If NC needs a tax model, I vote for Texas or Florida, not California | Opinion
NC taxes
In his April 5 Opinion column, Ned Barnett stated that Gov. Cooper’s budget proposal “offers a measure of the unmet needs.” If low tax states like Texas and Florida aren’t meeting their citizens’ needs, why are high tax “worker’s paradise” states like California, Illinois and New York losing population to them? Could it be that low tax states have created economic incentives and opportunity? If North Carolina needs a tax model, I vote for Texas/Florida, not California/Illinois/New York.
Barnett lamented the GOP sales tax changes. He conveniently forgot that Democrat legislatures repeatedly — from 2001 to 2009 — voted to increase or maintain “temporary” sales taxes.
Don Paschal, Raleigh
Tricia Cotham
The writer is chair of the Wake County Voter Education Coalition.
The defection of Rep. Tricia Cotham to the GOP is very disappointing. How in good conscience can she think that switching parties would be OK with the voters who put her in office? Regardless of whether her values remain the same, she abandoned the voters who put her in office based on her campaign and what she supposedly stood for. It’s my sincere hope that when she is up for reelection she’ll be returned to private life. Abandoning voters like this is unacceptable by any measure.
Jerome Brown, Raleigh
NC sheriffs
With their bill to require sheriffs to cooperate with ICE, the Republican legislature is trying to drive another nail into the coffin of democracy in North Carolina. Some sheriffs campaigned on a promise of non-cooperation, and that’s what the voters chose. With this bill, the GOP will nullify the wishes of these voters. The people of North Carolina need to wake up and realize that Republican lawmakers in North Carolina do not want democracy, they want power.
Peter Aitken, Chapel Hill
Gun lobby
The writer is president of Grass Roots North Carolina.
The March 29 “Three branches of NC Government” editorial cartoon insinuates that by overriding Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto and passing Senate Bill 41, my colleagues and I are the evil “gun lobby.” Let’s examine that “gun lobby.”
It isn’t the NRA which, consumed by internal problems, has been absent. It isn’t the National Shooting Sports Foundation, whose lobbyist I rarely see at the state legislature.
The “gun lobby” that shepherded passage of SB 41 comprises unpaid volunteers who walked halls at the General Assembly, wrote alerts channeling thousands of emails to lawmakers, packed committee hearings, arranged automated phone and text messages into districts of recalcitrant legislators and, most importantly, won the 2022 elections.
That’s the “gun lobby” you impugn — volunteers taking time from jobs and families not merely to defend the Second Amendment, but to save lives, since part of this bill empowers parishioners to protect religious institutions just like Nashville’s Covenant Presbyterian Church.
F. Paul Valone, Raleigh
An NC paradox
Two April 2 articles left me with a question. The first article said N.C. Senate Republicans plan to give even more money to families to send children to private schools. Families that make more than $250,000 a year will get $3,246 in state tuition assistance.
The second one said West Cary Middle School has all kinds of maintenance issues that aren’t addressed because there isn’t enough money. Students must contend with fainting from the heat and freezing from the cold — in addition to mold and mildew in this old building.
How can a state that has a surplus of funds and is talking about reducing taxes let its public schools fall so far behind?
Michael Nelsen, Raleigh
Mail-in ballots
Republican legislators are proposing a bill that would tighten restrictions on mail-in ballots used in N.C. elections. Currently, mail-in ballots received three days after the election but post marked by Election Day are still counted. The new bill requires that all mail in ballots be received by 7:30 p.m. on the day of the election.
There’s never been any discovery of widespread voter fraud in NC and people have looked hard for it. There have already been over 100 mass shootings this year in the US and firearms have recently been named the leading cause of death of teens in the US. Yet, our Republican lawmakers work relentlessly to make it harder to vote and easier to get guns. It’s shameful behavior and we all should be embarrassed.
Mark Kinlaw, Holly Springs
Homeless camp
Regarding “After years of complaints, big Raleigh homeless camp is cleared from highway interchange,” (March 30):
North Carolina needs to do better for those experiencing houselessness.
Don’t spend $90,000 in taxpayer money to uproot what little these folks have. Spend that money creating long-term housing.
Giving supplies, tents, backpacks, blankets and vouchers so they can “relocate on their own accord.’” is a great short-term helping hand, but it cannot be considered a solution if you are going to eventually move them from the next location.
Herding and temporarily housing people is not a solution. It is inhumane. What is the long-term goal?
Stephanie McDermott, Raleigh
