Okay, so we didn’t raise taxes a YEAR ago!

Now we have a two billion dollar hole, and we still have not even begun to roll back all of those tax cuts given in the last decade.

This state is stupid.

The leaders running it are really stupid.

Every time we go to DC for another bailout, we lose control over more of our budget.

Gould is a moron, because he doesn’t understand this, or just about anything else.

House Leadership and Senate Leadership are morons.

Now we need a two billion dollar tax increase, and it just keeps growing while they do nothing.

Stupid is as stupid does, and they are doing nothing, as usual.

richard

Mortgaging our future should be just as no-no to the Republican platform as unnecessary tax increases. As we all are taking notice, there are unusual times.

Many of the trade associations and the regulatory boards claim they do not currently cost the state money but actually put 10 percent of their revenues into the general fund is not accurate. When you add up the costs that the state bears such as the Department of Administration, Personnel Services, Treasurers Office, Attorney Generals office and others cuts very rapidly into the 10 percent that is paid to the state.

The Department of Professional Affairs would be general fund appropriated and the revenue from licensing and regulation would be deposited into the general fund.

The legislature would have much greater oversight than the current hodgepodge way that dates back to the early part of this century.

Under the Board of Professional Affairs, the individual Board’s would retain their current professional and public board members and the manner in which they are appointed.

The following boards would be the initial boards placed under the Board of Professional Affairs and others could be added later:

Accountancy Board (CPA’s), Acupuncture Board, Medical Board (MD’s), Osteopathic Board (DO’s), Homeopathic Board (HMD’s), Naturopathic Board (NMD’s), Physican Assistants, Chiropractic Board (DC’s), Physical Therapists (PT’s), Athletic Trainers, Massage Therapists,(LMT’s), Occupational Therapy Board, Opticians Board, Optometry Board, Pharmacy Board, Podiatry Board, Funeral Directors and Embalmers, Radiological Board, Nursing Board, Private Post-Secondary Board, Psychology Board, Behavioral Health Board, Barber Board, Cosmetology Board, Respiratory Care Board, State Board of Technical Registration, and Veterinary Medical Board.

This would immediately eliminate 27 directors, 27 deputy directors, probably 27 investigators, thousands of feet of office space, the duplication of multiple computer systems, printers, copiers, and much more.

An alternative is for the State to handle these professions and occupations much like lawyers are licensed and regulated, meaning that the State recognizes their state and national organizations and allow them to determine the licensing and renewal standards of the professions and occupations with the State establishing only the minimal Professional Standards and the Unprofessional Conduct for the Professions and Occupations. Therefore, there would no cost involved on the part of the State. The states of North Carolina, Florida and others have utilized this alternative for many boards for years.