Deal Saver - brought to you by the Charlotte Observer
Deal Saver - brought to you by the Charlotte Observer

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When the clock starts ticking today on the short session of the N.C. legislature, lawmakers shouldn’t waste time – and money – on shortsighted ideological goals. They should focus on pragmatic and fairly urgent needs that will help their constituents get back on their feet after the worst recession in decades. They should keep the state headed forward, not backward.

From an editorial that appeared in the Baltimore Sun on Friday: There’s a tendency among some to shorthand the ongoing federal budget debate as between Republicans who want to reduce government spending and Democrats who don’t. This isn’t really the case, as recent actions in the House have demonstrated.

Liens are fair as a last resort for medical bills. Before a lien occurs a payment plan should be negotiated based on what the customer can pay. Hospitals should have an outside arbitrator for these matters. Patients should not get off scot-free and put the burden on the rest of us by making us pay higher costs to cover their problem.

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Welcome to You Write the Caption, the Charlotte Observer cartoon caption contest, an opportunity ...

Kevin Siers

We're glad to see that N.C. lawmakers, back for their short session, got to work immediately in r...

Daily Views

It wasn’t exactly the belly of the beast Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney visited recently on a picture-perfect commencement day at “the world’s largest Christian University,” but his appearance was a test as to whether the conservative school, founded by the late Jerry Falwell, would embrace a devout Mormon. And Romney passed.

From N.C. Rep. Bill Brawley, a Republican from Matthews (bill.brawley@ncleg.net): Gov. Bev Perdue has a powerful opportunity. She will not be on the ballot this fall and can act with freedom from personal political consequences. Disappointingly, she has chosen to act in a partisan political way by irresponsibly proposing a budget that is nothing more than political theater. It is long on rhetoric and short on sense.

Nonsense. Obama is not the first gay president. He is the first female president.

America’s Navy is our nation’s front line in war and in peace, operating on, above and below the sea. Think of the Navy as America’s “away team,” deployed around the world, defending our nation’s interests every day.

Let’s begin by stipulating the obvious: Nobody outside of JPMorgan Chase knows for sure what really happened with those trades that have cost it so much money and done such severe damage to its once stellar reputation.

New venture: Easley and Edwards Consultants.

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