Highlights From NC CSE Day 2002

Over
500 activists from all over North Carolina came to Raleigh to rally for
lower taxes and less government.

"The
amount of money flowing into state coffers isn’t the problem with the
budget, spending is. We’ve got plenty of money; we’ve got too many programs.
We’ve got to keep the pressure on the spenders. They will not give up
and we can’t afford to."

-Former
Senator Lauch Faircloth

Jonathan
Hill announced, during the CSE Day press conference, Friends of CSE and
the legislators who broke their promise to North Carolina citizens by
breaking their CSE Pledge.

"The
state should live within the money it has available just as ordinary citizens
do."

-Mary
Foley, Yancey County CSE Activist

Raleigh, NC – On June 5, North Carolina Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE) hosted its third annual CSE Day at the Capital to lobby legislators on the “People’s Agenda.” More than 500 dedicated CSE activists visited their legislators to:

Discuss holding the line on any new tax increase proposals,

Promote the repeal of environmental “buffer” regulations that deprive citizens of their private property rights,

Advocate against enacting a state lottery system,

Make clear that North Carolina should refrain from limiting choice in health care; stated that enacting prescription drugs price-caps or government run formularies is a hidden tax on North Carolinians,

Advance legislation to protect NC teachers from frivolous lawsuits.

An army of activists arrived mid-morning and began advocating for The People’s Agenda. After the morning visits, activists heard from guest speakers including former U.S. Senator Lauch Faircloth who discussed taxes. CSE President Paul Beckner addressed the crowd on the need to eliminate the Death Tax, the John Locke Foundation’s President John Hood outlined the state’s current budget crisis, and State Director Jonathan Hill advocated private property rights.

Following the guest speakers, CSE held a press conference. At the CSE Day Press Conference, North Carolina CSE Director Jonathan Hill announced and thanked the “Friends of CSE” which included legislators that signed and kept the CSE “No New Tax” Pledge. “Friends of CSE” also included legislators that voted against the Appropriations Act of 2001. Hill also announced the House and Senate members who broke the CSE Pledge and voted for the Appropriations Act of 2001.

Laying the Foundation – For months leading up to the day, NC CSE had been on the road promoting the People’s Agenda. Throughout April, NC CSE in conjunction with the Locke Foundation hosted the April Tax Tour, which made twenty seven stops across the state to outline the budget deficit; in February, CSE hosted a Property Rights Summit, which explained the costly effects of overzealous environmental buffer regulations on private property rights; and for months, CSE activists had been obtaining signatures for CSE’s “No New Tax”
and “Private Property Rights” pledges from legislators.

Applying the Grassroots Pressure – After eating lunch, listening to speakers, and participating in the NC CSE press conference, activists stormed the capital for hours of lobbying with their legislators on the People’s Agenda. Activists met with each of their legislators to discuss taxes, private property rights, the lottery, choice in health care, and the Teacher Protection Act.

Following the afternoon visits with legislators, NC CSE held an ice-cream social and presented the John W. Pope Super Activist of the Year Award to Joyce Krawiec of Kernersville for her dedication and leadership. The E.A. Morris Outstanding CSE Chapter Award was presented to the members of Cape Fear Chapter for their tireless efforts to mobilize activists on annexation and tax issues.

The Winston-Salem Journal, Raleigh News and Observer, Gaston Gazette News, Greensboro News and Record, and The Asheville Citizen-Times all ran stories on the day.