NC Senate Debate

Last night NC Senator Julia Boseman and challenger Michael Lee had a debate held at the WHQR office. Yes, I'm sure most of us were glued to the VP debate between Palin and Biden last night, as was I, but there were other political goings on last night as well. Most of the information is stuff we've gone over before. But I'll go over it quickly again.

Titan:

Boseman came out unequivocally against Titan saying, “I am absolutely opposed to the incentives to Titan. …I think Titan is wrong for New Hanover County, for Castle Hayne.”

Lee on the other hand "said he is generally against incentives but that the state has laws and regulations to protect the public from harmful environmental impacts. He didn’t say whether he supports the incentives."

The thing is that while our state and federal government have laws to protect it's citizens, these laws have been stripped down over the past 7 years and they aren't as strang as they were a decade ago. Also, how can we say "well, we still have a little pollution we're allowed to dump so let's go ahead and let another corporation do that to us"? We already have a fragile ecosystem in the Cape Fear region, and we aren't helping ourselves with all the sewer spills over the past couple of years. We do NOT need to add more pollution to the area and that's the bottom line. There is a school that is currently being built a couple of miles from the proposed site. Are we going to close the school down if parents refuse to send their kids there? How are we going to protect those kids with coal burning stacks just down the road from them, by disallowing recess and PE?

OK, onward to off-shore drilling:

Senator Boseman is completely against off shore drilling. The Star News reports:

Boseman said the nation should consider drilling where an abundance of oil exists, but not off the coast of North Carolina.

“All of the research I’ve seen is there is very little oil out there,” she said.

The fact is that she's right. This is a graph by the US Energy Information Administration.



This is a projection of where our oil supply will come from over the next 20 years if we drill off-shore. As you can see we will actually continue to INCREASE our foreign oil consumption. While we are adding 200,000 barrels of oil a day we USE over 15 MILLION barrels of oil a day.

Lee, however, fully supports off shore oil drilling.

While the technology is better than in previous years, oil spills DO continue to happen and in an hurricane plagued area like ares, the likelihood of a spill increases. We are a resort community and we just can't afford the cost of a potentially oil filled shore line for so little gain. Also, if an oil spill WERE to occur we couldn't even count on being able to sue the offender and getting them to clean up their own mess, as the recent Supreme Court case Exxon vs Baker shows.

How about other energy problems in the state:

Lee stated that the gas tax in NC needs to be lowered. While I tend to agree that we have a high gas tax, lowering it will only cut out a couple of pennies a gallon which would be unnoticeable. Senator Boseman replied "that if the state lowered the gas tax, it would have to look to local governments to pay for roads, and that could lead to property tax hikes." And let's face it, we would certainly notice a property tax hike. Anyways, Republican should like the gas tax, it keeps our property tax low and while only people who own their property pay the property tax, EVERYONE pays the gas tax.

On to taxes and spending:

Asked for three things they would do to lower taxes, Lee said he would look at lowering corporate and individual tax rates and examine state spending.

Boseman suggested a hiring freeze, except for essential positions, including teachers, and cutting out state travel.

25% of corporations in the US pay no taxes at all and Lee wants to add more to that category. Corporations could have a 10% tax increase and still pay less than they did under Reagan. In a time when state and federal incomes are low and expenditures are rising, we need to make sure that everyone pays their fair share, and that includes corporations.

Lee also attacked several expenditures of late. One thing he keeps picking on is money spent at the NC Zoo for a polar bear exhibition. As someone with a Zoology degree who at one time did behavioral research as well as worked with animal preservation organizations, I find it appalling that we would looking to cut funding for our local zoo. Zoos educate the public as well as provide much needed research on a variety of things such as ecology, animal husbandry, and global climate change. We need to keep our animals in humane conditions as well as highlight certain animals over time, therefore changing the focus and drawing in more public viewing and raising more money. Our zoo is a state owned zoo and to cut funding to it is a reprehensible view, in my opinion. He also brought up other museum expenditures, that in light of the total budget are just a tiny expenditure. Somehow, it looks as if Mr. Lee dislikes education outlets for the public.

Over the past few months Boseman has been attacked for many private problems. She smoked pot (so what), she had a foreclosure which many people are getting pinched with at this time, and she had an ugly seperation with her partner. However, she has been a great Senator, helping to protect our children and our families by introducing and passing bills that made it more difficult for predators to get back on the streets, she has helped women that are victims of domestic violence, she has increased our school funding, and she has helped to bring more HIGH-TECH jobs here to the Cape Fear area. She has been effective and fair and having tried to discuss a personal issue and bill that I want passed I can tell you that she listens without judgement and explores the issue to it's fullest.

