Update on Governor Perdue’s Actions on Pending Legislation

Governor (Beverly) Perdue has been reviewing more than 200 bills since Monday, Jun 20.  She has until Jun 30th to sign, veto, or let the bills become law without her signature.

The status of key bills:

1.  Voter Photo ID - The governor vetoed the bill on Jun 23, 2011 stating, “North Carolinians who are eligible to vote have a constitutionally guaranteed right to cast their ballots, and no one should put up obstacles to citizens exercising that right.”

It is obvious to 75 percent* of voters in NC that a photo ID serves to determine “eligibility” of voters, and is a deterrent to those who attempt to vote more than once, or who are not the person they purport to be.

(*From Elon University polling in April 2011.  Other NC polling on Voter Photo IDs has ranged from 70% to 84% approving of the legislation.)

Opponents allege that some people do not have photo identification, it would be an additional cost they cannot afford, and they would be “disenfranchised.” However, the facts are that the bill “requires the state to provide a photo ID to those who don’t have one at no cost to those citizens.”

(Press Release from President Pro Tempore Phil Berger)

Senate President Pro Tempore Berger said, “We shouldn’t be surprised by how far the governor will go to score political points with the liberal wing of her party.  A measure that ensures voters are who they say they are is a no-brainer, and most North Carolinians agree.  It’s a shame Gov. Perdue is playing politics with the integrity of elections.”

[House Speaker Thom Tillis "announced Friday that the North Carolina House will attempt to override Gov. Bev Perdue's veto of the voter ID bill when the body reconvenes in July." ] See post, here.

2.  Employers Must E-Verify Immigration Status (HB36) - Governor Perdue signed the bill into law Friday, Jun 24.  It requires employers with 25 or more employees to use the federal E-Verify program to determine the legal status of new employees. For large companies the law is effective in 2012 and for small companies it is effective in 2013.  The legislation also requires that local governments use E-verify in Oct 2011.

3.  Gun-Rights Law (HB650) – Gov. Perdue signed a bill that gives citizens more “legal standing to protect themselves against unlawful entry into their homes, workplaces and vehicles,” effective Dec 1, 2011.  (News & Record)

4.  Laura’s Law (HB49) – Signed Jun 24, the law “creates harsher punishment for repeat DWI offenders.” The bill was inspired by the death of Laura Fortenberry, a Gaston County teenager killed last year by a drunk driver.  Her grandmother is Kay Roukema, Caldwell County Republican Women.  (WRAL)

5.  Important bills being considered by the governor are the following:  Medical Malpractice (SB33); Workers’ Compensation (HB709); Abortion – A Woman’s Right to Know (HB854); Annexation Reform (HB945); Oil and Gas Exploration (SB709); and Restrictions on Lawsuits (HB542), among others.

The governor’s office has received over 1,000 telephone calls about the legislation awaiting her decisions, and “. . . more than a fourth were in opposition to SB709″ that focuses on energy independence in NC by encouraging “offshore oil and gas exploration and inland shale gas exploration.”  Other calls to the governor concerned the abortion bill that includes a 24-hour waiting period and information from a medical doctor to the pregnant woman before the life of a baby is terminated.  Records show that 56% of those calling the governor support the bill.  However, 78% of those emailing were opposed.  (News & Observer)

She has also received more than 32,000 emails on legislative issues, “. . . more than 4000 that addressed SB781,” a bill that environmentalists oppose.    (News & Observer)

The Left, including environmentalists and pro-choice advocates, are busy emailing and calling the governor.  We must be proactive in the same way.  Governor Perdue’s telephone numbers are: (800) 662-7952 and (919) 733-2391.  Her Fax is (919) 733-2120.  Her email is: governor.office@nc.gov.

North Carolina Redistricting

On Thursday, Jun 23 the Senate and House Re-districting Committees held public comment meetings at seven different locations in NC, including:  Raleigh, Jamestown (Guilford County), Charlotte, Ahoskie, Greenville, Fayetteville, and Wilmington.

The Senate and House Voting Rights Act (VRA) maps and statistical information were available for attendees.  VRA maps were presented last week via the NC General Assembly’s website.  The public comment forums were in a video-conference format so that observers from all locations could hear and see the speakers.  Senator Bob Rucho (Mecklenburg) presided over the meeting.  He said the event on Jun 23rd was the first step in public viewing and commenting on the proposed VRA redistricting maps and its purpose was to comply with the Voting Rights Act.

