On net, this year's final budget deal can be viewed positively by conservatives. Tipping the scales in favor of the spending plan include: a net tax cut of nearly $400 million over two years, allowing the renewable energy tax credit to expire, elimination of taxpayer support for the highly...
Published: Saturday, September 19th, 2015 @ 3:47 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
|
Wikipedia defines "pork barrel" spending as "the appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district."
Published: Wednesday, March 18th, 2015 @ 2:38 am
By: Civitas Insitute
|
Call it North Carolina's money pit. The North Carolina Global Transpark (GTP) in Kinston describes itself as "a 2,500-acre industrial/airport site situated strategically in Eastern North Carolina."
Published: Thursday, February 5th, 2015 @ 9:36 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
|
The Fortify 40/440 project is an NC DOT effort to re-build the southern part of the I-40 beltline. Naturally, a major highway construction project like this means lane closures and major traffic jams for commuters. In this case, however, it also means a waste of NC taxpayers' money.
Published: Thursday, January 29th, 2015 @ 9:21 am
By: Civitas Insitute
|
A Goldsboro-based organization headed by the Rev. William Barber this year received nearly $350,000 of your tax dollars. Yes, that William Barber — the ringleader of highly partisan political protests against the General Assembly the past few years.
Published: Monday, January 19th, 2015 @ 8:04 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
|
The Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh excitedly touts that "General Admission to all facilities is FREE!"
Published: Monday, January 12th, 2015 @ 8:14 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
|
North Carolina's so-called Welcome Centers are indeed a welcome site for full-bladdered motorists in need of a pit stop. And the available maps and tourism brochures may come in handy for curious travelers as well.
Published: Saturday, January 10th, 2015 @ 11:26 am
By: Civitas Insitute
|
The doors to the Kannapolis Research Center opened in 2008, thanks to the funding of billionaire owner of Dole Foods David Murdock - and North Carolina taxpayers.
Published: Sunday, December 28th, 2014 @ 3:50 am
By: Civitas Insitute
|
The North Carolina Zoo, celebrating its 40th year, is located in Asheboro on 2,200 acres of land. The zoo attracts about 700,000 visitors annually from all 100 counties in the state.
Published: Wednesday, December 17th, 2014 @ 8:52 am
By: Civitas Insitute
|
During this holiday season, do you plan on donating some used clothing or other items to a local charity? If so, don't be surprised to see a government bureaucrat with a ruler measuring the size of the writing on the side of the collection box.
Published: Monday, December 8th, 2014 @ 11:42 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
|
Indiana Jones made it look cool to be an archaeologist. What's not cool, however, is for the State of North Carolina to force taxpayers to subsidize an office that attempts to centrally oversee the archaeological projects across the state.
Published: Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014 @ 6:12 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
|
It wouldn't make much sense to buy beer for alcoholics in an effort to reduce alcoholism. So why is the state using tax dollars to mail garbage to suspected litterers?
Published: Tuesday, November 25th, 2014 @ 8:08 am
By: Civitas Insitute
|
"Grassroots" is a word commonly used in the political world to describe what happens when highly motivated supporters spontaneously form a group from the ground up to advance a political cause or candidate.
Published: Wednesday, November 5th, 2014 @ 7:12 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
|
The North Carolina Symphony plays to audiences across the state. Shows vary in nature from holiday themes to child-friendly performances to movie scores.
Published: Sunday, November 2nd, 2014 @ 12:24 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
|
North Carolina is home to a thriving and growing wine industry. Consumers support the industry every time they buy a bottle of North Carolina wine.
Published: Sunday, October 26th, 2014 @ 12:53 am
By: Civitas Insitute
|
Tryon Palace is a collection of historic buildings and museums that offer visitors a glimpse into North Carolina's past. The site's stated mission is to "engage present and future generations in the history of North Carolina from early settlement and development of statehood through the...
Published: Tuesday, October 14th, 2014 @ 4:17 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
|
Now in its 30th year, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center uses taxpayer money in "support of biotechnology research, business, education and strategic policy statewide."
Published: Saturday, September 20th, 2014 @ 1:02 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
|
Teacher pay. Medicaid. These are perhaps the two most contentious spending items in this year’s state budget. But continuing to fly under the radar is taxpayer-funded television programming.
Published: Monday, September 15th, 2014 @ 6:21 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
|
To paraphrase the Declaration of Independence: Governments are instituted among men in order to secure man's inalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and banjo museums.
Published: Tuesday, September 9th, 2014 @ 6:44 pm
By: Civitas Insitute
|