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9. HATING ON EDUCATION... The Republican budget added here and subtracted there from public school aid, making it hard for critics to prove that the schools are worse off—which they are. But flaunting their disdain for education, the Republicans ended (with some exceptions) pay increases for teachers who earn master's degrees. Such an easy story for TV news: the Republicans are against better-educated educators.

8. ...AND THEN LYING ABOUT IT The Republican budget gave teachers no pay hike—zero. Our teachers' pay was already near the bottom, and this new goose egg could put us dead last. But then Gov. Pat McCrory, in a speech to the N.C. Chamber of Commerce, claimed that with "tax reform," teachers would see a 1 percent hike in their take-home pay. Not true. Only people making $250,000 or more will see a 1 percent gain—a point we might've missed until the clueless McCrory spoke up.

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4. FRACKING UP GOVERNMENT The N.C. Rural Center was a dubious idea when the Democrats invented it. Public funds were doled out for economic development by a political board without much oversight. The Republicans shut it down, while inventing a new " public-private partnership" for development deals brought in by their own political cronies. The deals can be financed, Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker proposed, using a slush fund from fracking revenues. Good thing the press isn't here, Decker told a business crowd—and a News & Observer reporter duly jotted it down.

3. CHAPPING ON CHARLOTTE McCrory, a former Charlotte mayor, was popular in the Queen City, but not so much since the Republicans took away its airport. After realizing that they should've heeded the state treasurer's warnings about bond defaults, the GOP gave it back, but not really. The Charlotte Observer can't get enough of this Republican screw-up story, which is now in court—and will be for months.

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http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/the-top-10-republican-mistakes/Content?oid=3690361