The Jacksonian
Civitas polling over the past two months has shown a significant decline in both Gov. Bev Perdue’s job approval and personal favorability ratings.
After beginning the year riding high on the Democratic honeymoon period thanks to President Obama, Perdue’s numbers have taken a sharp nose dive. Her job approval rating is basically even and her personal favorability has fallen into the negative range.
While there has been some bleed off from her Republican and unaffiliated supporters, the largest decline can be attributed to the loss of her Democratic voter base.. This may explain why she traveled on a recent five city tour rallying teachers and state employees to fight to raise taxes and “save” education. Whether this tactic will work to bring back her base or push independent voters away is a fairly substantial risk; and one worth watching over the next few months.
Source: Civitas Institute: Click to View Polling Results
When you are a popular elected official and challenges exist, it is much easier to goto your base of support and ask for sacrafice from them in order to see you through the difficult times. However, when your popularity is suspect and tough decisions are on the horizon, the last thing one should do is "stick it" to their base of support.
When I was growing up a wise person once said to me "don't shit where you eat!" Well, Governor Bev Perdue did just that when she asked her base to sacrafice their pay to rectify bad decisions made by our elected leaders in Raleigh. This action was not innovative and was done out of political expediency as cutting state employee and teacher pay is popular with the public at large.
We have said many times on this blog that Governor Perdue's problem is her lack of innovation and her inability to appear sincere as a leader. Her recent "save education" tour of North Carolina is another example of this as people can see through her strategy of using our children as a way to increase taxes in the state.
We need new ideas in these tough economic times and Beverly Perdue is NOT prepared to lead. People are tired of the same ole, same ole from our new governor and the proof is in the numbers!
Obviously, Buenos Aires isn't the best place to be if you want to run South Carolina. But for the crowded field of 2010 gubernatorial hopefuls, it's looking more and more like South Carolina isn't the best place to be, either.
That could boost the fortunes of Rep. J. Gresham Barrett, who publicly has avoided the palace intrigue in Columbia in the wake of Gov. Mark Sanford confessing that he had an affair with an Argentinian woman.
"If you exist, you're getting dirt on you. It's filthy. There is so much destruction. At the end of the day it will be the last man standing," said a South Carolina Republican strategist who has not taken sides in the 2010 gubernatorial race. "So maybe Gresham Barrett is the winner."
Source: CQ Politics
The GOP candidates to succeed Governor Sanford must maintain their focus on issues that concern the people of South Carolina. Calling for Sanford to resign does not change the facts on the ground, South Carolina is suffering from a deep recession and a lack of leadership.
The CQ article focuses on the GOP candidates and which came out on top because of the governor's affair. I would argue that the Democratic Party of South Carolina came out on top. Scandal added to economic issues plus South Carolina's lack of modernization creates a recipe ripe for party change come 2010.
| North Carolina (Republican-controlled): There's not much reliable polling on this race but Sen. Richard Burr (R) sure is acting nervous. Source: Washington Post, The Fix |
In a recent update from Lt. Governor Walter Dalton, the following statements were released. Lt. Governor Walter Dalton is the most forward thinking individual within our state government and should be commended for his efforts to bring economic growth to every corner of the Tar Heel State.
The N.C. House passed its version of the budget early Saturday. The House version includes more than $2 billion in cuts and a $780 million revenue package to mitigate some of the worst cuts to education and other critical programs. House and Senate leaders will now go to conference to work out the differences in the two legislative bodies’ budgets.
North Carolina is facing extremely difficult economic times, brought on by federal credit policies and a global economic downturn. The State is experiencing budget shortfalls of more than $4 billion, levels not seen since the Great Depression, leaving Governor Perdue and state legislators with tough choices as they balance the budget.
While Lt. Gov. Dalton’s Small Business Assistance Fund was not included in the House budget, he will continue to work with legislators to keep funding in the final budget. The Small Business Assistance Fund would provide low-interest loans and loan guarantees to small businesses to help them survive the economic downturn. The fund received $3 million in the Senate’s version of the budget and will, therefore, be discussed in the budget conference.
To help pass the Small Business Assistance Fund into law and get help flowing to small businesses, please contact your legislators. You can locate your representatives at http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/GIS/RandR07/Representation.html.
Small businesses that need immediate help should contact the following sources for assistance:
Small Business & Technology Development Center
919.715.7272
800.258.0862
Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/localresources/district/nc/index.html
NC Institute of Minority Economic Development
http://www.ncimed.com/
919.956.8889
Lt. Gov. Dalton continues to meet with small businesses across the state about their needs and concerns in the current economic climate. To read the most recent articles about these meetings, please visit http://www.ltgov.state.nc.us/.
Ever wonder exactly how your state legislature works? How ideas become bills that get filed, what gets discussed, how committees work and how some of those bills finally become law? And why some will never see the light of day?
Becki Gray, JLF's Vice President for Outreach, monitors the General Assembly and knows the answers to these questions and much more. Becki will join us for the upcoming Freedom Club meetings and is ready to tell all.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:30 p.m.
MEZ Restaurant, Durham, N.C.
Thursday, June 18, 2009, 6:00 p.m.
Braswell Memorial Library,
727 North Grace Street, Rocky Mount, N.C.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 6:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn Asheville, Biltmore West, Asheville, N.C.
The North Carolina House Finance Committee adopted a $784 million tax package yesterday designed to soften the deep budget cuts proposed by appropriation subcommittees during the past month. Before the final package was approved, House Finance Committee members shaved $154 million from the proposed $940 million tax plan by removing "sin" taxes on beer, wine and cigarettes.
"We got folks who are barely scrimping by as it is. Beer may be their only entertainment," said Rep. Bill Faison, an Orange County Democrat who proposed removing beer from the tax package. 
For the citizens of our state who depend on beer for entertainment, I am thrilled that Bill Faison has protected their happiness in order to sacrafice the millions in our state who are reliant on government to provide safety, security, and opportunity. Bill Faison, we honor your service by making you a "Real Man of Genious!" So next time you crack open a cold one, remeber Bill Faison is looking out for you!
Come on folks, if beer is your only source of entertainment you have issues. If you are just getting by, then you need to save your money and not spend it on beer or cigarettes. I do not mean to be preachy and condescending to the folks Faison is referencing in his comments, but why not pick up a book, go excersie, or perhaps volunteer in your community.
It is these type of assanying comments that drive me nuts and make me lose respect for our elected leadership. Though I do not like tax increases, taxes on alcohol and tobacco products are logical ways to increase revenue. I prefer this type of tax increase over tax increases on necessary goods and services because NO person needs alcohol and tobacco to survive.