Friday proved to be a very interesting day for North Carolinians. First, Governor Beverly Eaves Perdue issued Executive Order 93, which extends federal unemployment benefits (UEB) for 47,000 North Carolinians. Federal UEB expired April 16 2011 due to a technicality in North Carolina’s law.
Representative William Wainwright (D) submitted House Bill 676 on April 5, 2011, to help extend the benefits but it has been buried in the Commerce and Job Development Committee. Republicans submitted their own bill, H383; however, they attached a provision in which there would be a 13% cut in the state budget if the Governor does not agree to the Republican parties demands. House bill 383 was originally called Communications Regulatory Reform and was changed around April 14 to become Extend UI Benefits/Continuing Resolution. The Governor vetoed HB 383 on April 16.
Here is a link to the press release sent out by the Governor’s office. The UEB benefit extension has also been placed in the budget bill 200.
As fate would have it before the house convened at 2:00 the Republicans caucused, someone inadvertently left the room’s microphone on. Mr. Trogdon (sp) begins to talk about salaries and benefits; money items, he breaks, says something that is not understandable, and then you hear mumbling. Someone utters, ‘they cut the internet off,’ I believe asking if the mic is turned off. There is a moment of silence and a noise, almost as if Rep. Paul “Skip” Stam turned the mic. off and then back on. You hear Stam, “the mic. is not recording, ISD came in and explained how to do it, and you got it done.” “Alright great leaders,” is heard. Stam then repeats, “ISD checked it, yes.”
Then the Republicans go into action explaining how they are going to handle certain issues, such as; keeping quite a provision added in the budget about redistricting. This gives the repubicans the right to bypass the Attorney General and have their own counsel. With “the plan all along … to submit it to the courts, explained Stam. Also they were told not to attack the Democrats as there are some that are standing with them to vote on the budget. However, if they wanted to go after certain Democrats, according to Speaker of the House Rep. Thom Tillis, ‘go ahead, gut-punch them if needed,’ to letting the senior republican members do the speaking, as this is not the time for misspoken words. Also, when a democrat member asks a question, the republicans are to refer it to a staff member, in order to keep the discussions and questions off the floor.
Speaker of the House Thom Tillis (R)
It doesn’t end here; as the House began Tillis stated that ‘the side doors will remain closed in light of the event that occurred yesterday, the disruption on the floor. The chair has ordered the sergeant-at-arms and the security staff to have all the side doors closed during deliberation. ‘If you leave the chamber please enter through the door you entered, the side doors will not be opened,’ Tillis told the chamber.
Later in the evening he mentioned a group that was at the House, he believed to be peaceful, but for safety sake, he would like members to refrain from using the side doors. I believe this to be in regards to the NCAAP holding a candlelight vigil outside of the Legislature building. Later that evening, you could feel the tension build as members of the NAACP, including NC’s NAACP President Rev. William Barber, entered the gallery on the third floor. Things did remain peaceful until one of the NAACP members, a woman, started leaving and began clapping and singing. She was warned by Capitol Police and remained quiet afterwards. The members remained in the lobby as Rev. Barber spoke to them. I could not hear what was being said, perhaps other news groups, that were also videoing were able to pick up the audio. They left and came back, after a 30 minute break by the House, around 12:00 a.m.
A few things led to this event as reported by SGR Today. Rep. Steven LaRoque a republican representing Wayne County, made some comments in regards to the NAACP and Rev. Barber, the story can be read here. On Friday the Legislative Black Caucus asked for an apology with Representative Larry Womble (D) of Forsyth County requesting a moment of personal privilege. Womble rose as the vice-chair of the NC Legislative Black Caucus ‘to bring to the attention of the assembly a disservice to this house and this organization and members. Remarks made by a member of this house to a member of our organization, that they deem to be inappropriate, not proper and disrespectful. …we cannot let this go without challenge, attention and without shining light. NC can do better than this, NC must do better than this. Such name calling; cowards, thugs, racists, I am sure you don’t condone that, join us immediately…’ Cutting off Womble, Speaker Tillis banged the gavel and said the speaker was out of time.
The rest of the events can again be read at SGR Today’s site in an article entitled Legislative Black Caucus calls for apology after “racist” remark.
The house finally convened Saturday morning at approximately 12:10 a.m.
Cathy von Hassel-Davies
(336) 525-1228
