In his town hall forums, House Speaker Thom Tillis continues to get tough questions about how to better fund schools.
On Friday in Waxhaw, he gave a long-winded answer suggesting that new taxes and fees aren't on the table for consideration until the state looks at selling off unneeded assets.
He first mentioned selling Rex Hospital: "We own a hospital that is valued at somewhere over $1.2 billion," Tillis said. "We are looking at, Should we continue to be in that business? It's a very contentious issue. But the last time I checked there's a lot of hospitals not owned by the state that are doing just fine. And is there a way to free that up and use some of the money for the university system, which owns it, and use some of the money for education and health and human services purposes?"
WakeMed made an unsolicited offer for Rex Healthcare this past spring and has been lobbying legislators about it. UNC Hospitals, which owns Rex, has turned WakeMed down.
Next, Tillis highlighted a potential sale of the N.C. Railroad: "We are the only state in the country that owns a railroad," he said, noting its value at $200 million to $250 million. "If other states figured out how not to own a railroad and do just fine, could we?"
The speaker's office suggested that Tillis isn't taking a stand on whether to sell Rex or the railroad, just putting ideas on the table.
The bill for housing inmates
The state Department of Correction has undercharged counties $465,000 for the Safekeeper program, in which local inmates are held in state prisons, the state Auditor's Office said.
The department has been charging counties $18 a day even though the state legislature raised the rate to $40 a day beginningJuly 1, 2009.
The audit says counties' overdue charges total $2.36 million, but Correction hasn't turned them over to the Attorney General's office, as law requires.
Since counties sometimes keep state prisoners, Correction could cancel out $1.5 million the counties owe with money it owes them, the audit said.
The department said it started charging the higher rate Oct. 1, will turn over overdue bills to the Attorney General's office, and seek legal advice on adjusting bills to counties.
Résumé revision
Republican state Sen. James Forrester says he will update his résumé after a number of gay rights advocates found inconsistencies in his medical credentials.
Forrester, 74, is a retired family practice doctor from Mount Holly. He came under fire last week from critics who targeted him for his sponsorship of a referendum on putting a ban on gay marriage and civil unions into the state Constitution.
His critics suggested that he padded his résumé by listing himself as a "fellow" of numerous medical organizations that had no records of this designation. He also listed himself as a member of other organizations even though his memberships had lapsed.
"I think the gay community wants to discredit me in any way they can," Forrester said in an interview Monday. "I think that's what they are trying to do. I feel real bad about it because I didn't do anything wrong."
Forrester said any mistakes were inadvertent. He said his résumé is outdated and should read "former associate fellow" at the Aerospace Medical Association and "past fellow" the American College of Preventative Medicine. He offered to provide certificates to prove the claims.
The organizations said last week Forrester isn't listed on their sites as a member because he stopped paying dues. The aerospace group confirmed his connection and past title; the preventative medicine group said its records don't go back that far.
Forrester said his credentials currently are being updated online, but a check of his website, jimforrester .net , and the Gaston County GOP's website, gastongop .org /james -forrester/ , showed no changes by noon Monday.
