Archive for the ‘NCGA’ Category

Here are a few updates from around North Carolina:

Uber Liberal NC Representative Jennifer Weiss (D-Wake) to retire: Your blogger’s day is made. KCC lived in her district  nearly all the years Weiss “served” and wrote her many letters. Weiss never once listened to a different idea, or one that didn’t come from her socialist playbook. Read Laura Leslie‘s report.

According to Leslie,

This year’s Republican redistricting maps drew her into a GOP-leaning district with a Republican incumbent, Rep. Tom Murry.

NC House Majority Leader, Rep. Paul Stam, wants you to know what the Marriage Amendment will do. It’s on the same ballot as the May primaries and he offers five points for readers to consider.  KCC notes that our liberal friends have been getting most of the mainstream press on this (what’s new?).

Stam argues in part:

Legally Recognizing Only Heterosexual Marriage Isn’t Discrimination Against Homosexuals Wanting To Marry.  Marriage between a man and a woman has existed in virtually every known society. It has served the purpose of channeling procreative sexual activity into an institution which will provide a stable environment for children produced from the sexual union of the partners in marriage.

In a true loss for our state and nation, Congresswoman Sue Myrick (R-NC, 9) will not be running for re-election for her seat in Congress.  Myrick, a former Charlotte Mayor, understands the terrorists threats more than any other member of Congress.  She has organized workshops and worked with a variety of groups in Washington, Charlotte, and Raleigh, to educate and to promote understanding of what the terror threat is, and founded the Congressional Anti-Terrorism Caucus.

Katy’s Conservative Corner wishes Mrs. Myrick our very best and we thank her for her 9 terms serving North Carolina’s ninth district.

Finally, Pat McCrory, likely Republican nominee for Governor, is finishing off his fundraising push after his big announcement week.    He needs any support you can provide.  To donate to McCrory for Governor, please click here and follow the directions.

Rep. Dale Folwell (R-Forsyth) is well liked by both Republicans and Democrats in North Carolina and would be a difficult candidate to defeat in any election.

The big news from the Capitol press corps in Raleigh, Thursday, is that Winston-Salem state Rep. Dale Folwell, won’t run for re-election in 2012.

Laura Leslie of WRAL reported in a Twitter post that the 4-term Republican is double-bunked  in the new legislative maps with fellow GOP member, Larry Brown.  This means they are now in the same district.

Folwell added in a press conference that it “didn’t sway his decision”. Brown is running again, and if Folwell ran, they’d face each other in a primary. Folwell is popular, and your blogger believes that he could  defeat Brown, but was considering higher office anyway.

In fact, Folwell has been considering this action for months now.

He told this blogger he was running for a specific higher office (we won’t share which).

In the presser Thursday, Mark Binker reported that Rep. Folwell is considering running for State Auditor, State Treasurer, or Lt. Governor.

Your blogger suggests he will get in a state race, if and only if:

1.  He believes he can win.

2.  He has or can raise the money to win without putting him in tremendous personal debt.

Whatever race he chooses, this blogger would instantly support him over any other candidate she may have already been considering.  Dale Folwell has been an effective legislator, and has been able to work with both the front and rear of the house.  (In North Carolina, the minority party sits at the rear of the chamber).

We’ll have more on Rep. Folwell coming up soon.

The Civitas Institute has posted the 2011 Statements of Economic Interest (SEIs) for North Carolina legislators on the website, Carolina Transparency.

The Statements of Economic Interest are one of the means by which the public can determine potential conflicts of interest between a legislator’s duty in the General Assembly and their personal financial interests.

The State Government Ethics Act requires the disclosure of financial and personal interests by state legislators and other covered persons.  All SEIs are public records and may be requested by the public.  The form provides a profile of each legislator’s financial interests including: sources of income, real estate owned in North Carolina, ownership of public and private companies, involvement in non-profits, investments, and liabilities. Income from Social Security, federal and military retirement, and capital gains are excluded.

The SEIs include information not just on each legislator, but data on family members residing in the household as well.

This is a resource that you can use to look up your legislators individually and notify the Civitas Institute of interesting things you might find. KCC thanks Civitas for all of their hard work in North Carolina.

