News Articles
Secrecy drives up cost of economic development
Opinion Piece
Aug 17th, 2010
STATE OFFICIALS always have insisted that they have to do economic development deals in secret, lest they scare off would-be investors and hurt our chances against other states. In fact, it’s only in recent years that we’ve been able to pry loose details of how much we’ve spent luring companies to our state after we’ve closed the deals.
Justice Orr on PBS's Carolina Business Review
PBS's Carolina Business Review
Aug 16th, 2010
Two of the Carolinas premier pundits discuss the good, bad and ugly about our current Carolina business and policy. Bill Mahoney from the SC Research Authority and former NC Supreme Court Justice and Executive Director of the NC Institute for Constitutional Law, Bob Orr join Chris William this week.
IN THE COURTS: Transparency/Lobbying Law Compliance
Staff Writer
Aug 2nd, 2010
Should individuals representing businesses which are seeking taxpayer-financed economic development incentives be exempted from North Carolina’s lobbyist registration laws (including disclosure of the principal as well as expenditures)? Can a state agency protect those involved in economic development deal-making by refusing to disclose documents relevant to the deal which are requested under the Public Records Act? A court case filed in June 2010 by the North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law seeks to examine these questions.
Sweet Incentives Can Leave Sour Taste
Ben Szobody
Aug 1st, 2010
Caterpillar's public pitting of Spartanburg against two other Southeastern cities in the race for a new heavy equipment plant meant state and local governments were piling on the incentives, though South Carolina taxpayers never knew what was at stake, and still don't.
Caterpillar to Build N.C. Plant
David Bracken
Jul 31st, 2010
The nation's economic recovery remains crippled by weak business spending and hiring, but Caterpillar is bucking the trend in North Carolina.
Caterpillar Chooses Winston-Salem
Jessica Jones
Jul 30th, 2010
The Triad will soon be home to a new manufacturing plant. The heavy equipment company, Caterpillar, has agreed to build a factory in Winston-Salem that will employ several hundred people. Jessica Jones reports state officials were in a celebratory mood as they announced the news earlier today.
State Supreme Court to hear Libertarian-Green ballot access case
Brian Irving
Jul 28th, 2010
The North Carolina Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Libertarian Party et al vs. The State of North Carolina, et al Thursday, September 9 at 9:30 a.m. This is the party’s challenge to the constitutionality of North Carolina’s ballot access laws.
Short Session Long on Corporate Tax Breaks
Bill Flanigen
Jul 20th, 2010
This year’s legislative short session passed quickly in Raleigh, and legislators scrambled to revive, rewrite, and pass a raft of tax incentives legislation for selected industries in North Carolina.
Keeping Covered in a New Climate
Robert F. Orr
Jul 19th, 2010
The importance of a free and effective press and its role in open, honest government is ingrained in our constitutional principles and our national culture. My first experience and appreciation for this concept occurred nearly 45 years ago as a freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill. As a radio-TV-motion pictures major, I had the opportunity to intern for WSOC-TV News in Charlotte, covering the 1965 session of the General Assembly.