News Articles
Incentive interests
Robert F. Orr
Nov 19th, 2009
Justice Robert F. Orr, Executive Director of the North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law defends Jesse White's position against economic incentives: "Only two groups financially benefit from the state's current policy of giving away the public's tax dollars to a small number of national and international companies - economic developers and the businesses getting the handout. While teachers, mental health workers and badly needed public services are cut, those economic developers playing the incentives game - whether public sector or private - and their corporate beneficiaries dip into the public treasury to pad their own pockets."
Constitutional Conversation - Separation of Powers
Cynthia Crowdus
Nov 18th, 2009
On November 17, the North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law hosted another Constitutional Conversations program, this time on the campus of Campbell University Law School. The program discussed the delicate, nuanced, and sometimes confusing balance of power that is created between the governor and the legislature when the State incurs a budget shortfall.
With job creation as our top priority, N.C. can't give up incentives
Katherine K. Thomas
Nov 14th, 2009
In a letter to the News & Observer, Katherine K. Thomas, President of the North Carolina Economic Developers Association, argues for the use of incentives for job creation.
End incentives and increase jobs
Mandy Locke
Nov 11th, 2009
In an opinion piece for the News & Observer, Jesse L. White Jr., Director of the Office of Economic and Business Development at UNC-Chapel Hill, argues against the use of incentives.
Justice Orr on 680 WPTF
Scott Fitzgerald
Oct 27th, 2009
Justice Orr on 680 WPTF discussing the hearing at which taxpayers argued incentives given to Google violated the state constitution with Scott Fitzgerald.
Right to sue Google defended
David Ranii
Oct 27th, 2009
The fate of a lawsuit that argues that the state should not have used tax incentives to lure Google to Caldwell County hinges on whether individual taxpayers are legally entitled to challenge the company's tax breaks. The N.C. Institute for Constitutional Law argued before a three-judge panel at the N.C. Court of Appeals on Monday afternoon that it would be wrong under state law to bar the three taxpayers it represents from the courthouse. The nonprofit institute, a long-time opponent of state incentives for corporations, is seeking to overturn a Wake County Superior Court ruling that the taxpayers lacked the legal right, or standing, to challenge the law in court. "How are people going to challenge the acts of government that they feel are unconstitutional if, as taxpayers, the courthouse door is shut?" argued Bob Orr, the institute's executive director.
N.C. appeals court hears arguments on Google tax breaks
Staff Writer
Oct 26th, 2009
From WRAL: The legality of tax breaks that lure a company to North Carolina was before the state Court of Appeals Monday. The three-judge panel heard a challenge by taxpayers who argue that 2006 tax incentives approved by the Legislature to attract Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) violate the state constitution.
Finally, clearly in charge
Jack Betts
Oct 13th, 2009
Columnist Jack Betts, of the Charlotte Observer, writes about the issues June Atkinson has faced in order to win the job of N.C. superintendent of public instruction, the state's key constitutional officer for public schools.
T-N EDITORIAL: Incentives could use a fresh look
Staff Writer
Oct 13th, 2009
On October 13, 2009, the editorial staff on the Times News Online commented on the Dell Inc. announcement last week that it is closing the Forsyth County plant that makes desktop computers, just five years after it secured an incentive package potentially worth $318 million.
An Open Letter Requesting Economic Development Reform
Jeanette Doran
Oct 9th, 2009
An open letter to Governor Perdue from Senior Staff Attorney, Jeanette Doran.