NC Voter ID-And All Our Pretty Words

Someone told me the other day I should post more often on my blog.  My response is basically, if someone else is saying it, then I don’t have to.  Usually, I just post about trends I see that, for one reason or another, don’t seem to be getting that much press. 

So, let’s take a look at an angle in the NC Voter ID drama that I think isn’t getting the attention it deserves.

Tillis came out on MSNBC recently and said the Voter ID bill isn’t really about voter fraud, but about the integrity of the voting process.   Well, congratulations, he’s finally saying something half way believable from a GOP standpoint. 

It’s a fact, like it or not, that you’re many times more apt to be struck by lightening than to come into contact with voting fraud in NC.  How anyone actually thought it was about fraud is beyond me.

So, what is the “integrity of the voting process?”

Perhaps a buzz word?  Come on people wake up and smell the coffee.  Who is more apt not to have a photo ID in NC?  What color would they happen to be?  What economic circumstances would they be up against?  And, finally, which party or political agenda would be most hurt if those people didn’t vote?

While we’re all dancing around our pretty words and politically correct language let’s finally state the obvious: this voter ID issue is an attempt to nullify the people most likely to vote Democratic in an election. 

The part of all of this that I find disturbing isn’t that the Republicans are trying to do this, but that we’re letting them do it by buying into all of the side augments that make the whole political process so convoluted. 

Look at the collective approach.  Unfortunately, we have a short attention span.  If you pay attention to the GOP process you’ll see a trend: redistricting, shorter one-stop voting, voter ID…all the things that make it so much harder to get them out of office for years to come.

And, the reason average people aren’t raising Hell about it is because we (as Democrats) are experts at shooting ourselves in the damn foot, even when we’re right.

Make no mistake about it: NC Republicans are focused, backed by money and on point.  Democrats, in contrast, are scattered with many ideologies all jockeying for position and attention.  And, we spend more time and effort on “side augments” that for the most part will never go anywhere in the first place.  

We’d better wake up. 

Mixed Signals Coming Out Of Raleigh GOP

On the sequester, automatic federal budget cuts scheduled to go into effect March 1st. Governor Pat McCrory said that he would hold meetings Tuesday to try to understand how the roll back of federal funds might affect North Carolina.

Does it really matter, Thom Tillis, GOP NC House leader has already said there is no money in the budget to accommodate lack of funds brought on by the sequester.

Is everybody in Raleigh on the same page?  

To Gov Pat McCrory: Responsibility Is A Two Way Street.

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed House Bill 4 limiting North Carolina unemployment insurance to twenty weeks and capping the  maximum benefit to $350 dollars a week in the name of responsible government. 

Interesting, because responsible government is surely an illusive creature in Raleigh these days.

Wouldn’t it have been prudent and somewhat more responsible to have delivered a jobs bill to the Governor before the unemployment insurance was cut?

A responsible Governor would have done a certain amount of due diligence in making sure the North Carolina legislature wasn’t snatching the safety net  out from under our citizens in need.

For two years, the Republicans/Teapublicans have controlled the NC House and Senate and have passed a host of conservative measures in an effort to feather their own nest while setting up districts assuring their reelection.

Not one, not one of those bills passed had anything to do with job growth or job creation in North Carolina.

McCrory campaigned on jobs and he campaigned on fiscal responsibility.  He says he will work tirelessly on fixing the state’s broken economy.

But, as Randy Voller, newly elected chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party said, “where’s the beef?”

My question now is that it’s not only a matter of “where’s the beef” but who can afford the beef?

The problems facing North Carolina can not be fixed by breaking the backs of hard working, well meaning North Carolinians living paycheck to paycheck.

How we treat the most vulnerable among us is not only a matter of where we put our priorities: it’s a matter of how we plan to move North Carolina forward.

If, in fact, Pat McCrory is driving the economic train that will deliver  prosperity to North Carolina, how many of our people is he willing to sacrifice along to the way?

By signing HB4, McCrory didn’t do anything to bring about a brighter tomorrow in North Carolina.  What he did was pull the life support plug on families who have no where else to turn.

