NC NAACP Statement Regarding the 2011 Legislative Session

 

For Immediate Release

June 17, 2011

For More Information: Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, President, 919-394-8137

Amina Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

Jennifer Marsh, Legal Redress Coordinator, 919-682-4700

Midnight Madness Attempts to Undermine Democracy in Darkness:

NC NAACP/HKonJ Initial Analysis of the 2011 General Assembly Legislative Session

As this historic and destructive legislative session begins to wrap up we reflect on the many harmful bills that have poured out of the General Assembly since January. Many of these regressive and harmful bills have been passed and sent to the Governor. We call on Governor Perdue to stand strong and continue to veto any damaging bills that make their way to her desk. As we speak, many other harmful bills are still moving through the legislative process. We will continue to watch the General Assembly and speak out against any legislation that takes our state backwards rather than forwards.

The budget and bills of this session are a frontal attack on civil rights, economic justice and education. Their policies and legislation give a whole new meaning to ‘trickle down economics’ and turning back the clock. They believe in ‘holding down the poor’ economics, undermining civil rights and rooting their decisions in the politics of yesterday rather than going forward and working towards a more just society. African Americans, minorities, the unrepresented, the disenfranchised, the poor and the working people of North Carolina need to know: The people running the State Legislature in Raleigh are not working for the common good.

These efforts are being funded by big money. Last year, big money special interests spent over $2.6 million to influence state legislative races — including $2.2 million donated by ultra-conservative organizations connected to North Carolina’s single largest campaign donor: retail millionaire Art Pope and his conservative think tank, The Civitas Institute (www.nccivitas.org). We’ve already seen the influence of this money in bills introduced to severely restrict basic voting rights, give corporations advantages that hurt consumers, and destroy environmental protection efforts — all key elements of a well funded, far right agenda. You can read more about the far reaching impact of Art Pope’s money and influence by following this link (http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/absolute-power-an-examination-of-art-popes-dominance/Content?oid=2140073). Now, under the influence of big money, the North Carolina House has adopted a budget that puts big money interests ahead of the people. This budget does nothing to address big donor tax breaks and other special provisions that rob our state of more than $1 billion a year in revenues.

The NC NAACP supports a holistic approach to reducing our state deficit and creating a healthy state budget: one that includes responsible decisions to raise new revenue by broadening a graduated tax base; strategically assessing cuts to our largest expenditures, making our tax system fairer and closing tax loopholes. We support budget proposals which reflect this approach, and will work to advocate for proposals which reflect the priorities and values of our Association.

House Bill 200, the budget that goes into effect July 1, 2011 has already resulted in the loss of jobs and critical services across the state. The Budget and Tax Center has conservatively analyzed the impact of the budget and determined 45,000 jobs will be lost.

Many counties have already begun cutting large numbers of classroom positions and sending out pink slips to teachers and teacher assistants. Headlines tell of sweeping layoffs around the state.

This is just the beginning of the harm that will be caused by this budget crafted by the new extreme ultra-conservative, radical right, tea party leadership. Speaker of the House Thom Tillis when asked about the budget veto override commented this is “the proudest moment of my political career.” We question why he is proud about a budget that will put 45,000 North Carolinians out of work. We question why he is proud to pass a budget that only 23% of North Carolinians supported and 41% opposed per a Public Policy Polling poll. This budget takes direct aim at education, public safety and health services.

Education is under direct attack by this new budget with cuts of nearly $1 billion in funding to K-12. School systems have no choice but to cut teaching positions when faced with such a steep reduction in funding. This budget takes us from 46^th in the nation in per pupil spending to 49^th, just above Mississippi.

The UNC System sustained cuts of 14.6%. These cuts result in the loss of thousands of instructional seats throughout the system. Departments and instructors have been reduced in all the schools in the UNC system. The impact of these cuts will be especially harmful to HBCUs which have historically been underfunded.

The Community College system that provides basic training to thousands of citizens took funding cuts of $47.7 million dollars. The legislature also passed a bill allowing individual community college to refuse federal loans. The community college system must raise tuition by $10 per credit hour making education out of reach for many.