NC Senate

The NC Senate seat is in a hotly contested battle between Democratic Incumbent Julia Boseman and Republican challenger Michael Lee. I have blogged about Senator Boseman, so my opinions on her senatorial record are easily viewed below. Again, I will use the League of Women Voters questionnaire answers form the bulk of this blog. I will organize by question and make my own comments below the two candidates statement on the issues.

Question #1: What is your position on drilling off the shore of NC for oil and why?

Boseman:

Overnight, offshore drilling has become a hotly contested issue. Congress appears to be willing to include some offshore drilling in a compromise national energy plan. As a Senator that represents over 330 square miles of the North Carolina Coastline, I am concerned that a shift in our national energy policy towards offshore drilling could place a great burden on our region's environmental and economic resources. However, I understand the need to find a way to lower gas prices for our families. As your Senator, I voted for legislation that capped the North Carolina gas tax, and legislation that provides energy assistance for low-income residents. I've also supported tax credits for alternative energies that will give North Carolinians more fuel choices in the future and recruit new industry to the state. I have made it a priority to focus on reducing our dependence on foreign oil by encouraging efficiency and alternative energies. We enacted landmark clean energy efficiency standards to reduce the burden on foreign oil, help cut pollution, and lower greenhouse gases. We created the bio-fuels Energy Independence Act that provides consumers who buy hybrid cars and energy-efficient home appliances tax credits for their purchases. This measure also gives consumers relief from rising gas prices by bringing alternative fuels to North Carolina through tax credits for manufacturers to produce biodiesel.

Lee:

In response to fast rising energy prices and an increasing dependence on foreign oil, North Carolina should strongly consider allowing offshore drilling for natural resources. However, we must regulate this industry so as to protect our coastal communities and beaches. The harvesting technology has developed in such a manner so as to assure protection of our vast and valuable environmental habitats and resources located here on the coast of North Carolina. In addition, if we choose to explore these resources, a portion of the royalty revenues (projected by some to be $23 billion over the next 40 years) from such offshore drilling must be set aside in a trust fund for perpetual beach re-nourishment, dredging and water quality monitoring by the UNCW Marine Sciences Department. State and Federal funds for beach re-nourishment and dredging are dwindling with each year that passes. Offshore drilling royalties may prove to be our best answer for preserving the valuable resources in our area, while contributing to a decline in oil prices and the United State dependence on foreign oil.

My opinion is that off-shore drilling is a very risky thing for our tourist dependent area with very little payoff. We will see NO return for a minimum of 10 years and there is no guarantee that oil companies will find anything that they want to tap anyways.

Question #2: While the State spends approximately 60% of its budget on education, the system is not meeting the expectations of state citizens. What do you think can be done to address this situation?

Boseman:

The problems that face our education system are comprehensive and require comprehensive solutions. This session, we raised teacher's salaries, lowered class sizes and funded drop-out prevention programs. I would like to see our recent efforts to put more emphasis on technology and vocational training programs to continue so our workforce can compete in a global world. Pre-kindergarten education has been identified as a crucial period for educational development and more should be done to support these programs. This year we expanded More at Four pre-kindergarten education by $170 million to serve 35,000 additional at risk children.

Lee:

First, let's look at just some of the ways our State is failing our children by reviewing certain key statistics: Approximately 1/3 of our public school students in North Carolina do not graduate from school on time (this statistic is even more dismal when looking at economically disadvantaged students); almost 1/3 of our elementary and middle school students are performing below grade level expectations in basic subjects such as math and reading; less than ½ of our schools in North Carolina are meeting Adequate Yearly Progress ("AYP") standards for No Child Left Behind (74% of schools nationally are meeting AYP); and the list of failures goes on from there. We need to completely reform our public education system in North Carolina. While there are many issues we must address, some immediate measures that we need to take are: (i) find ways to foster better communication between principals, teachers and parents, (ii) institute a new system for compensating our teachers so that good teachers are paid more, (iii) develop a system to utilize teachers with a wealth of experience but who need to move outside of the classroom for whatever reason, (iv) explore options to give parents more choice in the education of their children (whether through charter schools or other innovative programs), (v) make a commitment to the development of vocational and technical programs, (vi) work with the business community to develop true school to career pathways, (vii) raise expectations and direct resources to assist students, teachers and principals to excel, and (viii) make teachers, principals and schools accountable for the success of their students and not merely how well they test. We, as a State, need to give our children, teachers, and principals the tools to succeed in this ever changing education environment. In order to do this, we need to bring together educational professionals to create an educational system that will be able to prepare our children to meet 21st century challenges. The Governor and General Assembly must know that our children, our State, and generations to come depend on our success in this reform.

