Do we really need "friends" like Fountain Odom in the General Assembly?! In the same editorial noted above, Observer said, "Those running for the 2003 General Assembly should ponder the mistakes and missteps of the recent past - and vow to do a better job next year." We need more than a vow. We need new leadership.

You may hear Fountain Odom's plea, "Where do we cut?" Here are some things the public should ask!

1.  The State has 47 separate worker training programs providing similar training, each with their own administrative bureaucracies costing $800 million annually. All of the expenditure is overhead. Why has there been no effort to consolidate these offices, saving hundreds of millions of dollars?
2. In the 2001 budget you voted to fund Blue Crab research for $500,000, Turf Grass research and promotion $700,000, Roanoke Island Commission $1,830,000. How do you account for this pork spending while tripling co-payments of prescription drugs for the elderly?
3. Why has there never been an inventory analysis of the 15,000 buildings and 73 aircraft owned by the State to justify their need? Some buildings not in effective use could be leased or sold to generate revenues and create a tax base.
4. The Charlotte Observer reported on July 21 in a full-page article that South Carolina is winning the jobs race. We have lost in every sector except government jobs. How do you believe our high tax rates, which you have supported, affect this problem?
5. You stated in your campaign literature that you have cut more taxes than anyone. How do you account for the fact that after factoring in the marriage, death and food tax cuts - all passed because of a Republican led House! - you have still raised $1 billion more in new taxes?
6. How do you justify the fact that in 1994 we had a surplus of over $1 billion dollars, and you voted to spend it all? That year, spending was increased by over $650 million for recurring expenditures. In 1995 it was the Republicans that cut taxes, including the food taxes, by more than $1 billion dollars, and we still had a surplus of close to $600 million in 1996.
7. We fund over 8,000 non-profit organizations at a cost of $800 million. Why has there been no review of the benefit or duplication of these programs? Some have been funded for 30-40 years without review.
8. We spend $6 billion annually in Medicaid. With recognized fraud and abuse why has there not been an aggressive effort in Medicaid reform, namely hiring investigators to identify problems.
9. Former Treasurer and Democrat Harlan Boyles stated, "By failing to identify our most urgent needs and setting spending priorities, we have lost control of the budget." As Co-Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and having voted 99.3% of the time with the Democratic majority, do you feel responsible for the lack of leadership in the budget priorities as stated by Mr. Boyles?
10. REAL Zero based budgeting legislation has been sponsored and died in committee. Why has there not been an accounting for programs and agencies some of which have been funded for 30-40 years without review?
11. $150 million in "negative reserves" sounds like ENRON accounting. Why did you vote to support that?
12. How do you justify taking $375 million from the Highway Trust Fund, $49 million from the Mental Health Trust Fund, $40 million from the Clean Water trust Fund, $560 million from the Rainy Day Fund; and how do you plan to repay the funds?
13. The Wall Street Journal has called us one of the "worst tax culprits in the country." You have called yourself a champion of tax cuts. Why haven't you supported the Tax Payers Protection Act like Colorado and other states have to control spending?
14. You missed 45 roll call votes the week before the General Assembly adjourned. How do you account for your absence from Raleigh where your colleges were there assuming their responsibilities?
15. How do you justify taking $330 million from cities and counties to balance the budget, other than your fiscal mismanagement?

Thank you for taking 10 minutes to send a letter supporting Robert Pittenger! Do it today ... the Observer deadline is likely to be October 31 ... and send a letter to your friends and neighbors, too!

Robert Pittenger for State Senate
704/239-6607
info@PittengerForStateSenate.com
text messaging 7042396607@messaging.nextel.com

P.S. PLEASE COME TO THE CANDIDATE FORUMS AT 7:00 AT THE CORNELIUS TOWN HALL (TUESDAY) AND HUNTERSVILLE TOWN HALL (THURSDAY)!

ONE MORE THING! You can vote early at regional libraries starting Monday! We hope you will - and that you can then help us on Election Day at a poll!! Let us know!