Saturday evening, about 30 protesters lined up on Raleigh’s  Hillsborough Street at the North Carolina AFL-CIO, and marched the half mile to the North Carolina

KCC File Photo, NC Republican Party Sign

Republican Party headquarters.  The union supporters then circled the front lawn, chanting slogans and demanding”justice”.  They wanted “union rights” and “rights for laid-off state workers” in North Carolina.  Oddly, no one was working in the Republican party office at the time.  Plus, very few workers have been laid off.

North Carolina liberals have been unhappy for most of the past year, when Republicans won control of the NC General Assembly for the first time since Reconstruction.  (After over 100 years of corruption lead by Democrats, this blogger never thought she’d see GOP control in her lifetime.)

In January, when the Legislature convened for its long session, Republicans went straight to work.  They were left $2.4 billion budget deficit thanks to over spending by their  Democratic colleagues.

GOP members had to make the tough decisions, and nothing was immune.  State Universitites, community colleges and even public schools shared the burden, but not to the extent reported by the mainstream media.  Even state employees, the apparent untouchables of budgeting, felt the heat.

Frankly, there was no point in their march.  The General Assembly recently adjourned after putting a marriage amendment to the NC Constitution on the May ballot.  Union supporters got very little mainstream media coverage.  Only WTVD covered it locally and it appeared to this blogger that the marchers were not state employees at all, but rather people paid to be out a cool, wet night.  Let’s hope our state government does not hire those with dread locks, like the gentlemen who spoke with the television station.

Others of note that attended were members of Code Pink, a socialist/Communist women’s organization.

They marched  NOT to save state jobs, but rather to push unionization in an otherwise anti-union state.

Unions have felt the heat, lately,

The State Employees Association of NC affiliated with SEIU a couple of years ago. That association is now buried on the SEANC website.

with the 2012 DNC Convention coming to Charlotte.  Leaders have been pressuring the Governor to support President Barack H. Obama’s anti-union measures here in the State Capital.  He visited the city last week, pushing his so-called jobs program.

Meanwhile, where does NC Governor Beverly Perdue stand on the issue?  She refuses to take a stand, thus bowing to pressure from her union buddies who contributed heavily to her 2008 election campaign.

Editor’s Note:  North Carolina’s State Employees Association (SEANC) is affiliated with The Service Employees International Union (SEIU).  State employees in NC do not have collective bargaining rights, but they continue to  pushing anyway.

UPDATE: 1:45 a.m. Sunday 9/18/2011  Turns out, Saturday was a “Day of Rage” for Liberals.

UPDATE: 1:47 p.m. Sunday 9/18/2011 The News and Observer weighed in today, with one activist calling the situation a  ”crime scene”.  They over reported the number of activists, at 100.

Democrats anxiously hit the road in the kickoff of their “Tax Me More Bus Tour” Monday. The NC-Democrats, inspired by and

KCC Graphic

emulative of President Barack H. Obama’s recent “Debt-End Bus Tour,” have decided to embark on a “fact finding” mission for job solutions.

Before last week’s legislative session, Rep Bill Faison (D-Orange County) held a press conference to announce his proposal for a $1.1 billion tax-increase on the people of North Carolina.

NCGOP Communications Director Rob Lockwood told KCC: “The Democrats plan for jobs, as evidenced by Rep. Faison’s proposal, clearly indicates their desire to raise taxes on North Carolinians.

Their motto for job-creation is clear, ‘READ OUR LIPS: MORE NEW TAXES for everyone.’ The Democrats fail to understand a simple concept: new taxes do not create new private-sector jobs.

People of all political affiliations have serious questions for Governor Beverly Perdue and her Democratic colleagues.

They want to know why the Governor has been silent on the issue of “right-to-work” in the Tar Heel State.

Perdue has metaphorically put up a sign that states, ‘North Carolina doesn’t want non-unionized jobs, take your business to South Carolina!’

What is clear is that if the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) can interfere in South Carolina, they can interfere anywhere with right-to-work laws, especially North Carolina.”

Former NC Democratic Chairman David Young declared Friday, “YES, NLRB v. Boeing Fight Hurts NC.” David Young’s feeling that it was important to speak out publicly on the issue highlights the bi-partisan call for action by non-elected citizens.

Governor Perdue, where are you and North Carolina Democrats on the NLRB v. Boeing issue?

