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Mon.: The Roundup
posted at 2009-11-02 20:34 | Last modified 2009-11-02 20:34
Public plan, please
A new Elon poll shows a majority of NC respondents – 54 % – say a public health insurance option should be included in health care reform. The survey (PDF) shows a whopping three out of four respondents think the health care system needs to be reformed. And while 43% said they wouldn’t choose a public plan if it were offered, almost as many - 41% - said they would. That surprised Elon University Poll director Hunter Bacot.
"…I did not think we would have that much support for an option in the first place, and then people’s willingness to use it. But again, you have to contextualize it in a poor economy, where people who may not normally need federal assistance as far as health care is concerned are needing it with reduced hours or even being unemployed. And the people who can afford private health insurance, I think, they see it as an option because of the cost – it’s continuing to escalate."
The latest survey also carries some grim economic numbers. In October 2008, 83% of respondents had private health insurance. This year, it’s down to 73%. Many who thought the US economy had stabilized were more pessimistic about conditions in the state. Overall, an overwhelming majority don’t expect the economy to recover much in 2010, which probably isn’t what retailers were hoping to hear as we head into the holiday shopping season.
Kochman out
Governor Bev Perdue’s communications chief David Kochman announced today he’s leaving the administration. Kochman came on board during Perdue’s acrimonious primary battle with former state treasurer Richard Moore. Reading between the lines, I’m guessing recent strains within the team might have had something to do with his departure. More here from Dome.
LEAF drop
The state auditor’s office released a smackdown less-than-flattering performance review today of the Golden Leaf Foundation. The key findings included lack of transparency, lack of state oversight, and lack of follow-up on grantee accountability. Former Easley budget chief Dan Gerlach took over as LEAF’s director about six days before the audit started last year. Greensboro’s Mark Binker has Gerlach’s take.
More chances (not) to win
The state lottery commission voted 8-0 today to join the growing number of states selling tickets for both Powerball and MegaMillions. The two multi-state lotteries used to be fierce competitors, and states had to join one or the other. But an agreement between the games’ ruling boards last month paved the way for cross-game sales. On a very noisy conference call today, NCEL Director Tom Shaheen said research shows offering two big jackpot games will increase sales.
"You’ll have the opportunity to play the large jackpots in both games. It would be jackpots for Mega Millions on Tuesday and Friday, and Powerball on Wednesday and Saturday, giving players several options."
On the call, Shaheen (who’s also prez of the Multi-State Lottery Assn.) offered an optimistic sales increase projection of 18% to 35%, which he said could yield an additional $100M per year for NC schools. But the official release (PDF) announcing the vote reined in that projection to closer to to 25% percent, for a projected net gain of up to $15M more per year for education funding.
NC joins VA, TN, GA, and several other states who’ve already opted to carry both games. MegaMillions tickets are expected to go on sale here sometime around Jan 31, 2010.
Quick hits
- NC Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R) catches MSNBC's Keith Olbermann’s attention -- again. (Binker)
- Rep. Ray Warren (D-Catawba) says two terms is plenty. (Hickory Record)
- “Ideological purity,” maybe. But “effectiveness”? (Civitas)
- Michael Walters replaces Robeson Dem David Weinstein in the NC Senate. (Dome)
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