JOURNAL UNC Latino Program Pushes ‘New Immigration’ Richard Wagner Continued from Page 1 Editor their communities. That’s our sole mis- Don Carrington sion.” Executive Editor “A lot of times people haven’t had conversations with people who are David N. Bass, Mitch Kokai, actually living through this situation Michael Lowrey and what has become a reality in North Associate Editors Carolina,” she said. “We are really deal- ing with issues head-on.” Chad Adams, Roy Cordato, Ron Woodard, director of NC Lis- Paige Holland Hamp, David Hartgen, Sam A. Hieb, Lindalyn Kakadelis, ten, an advocacy group for immigration George Leef, Karen McMahan, reform, said although he favors sensible Karen Palasek, Susan Robinson, legal immigration into the United States, Marc Rotterman, Mike Rouse, any entity, including the Latino Initia- Jim Stegall, George Stephens, tive Program, that smoothes over the Jeff Taylor, Michael Walden, illegal-alien issue or helps the illegal Karen Welsh, Hal Young population is breaking the laws of the Contributing Editors United States. “Oftentimes that is the intent from Abby Alger, Brittany Bussian, the Left, is to make it look like there Katie Bethune, Clint Atkins, are no consequences. But it does affect A mariachi band entertains a group of Mecklenburg County officials who visited Mexico Josh Harper, Geoff Lawrence, our working poor,” he said. “They try in April 2007 as part of the “Study in Mexico” program. (UNCC photo) Kelsey Mitman, Kristina Mitten-Sanders, and bring emotion into it to dodge the but had the help of corporate allies who enforcement in these cities and counties Michael Moore consequences. The bottom line is people Editorial Interns have a vested interest in maintaining a to recognize the value of providing addi- are hurting in North Carolina because cheap labor force within the state. tional staff development to their staffs in of illegal immigration. It’s been bad “The taxpayers have been hit by acquiring a better understanding of the for taxpayers and low-skilled, poorly this invasion, but it has corporate spon- Hispanic population,” the mayor said. Published by educated workers.” soring,” he said. “It’s a real laundry list “As this particular population increases The John Locke Foundation Woodward said that the flood of who’s who.” in our communities, better understand- 200 W. Morgan St., # 200 of illegal aliens, mostly from Mexico, Woodard said he thinks that many ing will obviously improve how services Raleigh, N.C. 27601 has caused undue stress on legal N.C. of these same companies have provided are provided to our entire population, (919) 828-3876 • Fax: 821-5117 residents, and that if the Latino Initia- grants and other monies to help the keeping everyone safer.” www.JohnLocke.org tive Program wants to put a face on Latino Initiative Program send local Frank Sharry, executive director impoverished people the organization and state leaders into Mexico. “It’s no of the National Immigration Forum, Jon Ham doesn’t need to go across state lines, surprise that large corporations sup- praised the Latino Initiative Program Vice President & Publisher because there is plenty of poverty within port the program,” he said. “They have for its efforts in the 2007 UNC Center for the state that has a hidden agenda Understanding’s annual report: John Hood only been height- and incentive to “North Carolina has the chance to Chairman & President ened by the influx do this.” be about the only state in the country of undocumented Bruce Babcock, Herb Berkowitz “You can look at the Meanwhile, that deals with the very difficult and workers. Charlie Carter, James Culbertson Edwards said it’s controversial issues around immigra- Jim Fulghum, Chuck Fuller The situa- numbers and crunch a an “enlightened tion and illegal immigration in a way Bill Graham, Robert Luddy tion doesn’t sur- opportunity” for that’s productive, in a way that actually Assad Meymandi, Baker A. Mitchell Jr., p r i se Wi l l ia m lot of hard data about leaders to go and brings people together. Why? Because Carl Mumpower, J. Arthur Pope Gheen, president who’s coming from be thoughtful and enough people have been to Mexico; Tula Robbins, Thomas A. Roberg and spokesman think critically on enough people have been a part of the David Stover, Robert Stowe III of Americans For Mexico, but when you the issues of im- Latino Initiative.” Andy Wells Legal Immigration migration. “It’s a In the same report, Owen J. Furus- Board of Directors in Raleigh. He said go there and look in time to learn and eth, associate provost for Metropolitan the problem start- understand what Studies at UNC Charlotte, agreed: Carolina Journal is a monthly journal ed when Hunt was people’s eyes, the num- the migrant expe- “The human face on Latino immi- of news, analysis, and commentary on state governor. Hunt bers almost lose their rience is like on gration to North Carolina is now much and local government and public policy issues brokered trade both sides of the clearer and informs my thinking and in North Carolina.