I’m sure you’ve heard by now that the North Carolina general assembly was in session until almost 4:30 in the morning. The legislative session should have ended at the end of June, but the delayed budget extended everything. By “delayed budget,” I mean lawmakers could not agree on a budget to keep our state afloat. Never mind rising above the ever growing waves, we are sinking. I read on WRAL.com today that according to Legislative Services Controller Wesley Taylor, each extra week of session adds $210,000 in expenses over and above the basic operating cost for the legislative complex. That brings the total overtime cost of the session to $2.73 million.
The session was full of sneaky underhandedness and sleight of hand with tidbits of bills added in closed sessions with nary the notice for legislators to actually read the bills they were voting on (admittedly, this happens on both sides of the aisle). There were some items that were squashed last night, thanks to an outpouring of calls and emails. But this, along with the news that Skip Stam will not seek reelection, must not lull us to complacency. We must become ever more vigilant.
Your voice is your power.
HB 539, the charter school funding bill that would shift much needed money from traditional public school to charters, and SB 279, an anti-LGBT and pro-discrimination bill, were tabled for this session. However, HB 318, the nation’s most anti-immigrant legislation, was passed. This bill will also affect people without children who receive food stamps and anyone who does not have a government ID, which includes many non-immigrant North Carolinians. This bill will also affect people without children who receive food stamps and anyone who does not have a government ID, which includes many non-immigrant North Carolinians.
From NC Policy Watch: “House Bill 318, Protect North Carolina Workers Act, would permanently bar North Carolina’s ability to suspend SNAP’s three month time limit for childless adults who are working fewer than 20 hours per week.
SNAP benefits are limited to three months out of every three years for childless, nondisabled adults unless they are working at least half time, participating in a qualified job training program or certified volunteer placement for 20 hours a week, or in workfare. This time limit applies regardless of whether these individuals are actually able to find employment or training opportunities.
Tazra Mitchell of the NC Budget & Tax Center explains how this could adversely impact more than 100,000 North Carolinians.
The Senate and House will convene on Monday, April 25, 2016 at 7:00 PM. All of the news from the wee hours are not to be counted as victories. Most of the issues that were knocked down last night are JUST DELAYED, and the NC GOP will be back up in arms (literally and figuratively, I suppose). I expect to see more bills to dismantle public education, harm the poor, elderly, and infirm, endanger our environment, sabotage women’s health, discriminate under the guise of religious freedom, and more.
And now a word about defunding Planned Parenthood. First, get the facts straight. Federal reimbursement dollars are not used for abortions. Period. Planned Parenthood was my only option for an annual exam when I didn’t have good insurance. Even when I had good, corporate health insurance, birth control was not covered. Gentlemen, consider how much Planned Parenthood helped YOU during your hook up years. I saw many professional, educated women in the waiting room, simply seeking quality health screenings. Planned Parenthood, first and foremost in its mission, is to proved affordable, quality CARE. I would appreciate having this host of ornery, misinformed, ill-advised (mostly) male legislators stay out of my lady parts. Enough with the assaults on women.
Our health. Our Pay. Our choices. Enough.
Important to note when discussing “funding” Planned Parenthood with federal dollars (Thanks to my friend Ellen for clarifying this): “What is really being debated is the reimbursement from Medicaid and Title 10 funds for health services provided for low income men and women. There isn’t a check written out to Planned Parenthood that funds it as an NGO.”
Now, have a look at the North Carolina Democrats who voted to defund Planned Parenthood in HB297:
- Brian Turner – Brian.Turner@ncleg.net, @BrianTurnerNC
- Gale Adcock – Gale.Adcock@ncleg.net, @galeadcock
- John Ager – John.Ager@ncleg.net, @ElectJohnAger
- Michael H Wray – Michael.Wray@ncleg.net, @RepWray
- Ken Goodman – Ken.Goodman@ncleg.net, @RepKenGoodman
- Joe Sam Queen – Joe.Queen@ncleg.net, @JoeSamQueenNC
- Joyce Waddell – Ken.Waddell@ncleg.net, @WaddellSenate40
- William Brisson – William.Brisson@ncleg.net
- Charles Graham – Charles.Graham@ncleg.net
- Elmer Floyd – Elmer.Floyd@ncleg.net
- William Pierce – Garland.Pierce@ncleg.net
- Brad Salmon – Brad.Salmon@ncleg.net
Please email these folks. Tell them you stand with Planned Parenthood.
Lastly, don’t trust the weatherman, North Carolina. The real rain clouds won’t disappear until we vote out NC GOP next year.