Reps. Butterfield, Price and Watt to General Assembly: Rejecting Medicaid Expansion Would Hurt N.C. Economy, Devastate Working Families

Washington, D.C. – North Carolina Representatives David Price (NC-04), G.K. Butterfield (NC-01), and Mel Watt (NC-12) urged the North Carolina House of Representatives to reject Senate Bill 4, which would keep as many as 500,000 North Carolinians from gaining access to affordable, quality health care through the federally-funded expansion of Medicaid included in the Affordable Care Act.  Blocking Medicaid expansion would increase costs for the State, increase premiums for those with insurance, and block the creation of thousands of new jobs.

Citing the economic, fiscal, and social benefits of Medicaid expansion, the members write:

“As members of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation, we do not routinely express our views on legislation before the General Assembly.  But the grave threat to our state’s economy and quality of life posed by Senate Bill 4, as well as the direct conflict it creates with federal policy, compel us to do so.  We urge you in the strongest possible terms to reject this costly and short-sighted measure. . .

“Rejecting Medicaid expansion would strike a devastating blow to working families in our state and to the North Carolina economy as a whole.  Nearly 500,000 North Carolinians who are currently uninsured could gain access to affordable, quality health care through expansion, unless their state government stands in the way.”

A recent study commissioned by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services found that the expansion of Medicaid could inject about $1.4 billion into the North Carolina economy, creating as many as 23,000 jobs.  The North Carolina Institute of Medicine estimates that Medicaid expansion will save North Carolina more than $65 million over the next eight years.  Republican governors in Arizona, Ohio, Michigan, New Mexico, and North Dakota have already decided to implement Medicaid expansion.  The letter continues:

“One need not support the other major reforms included in the Affordable Care Act to agree that expanding Medicaid to able-bodied, low-income adults is a “win-win” for both the State of North Carolina and its residents.  As you are well aware, under the terms of the law the federal government will cover 100 percent of the costs of expansion for the first three years and 90 percent of the costs thereafter…At a time of pressing fiscal challenges, there is no reason for our state’s leaders to leave this money just sitting on the table.”

Only about 30 percent of low-income adults are currently covered by Medicaid in North Carolina, leaving many families to rely solely on emergency care.  This lack of basic preventive health care drives up health insurance costs for those covered in the private market through a “hidden tax” on premiums. The American Academy of Actuaries estimates that premiums for private insurance will be at least two percent higher in states that do not expand Medicaid, since many of those who would be eligible for the expansion will continue to rely disproportionately on emergency care instead. 

Even If NC GOP Policies Could Work They’re Putting The Cart Before The Horse. We Just Don’t Have Enough Jobs.

Let’s call it what it is: The GOP and those that voted the Republicans in office think that too many people are sitting around collecting unemployment checks and just don’t want to get a job.  They’re sick and tired of watching people abuse the system with taxpayer money. 

The NC GOP may think they have a mandate to radically change the direction of politics in North Carolina.  And, that may very well be true.  They won the Governor’s mansion, the state Senate and the House.

Arguably, the NC Democratic Party—to some extent—helped them achieve their goals.  We dropped the ball on several plays.  (Yes, I’m still in Super Bowl mode.) 

But, if you have no money to live on–it’s not funny: no food, no housing, no job.  It’s scary.  And, we elect officials to make our lives better, not worse.

I’m not going to rehash horror stories I’ve heard over the past several weeks—other than to say, those stories are real.  North Carolinians are hurting.  And, some are hurting badly.

Separate what the GOP is doing now from other issues because each is different:

This  has nothing to do with a marriage amendment or voter ID.  It has even less to do with Ashville and it’s ability to control public nudity.  And, my worry today has nothing to do with a woman’s right to care for her own body as she sees fit.  Those issues are important and close to all of our hearts, but we have an emergency situation.  A situation that needs immediate attention.

Focus on jobs first:

The NC GOP is cutting benefits too hard and too quickly.  And, we have no jobs.  We’ve had no jobs for a long time.  Even if the GOP policies could work it would take longer than six months to warm up private investment and start the economic wheels turning in the right direction.

Abuses don’t equate to these actions:

Are there abuses in the system?  Of course.  There will always be people who try to take advantage of the system.  Just like there will always be a few who will get away with murder and some who speed down I-40 will never get caught.  But, just because some people never have to take responsibility for their actions doesn’t mean you need to dismantle the whole justice system.