I think most agree on what the problems are in this area. My biggest problem has nothing to do with the state, but the Federally mandated No Child Left Behind (or as many of my friends and I call it, All Children Left Behind). However, when we add more tax cuts, more loopholes that allow corporations to wiggle out of paying their fair share, then our children are the first to feel the sting at school.

Question #3: What should be the role of the state in developing fast (clean and efficient) rail transportation to and from the Eastern part of the state and in the development of localized fast rail systems in the larger cities?

Boseman:

Public transportation and rail must factor into our nation's future energy plan and transportation infrastructure. The state should encourage the development of green industries while our nation moves away from foreign oil.

Lee:

Our cargo rail transportation has been utilized by industry for many, many years and other than regulatory oversight as is currently provided, the State should not be involved. However, passenger rail service will likely not be accomplished without significant involvement by the State since the current transportation habits of North Carolinians do not support it from a free market perspective. While light rail needs to be explored, my primary focus when elected to the North Carolina Senate will be rehabilitating our current transportation system and infrastructure.

I'm not really sure anyone truly understands this question, including me. I agree with both candidates, but I'm not sure they are answering the same question.

Question #4: What so you see as the major problem in the efficient working of the General Assembly?

Boseman:

Citizen involvement and the attention of the public is vital to making the General Assembly work efficiently towards the needs of its people. There have been great advances in transparency in making nearly all of the General Assembly's information available through the Internet. New methods of making the entire legislative process more transparent and available to everyday citizens should be pursued.

Lee:

Integrity and honesty have eroded over the years as to some of those who serve in our North Carolina Senate. Unfortunately, one party control of our North Carolina Senate for over 100 years has led to repeated violations of our public trust, a focus on re-election versus service to our community, and the complete breakdown of a fair democratic process. I think Senator Smith summed it up in his book, "A Little Extra Effort", in a concise way so I will quote the same:

"Many of my key bills + The Taxpayer Protection Act, Defense of Marriage Act and Protection of Private Property Act + were sent straight to the Ways and Means Committee, which never meets. My amendments were voted down in committee or on the floor. I had the power to speak during session, but the majority voted based on their floor leader's signals. My dream of contributing to the public space was unfulfilled. The Democrats totally dominated the Senate. Their rules allowed them to block any amendment or bill we wanted to bring up."

(Also Senator Smith:) "In 2005, my Republican colleague, Neal Hunt, introduced legislation to require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in school classrooms. His bell was left on the cutting room floor. An almost identical bill was later introduced by a Democratic senator from a swing district in Wilmington. Neal's idea became her bill. Her bill became law, and the law became a campaign ad that helped ensure her reelection."

Since the publication of Senator Smith's book, matters have gotten worse in the North Carolina Senate. Senator Smith at least had the power to speak during the legislative session on bills up for a vote. In the last legislative session, the Democratic leadership did not allow any debate on the budget and drastically limited debate on other bills. This problem is not about Democrats or Republicans. It is about one party in control of our State Government and doing everything within its power to retain that control. This is the greatest challenge our State faces as we attempt to move forward with true reforms in education, transportation, the tax and spend policy of our government and many other very important initiatives.

I can understand Mr. Lee's point here, but more partisanship isn't going to help. There are definitely some members who have been in our state congress for far too long, but isn't that really up to their constituents to decide. I know that RC Soles has been in congress for 40 years, but his opponent is so wrong on the issues that Soles should be allowed to continue his reign. More transparency and more involvement would pressure those already in our legislature to do the right things.

Question #5: Please list your top three legislative priorities.

Boseman:

1. Continuing our efforts to improve our education system so that we can better compete in the world economy.
2. Focusing on the specific needs and opportunities of New Hanover County such as funding for the Oyster Hatchery at UNCW, the ports, and other local industries.
3. Protecting the middle and lower classes against rising health care costs, energy prices, and a stalled economy.

Lee:

Education reform to allow our children to thrive and compete in an ever changing economy.

Economic growth of our State (including (i) measures directed at retaining existing industry and attracting new ones, (ii) addressing the need for accessible and affordable health care, and (iii) reforming the tax and spend policy of our State Government).

Transportation reform so that our roads and bridges are safe for North

Well, that's not very helpful. Those are the same answers. Oh well, the info is here, make up your own mind.