Carolina Journal Radio No. 770: Voluntary fund stokes N.C. pipeline controversy

Gov. Roy Cooper has generated controversy by announcing a special $58 million fund connected with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project. The fund is slated to pay for mitigation work connected with the pipeline, along with other economic development and renewable energy projects. Cooper considers the fund a “voluntary contribution” to the state. Critics say Cooper is trying to get around constitutional requirements that would give the General Assembly control over the money. Rick Henderson, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses the latest developments in the case. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is drawing fire from state lawmakers. Legislators say DHHS appears to be unwilling to establish a new accountability office established in a 2015 state law. No one has been hired to oversee the planned Office of Program Evaluation Reporting and Accountability, or OPERA. Lawmakers shared their frustrations during a recent meeting with top DHHS officials. After years of delays, North Carolina’s newest state mental hospital is nearly complete. State lawmakers heard a recent update on construction of the new Broughton Hospital in Morganton. They also reviewed lessons learned from their previous mental hospital construction project in Goldsboro. You’ll hear details. State Auditor Beth Wood continues to pursue her goal of ensuring that state agencies spend billions of taxpayer dollars appropriately each year. Wood says her work as taxpayer “watchdog” has revealed patterns of repeated violations of standard accounting practices. She explains her efforts to correct those problems. North Carolina has acted as a national leader in protecting people against civil-asset forfeiture abuse. Now legislation in Alabama could help propel that state past the Tar Heel State in delivering effective protection. Jon Guze, John Locke Foundation director of legal studies, explores the Alabama proposal and explains how North Carolina could improve its own rules against abuse.