Last Thursday, the entire NC Republican US House Delegation voted to overturn the President Obama’s NLRB’s authority to squash job

Rep. Bill Faison, Courtesy NC General Assembly

growth in right-to-work states. Their public stance boldly tells any company “We’ll fight for your right to employ in North Carolina.”

The actions of the House members only go so far when the Governor chooses silence over fighting for jobs.

EDITOR’S NOTE: In related news, Rep. Bill Faison announced on Friday that he will not challenge Governor Perdue in the Democratic Gubernatorial race. He told WRAL’s Laura Leslie that he WILL run if Perdue were to not run for re-election.  Earlier in the day, he would neither confirm, nor deny whether or not he would challenge the Governor, Leslie reported.

Brenda T. Formo provides weekly briefings on behalf of the North Carolina Federation of Republican Women.  To join, click here.

Katy’s Conservative Corner is the only North Carolina blogger with permission to reproduce these reports.  KCC thanks Col. Formo for her continued research on behalf of the Federation.

NC General Assembly

Defense of Marriage Amendment

The Marriage Amendment passed in the Legislature this week.  It will be on the ballot for the May 2012 primary so that the people of North Carolina can vote on it.

The bill states that Article 14 of the NC Constitution  is amended by adding a new section that states, “Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.  This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts.”

A Pro-Marriage Amendment rally was held on Sep 12th at the Halifax Mall adjacent to the Legislative buildings in Raleigh.  The rally was hosted by The Upper Room Church of Christ in Raleigh and was attended by a diverse group of concerned citizens of both political parties.    As we were walking toward the rally, some of them were saying that they just couldn’t believe that in NC marriage would be controversial.

Inspirational leaders from The Upper Room Church of Christ addressed the crowd, including Pastor Patrick L. Wooden and his wife Pamela.  Church coordinators for the event were Wanda Thomas and Anthony Wilson.  They did a commendable job in getting people out because it was a huge crowd.  Our own Felice Pete, of the congregation and President of the Wake County Republican Women, was there with her new baby, Reagan.  What dedication to the Defense of Marriage!

Kevin Daniels, President of the Frederick Douglass Foundation of NC was also a speaker and drew praise for his comments.  The rally was inspiring and uplifting while giving evidence that marriage between one man and one woman is beneficial for families and reflects on our nation’s Christian heritage.  The people attending the rally made a difference in the legislative vote by showing that they care about the definition of marriage in NC.

During the next eight months there will be much debate from both sides.

The White House has already responded to North Carolinians by stating that “President Obama opposes laws ‘designed to take rights away.’”

In related news, House Republicans are seeking ways to delay the termination of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” enacted during the Clinton administration.  Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) expires on September 20, 2011.  In brief, under DADT military members keep their sexuality preferences private.

US House of Representatives

Sources:  ncga; Observations from Sep 12 Marriage Amendment Rally and General Assembly; Washington Blade, ”White House Responds to N.C. Marriage Amendment by Chris Johnson, Sep 13, 2011 and “House GOP Seeks to Delay End to ‘Don’t Ask’” by Chris Johnson, Sep 15, 2011; News Release: “Berger: Perdue Shoud Stand Up to NLRB, Encourage Job Growth,” Sep 15, 2011; and house.gov.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information on this volatile issue and to see how those on the opposing side stand, your blogger suggests you check out her friend, Pam Spaulding‘s blog, Pam’s House Blend.  KCC does not see members of the Republican Party and the Libertarian and unaffiliated voters as a “sure thing” in the vote for this amendment.  Many of these people feel that this is a case where the “government needs to keep hands off”, and these people, if compelled, will get out and vote against the amendment in May.  We shall see how this goes in the ensuing months!

Welcome to North Carolina and Wake County, Mr. President.  How sweet of you to remember our 10 percent unemployment rate while hawking your most recent “jobs” bill.  Since Stimulus I and II didn’t work out for you, you are back to our important swing state for another try at selling more taxpayer-funded nothingness.

The North Carolina Senate Republican Caucus wrote yesterday that our state is “front and center in the 2012 campaign”.  This means we will have to “welcome” you a few more times before the election is done, but we certainly don’t mind reminding you what you’ve “done” for our nation.  Thank you for bringing us the largest debt in our nation’s history.   Thank you for preventing our nation from being energy independent.   Thank you for saddling us with “Obamacare”, an unconstitutional and anti-business heath care “reform”.

