JUST THE FACTS PLEASE

THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN TODAY AT THE HK ON J RALLY/MARCH TODAY

This morning my wife Kathy and I along with thousands of other North Carolinian's came together for an assembly called HK on J (Historic Thousands on Jones Street). This is the seventh year in a row that they have had this assembly. This is my first year of hearing about it and going to it and I am so grateful that we did. The Rev. Dr. William Barber II, whom I respect tremendously, said that there are many many policies that the North Carolina legislation, led by Republicans and some Tea Party members, have done that are not in the best interest of my home state of North Carolina. Let us be CLEAR this is not about politics this about what is good and not good for the State. This is about human and moral integrity. One thing that the Rev. Barber said is that "For the enemies of this movement- don't say what you THINK we stand for -we will TELL you what we stand for." That my friends is what this blog is going to be about. Just The Facts!

Are you ready to be enlightened by the FACTS of what is going on in the General Assembly of North Carolina? Wednesday was the first work day of the new General Assembly 2013. You read the following and then you look deep into your heart and decide if this is what is good for NC. Take your party affiliation hat off and   just keep your human hat on so to speak. The bills filed are as follows:

* Block the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act and leave it to the Federal Government to build the State's online marketplace for health insurance. ~ This will leave thousands of poor people or unemployed (perhaps not by choice) people in our state without insurance. 

*A House Bill for Group homes -not just adult care homes-can benefit from $40 million set aside last summer to provide financial stability to facilities that provide personal care services for residents who no longer qualify for Medicaid coverage. ~ Seriously only $40 million. Do you have any idea how many people are in the group? I would bet more than $40 million worth.
*House bill let voters decide whether to place in the STATE constitution state's right-to-work status meaning union membership can't be a requirement for employment. Other amendments would make clear collective bargaining between local or state governments and unions is illegal and would affirm the right to workers to vote by secret ballot to determine whether they want union representation. House speaker Thom Tillis R-and Senate leader Phil Berger R- have said they are interested in a right-to-work amendment. ~ What all this means is that Unions will be in the past and in a right-to-work state which we are in now you can be terminated for no reason what so ever now if they put this in our constitution there is no way out. Don't screw with our NC Constitution!
*Amendment House bill would let voters decide whether private property condemnation by State or Local governments should be barred except for a "public use", such as highways or government buildings. ~ Again this should not be put in our NC constitution. Just keep laws, laws. This will cause our voting ballots to be as long as Florida's was. I for one am not interested in that!
*Sen. Jerry Tillman R, filed his own constitutional amendment that would make the superintendent of public instruction an appointed position, rather than the current elected position.~ This is not a good idea on so many levels. Again Don't Screw With Our NC Constitution!
*Tillis R, is the primary sponsor of a bill that would amend the state constitution to limit the time a speaker or Senate leader can serve in the post to four years. Here we go again another amendment. As my wife Kathy says let's not go hunting rabbits with an elephant gun.
*Tillis R, is the primary sponsor of a bipartison bill that would again seek to give $50,000 to the living victims of NC previous forced sterilization program.~Well what do you know a yay thing.
*Rep. Leo Daughtry R, would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges from 72 to 75.~Seriously! 
*Some House Republicans are again seeking to allow concealed weapon permit holders to bring their guns into restaurants where alcohol is served unless there's a notice prohibiting them from doing so. The bill would also exempt from public records laws the information collected by local sheriffs from people with concealed handgun permits.~ This sounds like a great idea. Drinking and guns don't mix.
*Sen Stan Bingham R, would revoke the driver's license of a motorist who passes a stopped school bus that's picking or dropping off passengers for as long as three years if the action results in fatally striking someone.~Another YaY!
*House members filed a bill creating new or tougher penalties for people who make methamphetamine or who possess a key ingredient in making meth after they've already been convicted  previously of making meth.~That makes three Yays!
*http://www.wral.com/bills-filed-as-nc-legislature-begins-in-earnest/12045353/

*Mandatory Voter ID: The North Carolinians most likely to lack photo ID are the elderly, disabled, and/or of color. Voter fraud is not a significant problem and what fraud there is mostly concerns absentee ballots.
*Education Reform: In the area of public schools. Look for the introduction of vouchers for private and religious schools, further expand charter schools, and the marginalization of teachers.
*More Destructive attacks on the environment: The 2013 boss has already questioned climate change and taken action to overrule modest proposed fracking guidelines.
*The States top sex policy enforcer House Majority leader Paul Stam R will introduce new anti-abortion rights bills and will likely figure out a way to target the LGBT community.
*https://www.facebook.com/ncpolicywatch

ART POPE, Head of Roses and Maxway. He inherited position from Daddy. Fan of rightwing philosophers. Uses store profits to fund his huge political ambitions.  His stores provide low wages for his employees. Cheap foreign goods to you. Big profits for the Pope family.  The Art Pope network spends $40 million on big campaign donations and on rightwing groups like The Civitas Institute, John Locke Foundations and American's for Prosperity (he heads AFP with the Koch Brothers).  Pope allies in the legislature pushes bills for the 1% not you. He and his family along with other groups give big bucks to get Republicans elected in order to:  Cuts taxes for the rich. Reduces health care for women, kids. Raise interest charges on loans. Cut early voting. Attack public campaign financing so money supporters like Pope call the shots. Gut environmental regulations. Attack gays and lesbians not poverty. Lay off thousands of teachers.
*This was a flier handed out by the Democracy North Carolina Of By and For the People.

There you have it. Take a moment or so to allow yourself to absorb all this information. I for one believe that the bills that contain constitutional amendments should be stricken from this list. Because this, in my opinion and the opinion of others, is a tactic to prolong polling times. As was done in Florida the last election cycle. There were 3 bills that I agree should happen but there are more bills that are bad for this state in my opinion and as you read above. As one of thousands in this State of NC I'am  going to go Forward Together and Not One Step Back! Call your representatives. Speak out loud and proud. This is serious stuff people!

Copy and paste this link to your browser: http://www.wral.com/news/video/12086484/#/vid12086484

I tried to insert the video but it is too long. It is the Rev. Dr. William Barber II giving his speech at todays rally/march. It is well worth the listen.



These are my thoughts and feelings from Jillsville.