Well past the halfway point of his term, Edwards
has little to show for his time in office. He said he would put the state on
firm financial footing, but all he did was raise taxes and spend more while failing
to stop chronic budget shortfalls. He made more people eligible for free
government-run health care, but even a report that overestimates
its benefits and underestimates
its costs can’t hide the fact Edwards raised taxes to support an expensive
new entitlement, the benefits of which won’t exceed the costs, for a number of
people who could pay for their own insurance anyway.
His most significant, potentially positive
achievement therefore comes from criminal justice reforms, comprised of a
series of shortening sentences, increasing use of parole and probation, and
instituting administrative changes that had the effect of reducing the jailed
population size. As long as those changes don’t permit more criminal activity
while reducing costs, he can claim policy victory and hang his hat on that for
reelection purposes.
