Tom Campbell talks about some of the dramatic changes that will happen in the next 10 years.

Question to John and Chris – The NC Budget and Tax center recently released a study they did that shows median household income in North Carolina was $53,800 in 2018. They say that adjusted for inflation it is about the same as it was before the recession and is actually lower than at the turn of the century. Upper income households are rising. To what do you attribute the static to slight decline in median household incomes?

Question to Howard and Leo – North Carolina’s primary elections will be held in just 7 weeks. We’ve talked with candidates who are really complaining because they don’t have time to campaign and meet with voters. Both of you have run for public office before. Aren’t we just making re-election for incumbents likely because of the short window candidates have to run in this primary election? How should it be changed?

NC SPIN episode #1104 Air Date 1/10/2020

Topics:
The legislature comes back next week
No ID in Primary
Charter schools
Tell us something we don’t know

Panelists:
Leo Daughtry, former State Senator
Chris Fitzsimon, Director, The Newsroom
John Hood, syndicated columnist and author
Howard Lee, former State Senator, State Board of Education
Tom Campbell, Moderator

Tom Campbell talks about changes North Carolina will likely see in this new decade.

John Hood and Chris Fitzsimon – Over the holidays we heard about a dispute over who may use North Carolina waterways that flow through private property. Do people have the right to float or wade in streams or rivers that flow through private property?

Question to Mike Walden and Chris Cooper – Both state and local governments give out economic incentives to businesses to locate or remain where they want them. Recent studies indicate that they often don’t yield the economic benefits promised when awarding the benefits. Politicians say they hate these giveaways but keep awarding them. From your perspective are there real benefits to them?

NC SPIN episode #1103 Air Date 01/03/2020

Topics:
The Economy
Politics
The leg comes back to town
Tell us something we don’t know

Panelists:
Michael Walden, professor of economics, NC State University
John Hood, syndicated columnist and author
Chris Cooper, Chair of the Political Science Department at Western Carolina University
Chris Fitzsimon, Director of The Newsroom
Tom Campbell, Moderator

Tom Campbell discusses the main things to look for in the elections this year.

Question to John Hood and Chris Fitzsimon – A Winston-Salem surgeon wants to purchase a new MRI machine but can’t do so without approval of state regulators who have to issue a certificate of need license. There has been a longstanding effort to eliminate our Certificate of Need laws because proponents say it eliminates competition but both supporters and critics claim it raises costs to patients. Should this surgeon be allowed to purchase the MRI machine? Should CON be repealed?