NC Spin #1083 - Friday August 16, 2019

Topics:
Did hospitals win?
Four out of five governors speak out on gerrymandering
Why colleges have such low graduation rates
Going the last mile
Tell us something we don’t know

Panelists:
Howard Lee, former State Senator
Chris Fitzsimon, Director, The Newsroom
John Hood, syndicated columnist, and author
Tamara Barringer, former State Senator
Tom Campbell, Moderator

Tom Campbell uses the Bible story of David and Goliath to talk about the State Employee's Health Plan.

Question 1 to Bev Perdue and Rick Henderson – The new tax law passed in 2017 made many changes to our tax codes. One of them removed some of the incentive for people to make charitable contributions by doubling the amount of the personal exemption taxpayers could take. The IRS reports that Americans gave $54 billion less in charitable contributions in 2018 than they did in 2017. Should changes be made to restore the tax benefits? If not, what is going to happen to our churches and other nonprofits?

Question to John Hood and Chris Fitzsimon – Recently a Montana Federal District Court overturned an IRS procedure that permitted Independent Expenditure Groups to be exempt from listing the names and addresses of persons who contributed to their group. If this ruling survives appellate court challenges it might provide disclosure into who is behind these campaign ads we see. What do you think of the ruling and do you believe it will stand?

Topics for NC SPIN #1082 airing 08/09/19

Topics:
Election Security
Farm Bill on Rocky Soil
Pipeline Problems
Tell Us Something We Don’t Know

Panelists:
Chris Fitzsimon, Director, The Newsroom
Rick Henderson, Editor in Chief, Carolina Journal
John Hood, Syndicated Columnist and Author
Bev Perdue, Former Governor
Tom Campbell, Moderator

Tom Campbell asks: Whatever happened to Moderates?

Question to Leo Daughtry and Peg O’Connell – It is being hailed as the final end of HB2. A federal judge approved the settlement agreement between the governor and LGBT groups that says state agencies and universities cannot ban transgender people from using the bathroom of the gender with which they identify. This applies only to public restrooms and facilities in state government buildings. Does this truly end HB2 and is it a good settlement?

Question to John Hood and Cash Michaels – A law passed by the legislature would allow virtual charter schools to increase their enrollment up to 20 percent a year. The virtual charters have been labeled low-performing every year since they came under the state’s testing program. Was Cooper right to veto? Why did the legislature see fit to pass this legislation? Will lawmakers try to override the veto?