WWW.TRIANGLE TRIBUNE.COM The Triangle NC Republican leaders announce RIBUNE budget details TTHE TRIANGLE’S CHOICE FOR THE BLACK VOICE By Katelyn Ferral weeks of impasse and prodding ASSOCIATED PRESS from Gov. Pat McCrory to draft a budget with limited teacher pay RALEIGH — North Carolina raises that avoids big cuts to VOLUME 16 NO. 6 WEEK OF AUGUST 3, 2014 $1.00 House and Senate Republicans Medicaid and other areas of educa- unveiled the details of a $21.25 bil- tion. The new fiscal year began lion budget Tuesday that gives an July 1. Three former CIAA head average 7 percent raise for teach- The details come days after leg- ers now among the lowest paid islative staffers reported income football coaches – Rod nationally and preserves teacher tax revenue for 2014 is expected to assistant positions but cuts fall $205 million short of earlier Broadway, Kermit Blount and Medicaid reimbursement for projections because the wages of health care providers by 1 percent. North Carolina workers haven’t Connell Maynor – are now in House Speaker Thom Tillis and grown as fast as forecast. Senate leader Phil Berger added Democrats criticized Republicans the MEAC. details to the compromise budget who control the Legislature for plan and said votes are expected income tax cuts last year now pro- by week’s end. jected to cost $680 million in The compromise comes after Please seeBUDGET/3A Dark Fathers get horse a second chance By Latisha gets a Catchatoorian [email protected] DURHAM – Fathers who welcome have wronged their families in the past can make things Ken Spaulding right again with the help of the Strong Fathers program. makes pitch for The program, which helps men (referred by child wel- gubernatorial fare) with a history of domes- campaign tic violence, relate in “safe By Latisha Catchatoorian and caring ways” to their families. [email protected] The program was dis- DURHAM – It was a cussed at a recent communi- Spaulding family affair dur- ty roundtable luncheon host- ing gubernatorial candidate ed by the Religious Coalition Ken Spaulding’s recent meet for a Nonviolent Durham. and greet with the public. During the 20-week pro- Spaulding, his wife Wendy, gram, men learn parenting and cousin Vince, were just a techniques and interact with few of the family members other fathers with similar who thanked residents for backgrounds. The program coming out. Spaulding said involves weekly two-hour the reception was a way to sessions of facilitated discus- show his appreciation to sion that cover being a role those who have supported model, co-parenting with the him since his candidacy for child’s mother, child devel- governor announcement a opment and the impact of year ago. violence, and the impact of “There’s been so many the father’s own childhood people who have been so PHOTO/LATISHA CATCHATOORIAN experiences on his parenting styles and behaviors. kind to us,” he said. “We’ve Downtown Durham was packed to hear Moral Monday’s voter rally message. been campaigning all across The curriculum for Strong the state, and we have peo- Fathers was developed by ple from all different coun- the Center for Child and ties here.” Family Health. The program Spaulding said the 2016 raises awareness of the election is a people’s cam- Moral Monday activists rally impact of domestic violence paign. So often candidates on children and mothers. focus on their running, but in “When we get the head North Carolina it’s all about right, everything else will fall into place,” said Effie Steele, the people. BullBy Latisha Catchatoorian City forhouse?!” voting shouted the Rev. Curtis rightsvoter participation, telling college president of the Religious He decided to run he said Gatewood, NAACP Historic students they can’t use their col- [email protected] Coalition for a Nonviolent when he did not see things Thousands on Jones Street coali- lege IDs to vote, and limiting early DURHAM – People congregated Durham. “We are ministering happening the way he tion coordinator. voting is all “bull.” at the CCB Plaza downtown were to the whole family, not in would’ve hoped. The crowd responded loudly in “We’re here in Durham because “fired up and ready to go,” and pieces, but the whole family, “People are hurting out the affirmative. even proud tar heels can march not just because it was a swelter- and we need to start with the here,” he said. “I really hoped The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins of down tobacco road and use their ing afternoon. dads.” our leaders would’ve Covenant Presbyterian Church student IDs to register to vote,” he Moral Monday came to the Bull Steele said the resource is stepped forward to really said they had to bring Moral said. “We’re here to say