As an observer for the first two hours at the Jamestown location,

opponents from across the state representing the NAACP and the Democrat party appeared to read from talking points supplied by one source. Many of the speakers used the exact same words in describing the proposed redistricting VRA maps stating it was a return to “segregation,” “disenfranchised minorities by suppressing the black vote,” and “packing” and “cracking” minorities.

(Definitions from WRAL.com:  “Packing” is “trying to concentrate minority voters into a few VRA districts in order to minimize their impact in neighboring districts.”  “Cracking” is “splitting up minority communities to dilute their voting power.”)

Although the Associated Press did not make the connection above, they quoted opponents of the redistricting plan citing racism and unfairness, including one self-declared Republican who spoke concerning the “splitting of precincts,” and “shifting voters around to protect GOP candidates.”

Both Senator Bob Rucho and Rep David Lewis of Dunn, Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Redistricting have issued a joint letter concerning “public misstatements and incorrect assertions from editorial boards, activists and members of the legislature” about the proposed redistricting.  They stated that their “plan includes 24 majority-minority African American districts in the House and nine majority-minority districts in the Senate.”

(News & Observer)

In step two, congressional maps will be released next week, and in step three the complete proposed maps will be released on Jul 11. 

Additional hearings will be held on Jul 7 for public comments on the congressional maps, and on Jul 18 for comments on the complete proposed maps.

Go to ncga.state.nc.us for redistricting information. Please attend all of the meetings possible, due to the overwhelming numbers of Democrats and liberals attending.  In short, we need conservatives at these meetings.  - KCC

U.S. House of Representatives

1.  On Jun 23 the House passed H Resolution 320 that provides appropriations for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2012.  The vote was 251 to 173, with 7 not voting.

NC Representatives voting for the Resolution:  Renee Ellmers (R-2nd), Walter B. Jones (R-3rd), Virginia Foxx (R-5th), Howard Coble (R-6th), Mike McIntyre (D-7th), Larry Kissell (D-8th), Sue Myrick (R-9th), Patrick T. McHenry (R-10th), and Heath Shuler (D-11th).

NC Representatives voting against the Resolution;  G.K. Butterfield (D-1st), David E. Price (D-4th), Melvin  L. Watt (D-12th), and Brad Miller (D-13th). (Editor’s Note: Pardon the pun, but clearly we know who to target in 2010)

2.  Also on Jun 23 the House voted to amend title 35 of the US Code for Patent Reform.

The vote was 304 to 117, with 10 not voting.  All NC Representatives voted for the legislation except Representative Walter B. Jones (R-3rd).  The Senate passed the legislation in March.

Opponents of the change have said that it weakens the U.S. patent system; it affects small businesses and inventors by cutting off innovations; and that it gives unfair advantage to large companies.

Supporters say that it will help the Patent and Trademark Office to address a 700,000 patent application backlog.

3.  On Jun 22 the House passed HR 2021 that is a “Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011.”

The vote was 253 to 166, with 12 not voting.  The legislation “amends the Clean Air Act to require any air quality impact of Outer Continental Shelf sources to be measured or modeled and determined solely with respect to the impacts in the corresponding onshore area.”

All NC Republican Representatives voted for the measure except Walter B. Jones (R-3rd) who joined with all NC Democrat Representatives in voting against it.

U.S. Senate

1.   On Jun 23 the Senate rejected an amendment (S.Amdt 499 to S679) “to end the appointments of presidential Czars who have not been subject to the advice and consent of the Senate and to prohibit funds for any salaries and expenses for appointed Czars.”  The vote was 47 to 51, with 2 not voting.  Senator Richard Burr voted for the amendment and Senator Kay Hagan voted to retain President Barack Obama‘s current Czar procedure of giving authority and power to unelected officials.

2.  Also on Jun 23 the Senate rejected an amendment (S.Amdt 510 to S679) that is the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011 that is “to strike the provision relating to the Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics.”  The vote was 41 to 57, with 2 not voting.    Senator Burr voted for the amendment and Senator Hagan voted against it.

3.    On Jun 21 the Senate voted on a cloture motion concerning S782 the Economic Development Revitalization Act of 2011. The bill amends “the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to reauthorize that Act.“  The vote failed 49 to 51, since 60 votes were required.  Senator Burr voted against it and Senator Hagan voted for it.

4.  Leon Panetta was unanimously confirmed as the Secretary of Defense by the Senate on Jun 21, 2011.