Voices

March 29, 2013 - The state's Republican leaders are trying to solve a problem they created so they can help themselves politically by solving it. They might be undermining democracy, but you have to give them credit for their brazenness.

March 22, 2013 - The U.S. House and Senate are advancing very different plans for the 2014 federal budget. One represents a balanced approach that includes new revenues, while the other gives tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans and cuts public investments that help the most vulnerable.

March 7, 2013 - North Carolina will soon begin issuing driver's licenses to undocumented youth with a pink banner and bright red letters that say "NO LAWFUL STATUS" and "LIMITED TERM." Jeff Shaw with N.C. Policy Watch tells state transportation chief Tony Tata why he wants one, too.

February 26, 2013 - BP could be on the hook for as much as $21 billion in fines for its 2010 Gulf oil spill disaster. An effective investment strategy would address both environmental and economic interests.

February 8, 2013 - Some New Orleanians may be laughing about Sunday night's blackout during the Super Bowl, but Rosana Cruz is infuriated by the overblown language about what amounted to a minor inconvenience given the very serious problems the city and Louisiana faces.

January 29, 2013 - In New Orleans today, a federal judge approved a deal allowing BP to plead guilty to manslaughter and other charges related to the Gulf disaster in exchange for a $4 billion fine, probation and monitoring. Some of the company's victims objected to the deal including Cherri Foytlin, who explained her reasons in this letter to the judge.

January 24, 2013 - President Obama outlined a decidedly progressive-minded agenda for his second term -- one the South's white oligarchy of business, political, religious and media leaders will fight tooth and nail.