At the end of the day, we’re dealing with unemployed moms and dads who really want to provide for their children. Single moms and single dads.  They want their kids to have enough to eat and they want their family to live in a safe environment.  And, kids need to feel protected.  They need to know someone cares.  They need to feel like someone loves them.  Sadly, way too many don’t. 

If the GOP really believes in responsibility, they’ll work on jobs first.  We can hash out the other stuff soon down the road.  This isn’t a cry to kick the can down the road, either.  All politicians are guilty of putting off the hard decisions.  I’m all about doing the job right.  But, first we have to do the right job!

My Thoughts: NCDP SEC – Just Because We Have Different Opinions Doesn’t Mean There Is Drama.

Anyone who keeps up with North Carolina Democratic politics no doubt knows the outcome of the elections and the impact it will have on the Democratic party in North Carolina. 

There are a few key points we need to take with us as we continue the fight to bring the blue back to NC.

Both David Parker and Gwen Wilkins tirelessly worked hard and long hours to sustain and promote the North Carolina Democratic Party.  We owe them our thanks.  It’s a thankless job without pay. 

Over the past few years the NCDP has faced unique challenges.  We’ve had some success but we can always improve.  That needed improvement doesn’t reflect negatively on any one person and it isn’t a criticism. 

Don’t buy into the media news hype that we’re fragmented and fighting amongst ourselves.  Do we have differences?   Yes, because we are inclusive and reach out to all groups.  Not everyone will agree with each other on every issue.  But, that’s what makes us strong.  It makes us unique.  And, it shows we care!

TV, radio and newspaper reporters will translate our communication process into bickering and drama.  But, just because they say that doesn’t make it so.  After all, if the media couldn’t connect a drama angle in the reporting they wouldn’t spend any time covering our events. 

At the end of the day, the NCDP has a lot of talented people with different life experiences expressing the need to move North Carolina forward.  And we wouldn’t want it any other way.

We believe in people.  And, we believe that a person’s worth is measured by their heart and not their bank account. 

40 Years After Roe—By The Numbers

On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court decided by a 7-2 margin that a woman has a right to an abortion.

Forty years later, though 70 percent of Americans support the court’s decision in Roe v. Wade, 87 percent of counties in the United States do not have one clinic that offers legal abortions, and several states have just one clinic. Those who operate the clinics often do so enduring constant protests and the threat of imminent violence.

Despite this, an estimated 1 in 3 women have had an abortion. And that number might be even higher if abortion were made illegal, as countries that ban the procedure report higher instances of abortion.

The so-called pro-life movement that came to being by drawing evangelicals into the Republican Party has failed in its central goal of overturning Roe. But it has succeeded in politicizing access to basic reproductive health care.

Since the Republican wave election of 2010, pro-lifers have gone into overdrive, passing 135 new laws restricting a woman’s right to choose and targeting Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of reproductive health care for women.

While Planned Parenthood — which has been supported in the past by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Republicans like Barry Goldwater, and funded by the federal government since the Nixon administration — does perform abortions, it receives funding only to provide basic health care. Despite this, defunding the group has become an obsession of the right.

Governor Rick Perry of Texas is costing his state $250 million and depriving thousands of women of their basic health care provider just to keep federal funds from going to Planned Parenthood in Texas, though they perform no abortions at all.

Being stridently anti-abortion rights is a safe position in most red states. However, when Senate candidates Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock articulated in inarticulate ways the Republican Party’s position — that abortion should be illegal even in the case of rape — they ended up losing their races in states where Mitt Romney won easily.

Only 9 percent of Americans support making abortion illegal without exception, the position of Akin, Mourdock and Romney’s former running mate and one of the frontrunners for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination — Paul Ryan.

In addition to opposing abortion, most Republicans also oppose the Affordable Care Act mandate that all women should be provided free birth control as part of their health insurance coverage. The fact that abortion activists also oppose what will be the most comprehensive effort to prevent unwanted pregnancies in American history suggests that the pro-life movement includes many who simply seek to restrict a woman’s choice to operate with the sexual freedom of a man.