Columns

November’s general election can’t come — and go — soon enough to suit me.

As someone who loathes politics, I seem to be an anomaly in the journalism world. My distaste for elections has only soured in my more than two decades in this business. I believe they’ve become less and less about choosing the best leader and more about choosing the lesser of two evils through the years. That’s not always the case, but it generally seems that way.

By Rep. Frank Iler

Guest Columnist

Last week in the North Carolina House of Representatives was Budget Week. The Senate had finished with the budget, Senate Bill 744, the previous week. It was our job in the House to review it, make our changes, and send it back to them for their agreement and approval. This budget actually consists of adjustments to the biennial budget we passed last year. We are adjusting the 2013-2015 budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year. We have newly revised revenue projections and spending priorities. So, it was a busy week.

Just as I wasn’t able to spend Mother’s Day this year with my mom, I won’t be able to spend Father’s Day with my dad, either. It’ll be because he and Mom will be back in Cleveland for Dad’s 50th high school reunion, where I know he’ll be the life of the party.

By Sen. Bill Rabon

Guest Columnist

With all the excitement from last week’s budget unveiling, we were thankful to have a calmer environment here on Jones Street.

Items on the agenda

We dealt extensively with the public/private partnership with the Department of Commerce to ensure economic development throughout the state and our region. An important part of this bill was the new film grant program that aligns with our industrial grant programs.