that City as part of its effort to mobi- sorely needed in the commu- take on this McCrory admin- Monday to Durham because as Durham is home to the maroon lize across the state. There were nity. istration and the extremist “the past home of the Bull and gray North Carolina Central ladies adorned in hats covered in “The population that we legislative majority.” Durham Tobacco Company and University Eagles, and we can tell political buttons, families with serve for the most part is Attorney General Roy the present home of the Durham when something just won’t fly. children, and many waving signs fathers that want to be Cooper is also expected to Bulls,” they are experts in “bull- We’re here to say to the N.C. ablaze with calls for change. involved but clearly don’t run for governor, but ology.” General Assembly that your mon- “Durham, are you in the house?! have the skills or tools that Spaulding said Cooper has He said eliminating one-day Chapel Hill, are you in the are necessary. They haven’t been defending many of voter registration to decrease Please seeMORAL/ 2A Gov. Pat McCrory’s policies had models that were con- like “voter suppression, (no) ducive for them to learn teacher tenure and (lack of) proper skills,” said Sam marriage equality.” Clayborn, one of the pro- “Roy Cooper’s office has gram’s coach facilitators. been defending those “We try to make them have a actions, so if he had planned safe space. We come from a to be the nominee, then I Millions in health insurance nonjudgmental perspective.” think (it’d be) a good race Strong Fathers serves pre- between the two of us. The dominately young African- voters would get a chance to American males ages 22 to refund amounts to about $77 per new data. have a choice as to who they rebatesBy Bruce Smith coming to Carolinas 48. These men are usually family. Those companies that devote think best represents them,” disenfranchised and don’t ASSOCIATED PRESS Nationally, nearly 7 million con- too much to profits and red tape he said. have access to adequate sumers nationwide will receive owe refunds. The HHS report con- Debra Johnson said she resources. More than $21 million in health about $330 million in refunds. cluded that, last year alone, con- wants to see improvements Clayborn said the men are insurance rebates will be coming The refund nationally will aver- sumers saved $3.8 billion on their in North Carolina’s education initially a little resistant, but to consumers in the Carolinas age about $80 per family. premiums upfront because com- and tax system. by the end of the program, from companies the federal gov- The refunds are being made, for panies were operating more effi- “There’s several things that they are set. He said he is a ernment says spent too many the third year in a row, under the ciently. are going on now in North firm believer that hurt peo- premium dollars on profits and federal Affordable Care Act, Those entitled to refunds will Carolina. It’s not fair. Asking ple, hurt people. red tape last year. sometimes known as get them in one of several ways. you to show ID for the vote; “We’ve literally had grown The U.S. Department of Health “Obamacare.” They may get a refund check in that’s not fair,” she said. men cry. This is the only and Human Services released The law created the so-called the mail or a lump-sum reim- “Several things I’m not grounded safe space they’ve data Thursday showing that more Medical Loss Ratio Rule - also bursement to the account used to pleased with now in North had with no one judging than 205,000 consumers in South known as the 80/20 rule - with pay the premium. Or customers Carolina.” them based on their story, Carolina will receive more than the intent of making insurance may receive a reduction in future Wendy Spaulding said as their history or what neigh- $13 million in rebates. That’s an companies more efficient. Under premiums. potential first lady, she borhood they’ve come average refund of $92 per family. the rule, health insurance compa- Employers providing health hopes to tackle the state’s from,” he said. In North Carolina, customers nies must spend at least 80 per- insurance must provide the poverty problem. So far, 79 men have com- will be receiving more than $8 cent of premium dollars on refunds in similar ways or can “It’s something that’s very pleted or partially completed million in rebates in the coming “patient care and quality choose another method that dear and close to my heart as the program; and research weeks. More than 182,000 con- improvement activities,” accord- helps their workers, such as someone who grew up poor, shows gains in fathers’ sumers will benefit, and the ing to a release issued with the enhancing benefits.