“I am sure you will agree that the fundamental and foundational rights of people have been usurped by special interests, corporations and those who have enough money to make their “speech” heard over the rest.”
Tag: N.C. General Assembly
Showing 1-21 of 33 results
Letter: Legislators should allow vote on We the People Act
‘Leaders in the N.C. General Assembly and specifically in the Rules Committee of both N.C. state houses need to hear from you that they should pass these bills out of committee and onto the floor for a vote.”
Letter writer: Early childhood funding shouldn’t require economic argument
“The case for investment in early childhood development is settled, really. Now, it becomes a matter of convincing state leaders to make the investment and to make it wisely.”
Letter writer: Asinine HB2 law lacks teeth
“Because of that misbegotten gang of misogynists down at Raleigh, all in North Carolina must now use the public bathroom consistent with the gender on their birth certificates.”
Letter writer: HB2 — flashback to the Reagan administration?
“There is no telling what will be the cost to society from HB2.”
Letter writer: Vote to restore Democratic and Republican balance
“In the coming election, the current failure of single-party rule must be reversed by a sensible vote to restore Democrat and Republican balance.
Let’s all get out and vote!”
Inside out: HB2 spells bad news for everyone
“Actually, this bill is in a way directed at every single person who lives in North Carolina. Discrimination of any kind applies to every one of us who lives here.”
A bouquet of democracy
Letter writer: Modernize the state law governing nurse practitioners
“I encourage you to ask your legislators to support legislation to modernizing the Nurse Practice Act and improve access to health care for all North Carolinians.”
Anywhere but Asheville
“Overall, [Asheville’s] critics can be divided into three groups: the transplants who didn’t, some surrounding mountain neighbors and the conservative sanctorum in Raleigh. For them, it’s definitely ‘anywhere but Asheville’ — socially, culturally and politically.”
Green building thriving in WNC despite legislative threats
Amid a hostile legislative climate in Raleigh, innovative, sustainable design and construction are flourishing in Western North Carolina. The WNC Green Building Council was founded in 2001. Since then — and despite an unstable housing market — local interest has grown steadily, says Maggie Leslie.
Why are N.C. lawmakers pushing the use of drones without public debate?
“Unfortunately — especially given the feelings of paranoia that drones, by their very nature, tend to spur in a lot of people — open discussion and debate have not featured prominently in the equation in North Carolina. “
Letter writer: Bill creates opossum free-for-all
“Kudos to cartoonist Brent Brown for nailing the absurdity of the legislature’s opossum bill debacle.”
State textbook funding woefully inadequate
Have you noticed that prices are dropping and you can get more for less these days? We haven’t either, but our lawmakers are acting as if this were true. Our current state budget touts a $1 billion increase in educational funding, but little is said about how much of that money actually reaches classrooms. In […]
Letter writer: Valuable solar tax credits are set to expire
It was heartening to read the story about First Congregational United Church of Christ’s commitment to get as far off the electric grid as possible. The stated goal is to completely offset their power consumption. Their fundraising event as described in the Conscious Party article [“Souls for Solar,” March 11, Xpress] was a great way […]
Stop it, Moffitt
North Carolina Rep. Tim Moffitt and his study committee recommended to the General Assembly that Asheville city water be taken over by the state; this bill is expected to be voted on soon. See ashevillewater.blogspot.com for updates. Jane Whilden is running against Moffitt for the N.C. House of Representatives, District 116. Please spread the word […]
Redistricting: By-the-number breakdown
The proposed 11th Congressional District, which includes the city of Asheville, would lose almost 9,000 registered Democrats and gain more than 26,000 Republicans, according to stats released on the North Carolina General Assembly website.
NCmatters: Drawing lessons
Whatever the outcome of the N.C. General Assembly’s 2011 redistricting, the process has already attracted both national and state-level scrutiny. An across-the-aisle coalition has formed North Carolinians for Redistricting Reform, a nonprofit that aims to take redistricting away from state legislators in favor of an independent body to ensure an open, public-driven process. As Executive […]
Healthcare reform needs your voice
Although "healthcare reform" was passed, the state is now making decisions about how North Carolina will respond to the new federal rules. The N.C. General Assembly is considering legislation that would put Blue Cross Blue Shield permanently on a board whose purpose it is to help small businesses and those who cannot afford health insurance. […]
Playing the numbers
With the 2010 census numbers now in hand, the state Legislature has begun redrawing the lines for N.C. House and Senate, as well as congressional districts. May 15 is the target date for producing new district maps; public hearings are now being held around the state, with a visit to Western North Carolina slated for […]
Multiple choice
The Joint Committee on Regulatory Reform, established by North Carolina legislators this year, is on the road. Its mission: Scrutinize “burdensome state rules and regulations on behalf of the private sector.” The 18-member team wants to hear from business and farm owners around the state concerning “outdated rules and regulations that should be eliminated.” The […]