Health and Human Services is taking dramatic cuts with $225.4 million being cut from Medicaid spending. Our state is leaving Federal Medicaid matching dollars unclaimed. This means the state is refusing federal funding for those who are the most vulnerable. Turning down these funds alone will result in the loss of about 14,000 jobs and aid for thousands of North Carolinians.

Our criminal justice system is also feeling an immediate sting from these cuts. Across the state drug courts, family courts and programs to reduce the likelihood of repeat offenders are being discontinued. There have been mass withdrawals of attorneys from the court appointed lists throughout the state. The result will be more people spending a longer time in the criminal justice system and less rehabilitation.

Critical and unique programs such as the minority health initiative, teaching fellows program and support for at risk students have been severely undermined and, in some cases, eliminated in this budget. The impact of these cuts will touch all North Carolinians, but most harshly fall on the poor, minorities and youth.

Clayton Brooks, an Organizer with Together NC eloquently summed up the situation by stating, "The issue is not that cuts were made during tough times. The issue is that there were other options that could have been considered. Polling done throughout the last several months has indicated that upwards of 78% of North Carolinians across political parties supported extending the temporary sales tax. On top of this, there were options to modernize our revenue system such as leveling the playing field for North Carolina business so that multi-state corporations pay the same taxes. There were other options that could have been considered, but unfortunately none of them were put on the table."

Our fight does not end with the budget. Many other regressive and harmful bills are either on Governor Perdue’s desk or headed to her. We will continue to fight these backwards bills and encourage the Governor to veto any legislation that takes our state in the wrong direction.

Legislation we continue to watch includes:

• Voter Photo ID (HB 351/SB 352) requiring presentation of government issued photo identification in order to cast a vote. The Advancement Project has indicated that over 555,000 North Carolinians have no ID at all.
• Changes in the Workers’ Compensation Act (HB 709/SB 544) which limits compensation to individuals who suffer long-term injuries.
• A bill preventing the N.C. Association of Educators from collecting dues directly from paychecks (SB 727) is on the Governor’s desk. This bill was proposed after NCAE protested against the budget.
• High School Accreditation (HB 342) was passed by the House and is on the Governor’s desk. This bill prohibits UNC system universities and the state’s community colleges from considering whether students come from an accredited high school unless the accreditation came from a state agency. This bill was passed in response to the AdvancEd investigations into Wake and Burke County schools.

• The repeal of the Racial Justice Act (SB 9/HB 12). The legislature has postponed a decision on this bill and will bring it back in May 2012. We strongly support the Racial Justice Act and oppose any changes to this history making law. Adoption of the RJA exemplifies the direction in which this state should be moving and repealing this legislation is a huge step backwards.
• The newly created voter suppression omnibus bill (SB 47/HB 64). This bill will be addressed when the General Assembly reconvenes in July. We oppose the long list of changes to our voting system contained in this bill and will continue to fight any attempt to suppress or disenfranchise voters.
• The Consumer Finance Act Amendment (HB 810/SB 761) which is nothing more than the promotion of payday lenders. This bill has passed the House and is currently in the Senate. We join North Carolina’s military leaders in opposing this bill.
• Legislation is being proposed that would gut North Carolina’s environmental regulations. These bills include: SB 308 reducing regulations on the state’s toxic air program; HB 119 removing environmental laws; and SB 781 which slows down and reduces our state’s environmental protections.

This list of offensive and harmful bills is not at all complete. Many more harmful pieces of legislation have moved or are still making their way through the General Assembly this session.

These include a multitude of bills affecting local municipalities. Some of these bills which fundamentally change the local election process are veiled attempts to circumvent requirements of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This legislative session has moved at such lightning speed that it has been impossible to have a transparent legislative process with meaningful public participation.

We are fighting this new extreme conservative leadership on other fronts as well. We continue to fight for equal representation for all Americans in LaRoque v. Holder. This federal lawsuit was brought by Rep. Stephen LaRoque with the goal of overturning Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. That case is currently making its way through the federal courts.

There are no questions left about what direction this extreme leadership is taking our state. While we continue to watch the General Assembly, we also prepare for the 2012 elections. We call on North Carolina to take note of what is happening in Raleigh and help us put the state back on the right track.