Newsroom

Perdue hoping for more from Congress

A stimulus package for states is being discussed in Congress, although Governor Perdue says the bill

isn’t yet where she wants it to be, calling it a “first draft.”

Read the full article, including comments from Congressman David Price and Senator Richard Burr here:  http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1369404.html

More budget cuts in the works…

The News & Observer reports today on Governor Perdues request for deeper budget cuts.  Read the full story here:  http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1369513.html

Related articles:

Charlotte Observer:  http://www.charlotteobserver.com/politics/story/475566.html

Plans for budget cuts:

Want to know what Governor Perdue thinks should happen with budget cuts?  Read the article “Perdue outlines steps to cut spending” in Under the Dome:  http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/perdue_outlines_steps_to_cut_spending

Waiting to see who will make up the Senate budget committee…

Under the Dome gives some insight on possible Senate budget committee members:  http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/who_will_basnight_name_to_write_budget

Americans for Tax Reform happy with Perdue’s first steps

In an article posted on its website, Americans for Tax Reform note that they are

“happy the governor has taken this first step, and we look forward to working with her and all relevant players in North Carolina to make transparency in government spending a reality in that state.”

For the full article, click here:  http://fiscalaccountability.org/index.php?content=ntr-NC-prd

Charles Perusse named state budget director

Read the Under the Dome post here:  http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/perdue_appoints_state_budget_director

Should Congress give NC $18 billion as requested by Perdue?

Read this article in the News & Observer today and see what you think:  http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1367991.html Feel free to send your opinions to laurie@citizensinformed.com.

Related articles:

Charlotte Observer: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/politics/story/473097.html

Quick budget process this year?

Under the Dome reports:

“We’re going to write it quickly, get the job done efficiently and get out of town,” Basnight said, of the budget and legislative sesion, which begins Jan. 28.

Click here for the full article:  http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/senate_leaders_taking_meetings_on_budget

Perdue taking action on the budget – a lot of work ahead of her

The News & Observer reported today, “Citing gloomy financial facts, the governor signs an emergency order directing officials to come up with cost-cutting options.”  For the full article:  http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1366327.html.

Related articles:

Under the Dome:  http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/perdue_prepares_to_slash_budget

Editorial about CI in Asheville Citizen-Times

There’s a great editorial in the Asheville Citizen-Times today about Citizens Informed.  Take a look (http://citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200881223033) and be sure to keep up with western North Carolina happenings through the Asheville Citizen-Times.  Thank you for the great editorial!

C.I. Applauds Senator Tony Rand

In the article, “Rand says financial efficiency vital for government” in the Fayetteville Observer, Senator Tony Rand says this:

“We’ve thrown money away in the past,” Rand said. “Now, we’re going to make sure we can justify every penny we spend.”

Citizens Informed applauds Senator Rand for his commitment to justified spending.  We’re also excited that in the same article it is reported that “Elaine Meija, director of the N.C. Budget & Tax Center, said a discussion over making government more efficient was vital.”

Read the full article here:
http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=313234

or on Under the Dome here:
http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/rand_time_to_prune_the_budget

Thank you to our news outlets for keeping us informed!

C.I. on 680 WPTF

Citizens Informed was announced and Director Laurie Onorio was quoted at 2:00pm and 6:00pm on WPTF during 680 WPTF News NOW!  Latest Newscast.  Thank you WPTF for the coverage!

New Coalition Partner – Wake Community Network

Citizens Informed is pleased to announce Wake Community Network has officially joined the coalition.  For more information on WCN, please visit http://wakecommunity.blogspot.com.  

The Locker Room highlights Citizens Informed

The Locker Room, the blog of the John Locke Foundation, highlighted Citizens Informed today.  Read this entry here:  http://www.johnlocke.org/lockerroom/lockerroom.html?id=18285.  Please also read other blog entries at http://www.johnlocke.org/lockerroom/.

More about C.I. on Under the Dome

Under the Dome writes more about Citizens Informed today.  Read the full article here:  http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/group_hopes_to_curb_spending_too.

Citizens Informed would like to take this opportunity to thank O3 Strategies, Inc. for donating its time and talent to creating and hosting the Citizens Informed website.  Since we are a grassroots organization that receives no outside funding, the generosity of O3 Strategies, Inc. is much appreciated.

Under the Dome mentions Citizens Informed

Today, Citizens Informed was highlighted on the News & Observer’s Politics Blog, Under the Dome.  Read the full article here:  http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/group_pushes_for_better_online_budget.  We thank Mr. Beckwith for the mention and hope our efforts help him and his colleagues gain easier and more efficient access to our state budget and spending information!

New Coalition Partner – Capitol Monitor, Inc.

Citizens Informed is pleased to announce Capitol Monitor, Inc. has officially joined the coalition.  For more information on Capitol Monitor, please visit http://www.capitol-monitor.org/.

New Coalition Partner – John W. Pope Civitas Institute

Citizens Informed is pleased to announce the John W. Pope Civitas Institute has officially joined the coalition.  For more information on Civitas, visit http://www.nccivitas.org.

New Coalition Partner: Americans for Prosperity – North Carolina

Citizens Informed is pleased to announce Americans for Prosperity – North Carolina has officially joined the coalition.  For more information on AFP-NC, visit http://www.americansforprosperity.org/north-carolina.

New Coalition Partner: John Locke Foundation

Citizens Informed is pleased to announce the John Locke Foundation has officially joined the Citizens Informed coalition.  For more information about the John Locke Foundation, visit http://www.johnlocke.org.

McCrory/Perdue discuss open government measures

The News & Observer today reported on proposals put forth by gubernatorial candidates Pat McCrory and Beverly Perdue for an open and transparent government.  Unfortunately, not much was said regarding the government budget and spending process, although the following was mentioned:

Perdue said her office has a good record of complying with public records requests. As a senator, though, she was one of the co-chairs of the appropriations committee, a group that routinely changed or introduced new elements in the budget during closed-door sessions. Read the rest of this entry »

N&O blocked from budget meeting

This is a perfect example of why we need greater transparency.  There was no reason the N&O reporter should have been blocked from the budget meeting…

Read the full story

Politics as Usual in House Budget Passage

We need to be sure our legislators aren’t participating in the same kind of dirty “politics as usual” we saw with Speaker Jim Black and his colleagues.  This is a great example of why we need greater transparency in our state budget and spending process.  We need to stop this “politics as usual” and set an example.

Read the full story