The “Caucus” and I are looking forward to the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.  We welcome your hackneyed ideas about more big government power grabs, like you’ve been doing lately with the FCC.  North Carolinians love to give up their freedoms, especially when it comes to the Internet.  I’m sure we won’t mind all the nice moves your communication czars are making, under your watch and with your approval.

Honestly, if I weren’t recovering from a sinus infection, I’d be in the crowd at NC State University, cheering you on.  Enjoy your private event in Apex, formerly known as the “peak of good living”…until you came to town.

Finally, Mr. President, enjoy this short video that my friends over at “the Caucus” made…just for you.  Until next time…

Your blogger usually takes part of the summer off from politics and blogging to avoid burnout.  After 27 years in the political game, it can get tiring, and KCC has found that all work and no play can make for a dull blogger.  We are now on our way back and with election season kicking back in North Carolina and municipal elections just around the corner, look for more to come.

Retired Army Colonel, Brenda Formo has contributed another in her series of Legislative Updates.  Brenda provides these for the North Carolina Federation of Republican Women, but she has graciously given exclusive permission to Katy’s Conservative Corner to post.

Let's Veto Beverly Perdue in 2012

Here we go again. Governor Beverly Perdue continued to mark up good legislation with her red veto stamp. She ignored the will of the people of this state and ran roughshod over legislation that a bipartisan and duly elected legislature crafted together and overwhelmingly passed.

And she vetoed bills, such as the Regulatory Reform Act and the Energy Jobs Act —  an action that will kill jobs at a time when the state economy has lost 100,000 jobs over a two-year period. The Regulatory Reform Act actually hadunanimous support in the Senate because it was a common-sense bill that eliminated cumbersome and unclear regulations that had created uncertainty for businesses.

On Thursday, she vetoed 4 bills –all had passed in the House and Senate either unanimously or with very solid majorities.

She did not even have the guts to sign into law the hugely bi-partisan Tax Credits for Special Needs Children Bill and the Annexation Reform Bill – but allowed them to become law by simply not addressing them prior to today’s deadline.

It is a shame that the voters worked so hard to get real change at the legislature, begged for regulatory and tax relief and common-sense legislation—only to have Governor Perdue arrogantly use the veto 15 times this session.

You can be sure that AFP will be at the legislature building when it opens again later this summer and early fall, trying to come up with the votes to override these vetoes.

And we know you will be right there to help us – calling and emailing your legislators or visiting them on Jones Street.

Just look at some of the great, AFP-supported legislation that Governor Perdue vetoed this year:

Budget with zero tax increases         VETO Overridden

Medical Malpractice Reform              VETO

Individual Opt-out of Obamacare       VETO

Stop Government from taking union dues from teacher paycheck                                           VETO

Requiring a photo ID to vote               VETO

Regulatory Reform                              VETO

Energy Jobs Act                                 VETO

With your help, we got some good laws passed this year, too.

• Removed cap on charter schools
• Tort Reform for Businesses and Citizens
• Repealed Land Transfer Tax
• Tax Relief for Small Businessman
• Workmen’s Comp Reform
• Regulated Local Government Competition with Private Business
• Annexation Reform
• Tax Credits for Special Needs Children

The North Carolina Americans for Prosperity works for us!

However, we have our work cut out for us in trying to undo the damage Governor Perdue created with her veto stamp. We hope we can count on you to help us override these vetoes when the legislature convenes again later this summer.

Sincerely,

Dallas Woodhouse
North Carolina State Director
Americans for Prosperity

But it takes money to fight. Won’t you help the AFP NC  fight Governor Perdue and her bad policy decisions by sending $25, $50 or $100 today? The AFP needs us all.  This is your blogger’s favorite group and the one she works most closely with.  Let’s keep pushing to get the message out on radio and television. Join KCC and please donate today.

NC State Seal

Much has happened this week in the North Carolina State Legislature and Col. Brenda Formo has covered it all. Katy’s Conservative Corner cannot thank her enough for her dedication and oversight to conservative causes.

This report helps many plan their legislative activities and know when to contact their elected officials. Formo had a distinguished career in the United States Army and we thank her for her service to our nation.

Writing on behalf of the North Carolina Federation of Republican Women, Mrs. Formo is the State Vice-President of the Central Region.  To find out how to join a Republican Women’s Club near you, please contact Valerie White.