Americans For Prosperity Promote Good Tax Policy

The Down-East Republican Club welcomed Francis X. De Luca of the Americans For Prosperity (AFP) to their meeting last night. The AFP and the AFP Foundation is a non-partisan tax payer organization that is promoting the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights for North Carolina citizens.

Mr. De Luca talked about the serious problem that we have with the current legislative body here in North Carolina, since the only way to return to freedom is to reduce spending. Our legislature does not seem to understand that. Even though we started this year with a $2.4 billion surplus, our current legislature has spent almost all of it. Only just under 5% was used to reduce taxes.

Francis X. De Luca, Americans For Prosperity

This is the largest increase in spending in North Carolina history. The sad part is that much of this was spent to increase ongoing commitments, such as major hiring of new personnel, 1,400 more than the 4,000 incease that was already planned. As a result, next year we will be over $1 billion short, and unless fiscal discipline is different than this year, a major tax increase will be required.

In addition, Mr. De Luca noted that the legislature issued another $600 billion in new bonds.

With all of that, the legislature did nothing to solve the Medicaid crisis for the counties, and they have actually rigged it so that the counties will be forced to raise taxes next year to solve the problem. This is not a good time in North Carolina for the taxpaying citizens.

Gag Order Issued In $1 Million Lawsuit

by Eugene L. Tinklepaugh - July 20, 2006 - Washington Daily News

Superintendent responds to allegations of abuses in spending, and power

A judge issued a gag order in a case pending against Beaufort County and involving a $1 million school-funding dispute.

The gag order, issued during a pre-trial conference Wednesday, means attorneys involved with the case can’t talk about it. A call to the civil clerk’s office confirmed the judge’s order, which also applies to the clerk assigned to the case when it is heard in court.

The conference was held to hear a motion for trial. The gag order prevents either side, including the clerk, from discussing details of that motion, whether the motion was granted or whether a continuance was granted.

The trial, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. today for jury selection, may be postponed if the judge allows the request for a continuance made by the county’s special counsel in this case.

Brenda Edwards, the clerk in court Wednesday, said she didn’t know if the judge’s gag order applied just to the conference or is to be upheld throughout the trial. The order was not available at the close of the courthouse’s business hours Wednesday.

This is extraordinary. Once group of elected officials (BOE) is suing another group of elected officials (County Commissioners) over the issue of whether they first group is getting as much of the taxpayers money is they DESERVE. That is right. The BOE seems to think that spending more money than over a dozen countries who are doing a better job than they at edcuating children cannot be due to the fact that the BOE is incompetently spending the money they get. No. They don't have as much as they want so it automatically means the problem is that they deserve more money.

Martin Community College - New Computer Courses

The Fall Schedule of classes at Martin Community College has been released, and there are a great number of technical classes which people have been requesting. Highlight of the computer classes are the extremely popular Digital Photography classes, which this year have been scheduled for both Martin and Bertie Campuses. Here are the courses that I will be teaching, including the digital photography classes.

All classes require keyboarding, mouse and Windows XP basic skills.


Title: Introduction to Excel 2003 (MARTIN CAMPUS)
Hours: 21 -- Date: August 31, 2006
Instructor - Dean Stephens

Explore state-of-the-art spreadsheet power with Excel. Review how commands and icons used in Excel join with planning and designing worksheets.

The class will meet on Thursday Nights from 6:00-9:00 PM, beginning on August 31, 2006 and ending on October 19. For more information or to pre-register for this class, call Denotra Cherry at 792-1521, Ext. 248.


Title: Introduction to Access 2003 (MARTIN CAMPUS)
Hours: 21 -- Date: September 6, 2006
Instructor - Dean Stephens

Explore the basics of Access and learn to create a database table, along with basic forms, queries and reports to get information out of the database.

The class will meet on Wednesday Nights from 6:00-9:00 PM, beginning on September 6, 2006 and ending on October 25. For more information or to pre-register for this class, call Denotra Cherry at 792-1521, Ext. 248.



Title: Desktop Publishing Using Word 2003 (MARTIN CAMPUS)
Hours: 21 -- Date: September 11, 2006
Instructor - Dean Stephens

Word has become one of the most popular computer programs, and as a result it has expanded to be used by many as a Desktop Publishing program. This course will focus on use of Word in Desktop Publishing and requires that the student already know the basics of writing letters and creating and editing documents in Word.

The class will meet on Monday Nights from 6:00-9:00 PM, beginning on September 11, 2006 and ending on October 23. For more information or to pre-register for this class, call Denotra Cherry at 792-1521, Ext. 248.


Title: Digital Photography (MARTIN CAMPUS)
Hours: 33 -- Date: September 12, 2006
Instructor - Dean Stephens

You have a digital camera and though you have figured out how to take pictures with it, you need pointers in making those photos professional quality. This class will teach you how to use your camera, manage a library of photos and edit photos for effectiveness and quality.

The class will meet on Tuesday Nights from 6:00-9:00 PM, beginning on September 12, 2006 and ending on November 15. For more information or to pre-register for this class, call Denotra Cherry at 792-1521, Ext. 248.


Title: Digital Photography (BERTIE CAMPUS)
Hours: 33 -- Date: September 12, 2006
Instructor - Dean Stephens

You have a digital camera and though you have figured out how to take pictures with it, you need pointers in making those photos professional quality. This class will teach you how to use your camera, manage a library of photos and edit photos for effectiveness and quality.

The class will meet on Tuesday Days from 9:00 AM until 12:00 Noon, beginning on September 12, 2006 and ending on November 15. For more information or to pre-register for this class, call Denotra Cherry at 792-1521, Ext. 248.