Pretty thin gruel

Ed Cone called Greensboro City Council candidate Ryan Shell’s proposal to filter porn at the public library ‘pretty thin gruel,’ yet he latches on to Shell’s idea to provide shelter for all city bus stops.

Everyone knows my views on public transportation, but I wouldn’t suggest that providing shelter for bus stops isn’t something the city should do anyway since they’re we’re already paying to run buses with three riders.

But as a campaign issue, it’s –borrowing the phrase —- pretty thin gruel. Surely Shell will come up with stronger issues as the election season heats up.

Hagan supports ‘compromise’ public option plan

This morning’s N&R print edition reports Sen. Kay Hagan’s support for a public option health insurance plan, but I can’t find it online. I’m sure it will be up soon.

The spin appears to be that Hagan is supporting a compromise plan where “gatekeepers will ensure that that those with adequate private coverage will not enroll in public plans,” according to the N&R. But I couldn’t help but notice the punitive aspects of the proposed plan, including the provision that “businesses with more that 25 employees that don’t provide health insurance for their workers will pay a $750 fee per full-time employee toward the national program.”

Also, the proposed $1000 fine for not having health insurance isn’t mentioned in the N&R article, and the Associated Press account is buried on A-13.

Jury acquits Webster of embezzlement

With the July 4th holiday rapidly approaching, a jury acquits former state Sen. Hugh Webster of charges he embezzled $12,000 from his 83-year-old aunt.